TLDR Belgium’s total gambling GGR fell 4.86% to €1.61 billion in 2024, the first full-year decline since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 Land-based gambling took the biggest hit, dropping 7.59%, while online GGR dipped 2.7% Casino GGR was the lone bright spot, rising 7.32% to €638.45 million Regulatory changes including a raised gambling age to 21, bonus bans, and stricter advertising rules drove much of the decline The regulator warned it is unclear whether new rules have pushed players toward unregulated gambling sites
Belgium’s regulated gambling market shrank in 2024 for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Total gross gaming revenue across licensed operators fell 4.86% year-on-year to €1.61 billion, according to new data released by the Belgian gambling regulator.
The decline came after several years of strong growth. Online GGR alone had surged roughly 60% between 2020 and 2023, with an 18% jump in 2023.
That growth streak ended last year. Online GGR, which still makes up 57.1% of the total market, slipped 2.7% to €919.10 million.
Land-based gambling fared worse. Physical gambling revenue dropped 7.59% to €690.41 million.
The regulator pointed to a series of regulatory measures introduced since 2023 as the main driver behind the downturn.
Regulatory Crackdown Reshapes the Market
Among the biggest changes was a cumulative-site ban. Operators can no longer host products from multiple licence types on a single platform. This rule hit arcade licence holders particularly hard.
Some operators moved their offerings to casino or betting sites instead. That shifted revenue between licence categories rather than growing the overall market.
Belgium also raised its minimum gambling age from 18 to 21. Bonuses were banned. Advertising rules were tightened. Mandatory ID and Epis checks were enforced.
Advertising restrictions have drawn attention recently. Belgian regulators opened investigations into