According to the figures recently released by the Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO), over 66% of the online betting traffic from Belgium’s top platforms in terms of visitors is now being redirected to the operators without a license.
The group in question also stated that such a percentage represents a very high risk level of player security. If players decide to play on unregulated websites then they would not have the control, the safety features and the social support that the Belgian legislation offers.
Belgium gambling system is built on a channeling principle where government officials try to direct the players to licensed operators. However, there are so many restrictions that it is getting quite difficult. According to the data, it appears that the channeling model no longer fully controls the situation, especially among the 18, 21 age group. The statistics reveal that almost 65% of the male players in Belgium between 18 and 21 years of age are now playing on unlicensed sites. Such sites rarely comply with the local age verification laws, and as they are very generous with bonuses, it is easier for younger players to fall into gambling problems.
People who have previously excluded themselves voluntarily are found in great numbers among those who are gambling illegally. It is estimated that nearly 47% of the people in the Excluded Persons Information System (EPIS), which is the register of all self excluded players, carry on gambling via unlicensed platforms. This is a direct attack on one of the main consumer protection principles of the regulated gambling system. Similarly, here, these operators avoid Belgian gaming taxes and are not contributing to prevention programs or helping gambling addicts.
Underground gambling Hurts Local Economies
The challenge of unlicensed online gambling continues to cast its shadow over the entire EU. For instance, a research commissioned this year by the European Gaming and Betting Association, pointed out that unlicensed gambling operators that attract EU players generate a turnover of 10 to 12 billion euros from gross gaming revenue annually, thus, these operators constitute approximately 10 to 15% of the total online gaming market in the EU.
In the Netherlands, a 2024 independent research revealed that the illegal gambling market share has jumped from about 20% in 2021 to over 35% by the end of 2023. The authors of the research suggested that the strict deposit limit and advertising restrictions for licensed operators were the main reasons for the increase. A similar plot can be seen in Germany, where the 2023 data show that legal platforms accounted for only 50 to 55% of the online gaming market.
Easier Entry Drives Rise in Black Market Gambling
These conclusions align well with a 2024 study by H2 Gambling Capital that examined the EU as well as other regions. The report states that after players’ protection measures were introduced, illegal online gambling activities increased in eight out of the ten European markets. The Yield Sec 2025 research has indicated that 71% of the EU gambling market might presently be covered by the black market platforms.
All the mentioned studies came to the same result, i.e., the main factors behind the black market’s expansion, which they were able to pinpoint, are as follows.
Firstly, non-licensed operators offer a more attractive way of gambling with no deposit limits or affordability checks, and on top of that, to lure the players, they give much bigger bonuses and quicker withdrawals than their licensed counterparts. Secondly, the wide use of crypto and other alternative payment methods has become a norm and thus disappears even more barriers for the black market customers.
Besides that, one more issue is that although governments and regulators continually shut down black market websites, these sites usually manage to reopen very quickly under new domain names, thus making the bans less effective. Licensed operators who are members of BAGO are dealing with the issue not only by complying with the regulatory rules but also by figuring out ways to go beyond the regulations to help the players, says the association.
BAGO Operators Prioritize Player Engagement
Following a new Duty of Care Charter, the members are leveraging technology to detect changes in gambling behaviors that point to a player’s risk. It covers looking out for increased betting amounts or longer playing sessions, especially during late hours, as potential signs of a gambling problem.
According to them, technology is merely a tool that should be backed up by genuine human contact in order to be effective in player support. At such times, the operator sends a licensed representative to the player with the problem to politely suggest the player to lessen his/her dependence on gambling. It also indicates the necessity of collaborating with researchers and regulators to develop preventive measures that are based on real results instead of assumptions.
The most critical point is to give the Gambling Commission the necessary tools to force its laws by cutting off unauthorized sites and disrupting their payment methods. The other two priorities are to assess the impact of new regulations on the practice of channeling and to ensure that the rules are uniformly enforced among all the players in the market for the sake of consumers’ protection and maintaining transparency.
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