Belgian Gaming Commission

The Belgian Gaming Commission supervises and issues gambling licenses in Belgium. The Commission is responsible for all possible gambling activities, including land-based institutions and online casinos.

Regulator licensed casinos

On the Commission's official website, players can find a list of online casinos and land-based gambling establishments that have received specialized licenses and legally provide their services in Belgium. The most famous online casinos are Pokerstars, Unibet, Ladbrokes, and Bwin.

The special section of the website presents a list of online websites and their license numbers. There's also a section called "black list," where gambling sites that illegally provide services are listed.

Belgian Gaming Commission review

The Belgian Gaming Commission was established in 1999 when the Gambling and Betting Act was passed. The act fully regulates the authority's work.
The Commission consists of one person from the main authorities:

• President,
• Health Ministry,
• Economy Ministry,
• Internal Affairs Ministry,
• Justice Department,
• Ministry of Finance,
• Ministry of National Lotteries.

The Commission meets monthly.
The scope of the organization includes licensing:

• Land-based casinos,
• Online casinos,
• Bookmakers,
• Companies that accept sports betting on the Internet,
• Pokie machines in bars,
• Opening of pokie machine halls,
• Guarantee and service of pokie machines,
• Casino staff training.

In addition to its main task (issuing gambling licenses), the regulator acts as an adviser to the government in gambling matters and issues permits for the construction and operation of buildings and structures that will include pokie machine halls, bookmakers, or casinos. It also checks licensed land-based casinos and illegal clubs.

It should be noted that the Commission is very demanding about the execution of the law and constantly monitors its compliance.

For example, the Betway company, well-known in online gambling in 2017, was suspected of possible money laundering, as their financial transactions were not sufficiently transparent. It is also worth it because Betway violated the procedure for obtaining a gambling license. To obtain a license, the operator must cooperate with local land-based casinos, and Betway ignored this fact by obtaining a gambling license for its subsidiary.

The Belgian Gaming Commission swiftly reacts to changes in the online gambling industry. Everyone knows that in some online games, mainly CS: GO, you can buy random lightboxes and get a unique inventory. Such purchases the Commission equated to gambling and, according to Сasinoz, are justified.

License types of Belgian Gaming Commission

The Belgian Gaming Commission has structured all types of gambling entertainment into appropriate categories, with online gambling inextricably linked to land-based casinos. Depending on your business, your company will require one or more license types:

• "Licence A" is required for the operation of land-based casinos in Belgium. The number of operating institutions is strictly regulated and should not exceed nine simultaneously operating casinos. The license is valid for 15 years from the date of receipt. A Security Deposit of 250,000 Euros is required to receive it.
• "License A+" is required for online casinos in Belgium (that is, the casino can accept players from this country). You can apply for a license only if you have a "license A." The license is valid for 15 years from the date of receipt. A Security Deposit of 250,000 Euros is required to receive it.
• "Licence B" is required by operators to open offline pokie machines. The license is valid for nine years from the date of receipt. A total of 180 licenses are provided. A Security Deposit of 75,000 Euros is required to receive it.
• "Licence B+" is required for operators to open online casinos with pokie machines. The license is valid for nine years from the date of receipt. A Security Deposit of 75,000 Euros is required to receive it.
• "Licence C" is necessary for opening electronic bingo lotteries (pokie machines) in bars and other drinking establishments. The owner can put no more than two machines. The license is valid for five years.
• "Licence D" is used for casino staff (croupier, management). It is issued for a period of five years after the e-learning course. 
• "License E" is issued to service personnel and companies performing pokie machine service work. It is issued for ten years. A Security Deposit of 12,500 euros is required if no more than 50 pokies are serviced, and a Deposit of 25,000 euros if more.
• "License F1, F2, and F1+" are inextricably linked. F1 license allows you to organize sports sweepstakes. F2 license allows you to take bets on sports. The F1 + license allows the holder (F1, F2) to accept bets over the Internet. The Security Deposit for obtaining a license is 10 000 Euros.
• "License G1 and G2" are necessary for the organization of gambling by means of media. These include raffles via SMS, quizzes on the phone, etc.

The Commission demands the initial documentation package for applying for a gambling license. If a foreign company applies, this list is significantly expanded.

The process of obtaining permits for the conduct and organization of online gambling does not oblige the company to open a land-based casino or pokie machine hall. Moreover, it would not be realistic, given the strict restrictions on the number of gambling clubs in the country. Therefore, online casinos wishing to accept players from Belgium can agree with any land-based casino and obtain a license based on this agreement.

Dispute resolution

The Belgian Gambling Commission pays great attention not to resolving disputes with gambling establishments but, first of all, to directing efforts to prevent casino games. On the Commission's official website, there is a whole section titled "THE PROTECTION OF THE PLAYER." It contains extensive information on how to overcome gambling addiction.

Note that playing at online casinos without this license is illegal for Belgian citizens.

The player can be fined from 26 to 25 000 Euros.

If the player has difficulties obtaining winnings from the casino or other complaints about the institution, you must send a complaint through the feedback form or an e-mail.

Conclusion

The Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC) is a very demanding organization. First, it concerns strict conditions for online operators wishing to provide citizens of this country with access to games. Given this, not many online casinos in Belgium have a gambling license.