Illegal Gambling on the Rise Among Young Belgians
More than a quarter of Belgian youth between 18 and 30 years old are using illegal gambling sites. This is according to a new research report by DataSynergy commissioned by the Belgian Gaming Commission. The study was conducted in April 2025, after the implementation of stricter advertising restrictions and the increase in the minimum age for gambling.
Since September 1, 2024, the minimum age for participating in games of chance and betting in Belgium has been raised from 18 to 21 years. However, the research shows that 39% of 18- to 20-year-olds still participate in gambling activities, despite this being legally prohibited. While this is a decrease compared to 2023 (51%), participation remains present.
Although Belgian youth predominantly use legal gambling sites (84%), the report reveals that 28% also use illegal gambling sites. Eight percent of participants even gamble exclusively at illegal online casinos. Among respondents who have gambled online since September 2024, 19% combined both legal and illegal platforms.
The top ten most used websites include three online casinos that are illegal in Belgium: Stake, bet365, and 22bet. This also reflects the spontaneous awareness of gambling platforms: 25% spontaneously mention an illegal site, an increase compared to 2023.
The aided awareness, where the names of the gambling companies are presented to the respondents, of legal websites is at 94%, with Unibet, Napoleon Games, and Casino777 being the most frequently mentioned names. The awareness of illegal websites via this method has increased to 44%. Stake and bet365 are also among the most recognized providers here, according to the Belgian Gaming Commission.
BAGO: 47% of Excluded Gamblers Continue to Play Illegally
Industry organization BAGO is also raising the alarm about the growth of the illegal gambling market in Belgium. According to its own research, BAGO states that 47% of excluded gamblers (via the Belgian EPIS system) still continue to gamble via illegal gambling sites. In addition, 65% of players younger than 21 are now active with illegal providers. According to BAGO, 97% of that younger group recognizes at least one illegal gambling brand.
BAGO previously reported that almost half of Belgian men between 18 and 21 years old gambled on illegal websites in 2023. According to the new research, that share has increased further, despite the increase in the minimum age for online gambling to 21 years in September 2024.
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