Belgium Raises Minimum Gambling Age to 21

New Regulations Implemented

In February 2024, Belgium raised the minimum age for all gambling activities to 21 years, aligning the age limits for sports betting, arcades, and bingo with existing regulations for land-based casinos. This move, confirmed by a royal decree last month, aims to enhance youth protection and combat problematic gambling behavior.

Concerns About Illegal Gambling

Despite efforts to strengthen youth protection, experts in Belgium express significant concerns regarding the new age restrictions. The Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO) fears that stricter rules could drive players towards illegal offshore sites, lacking age verification and other safety measures. Overregulation of the legal market may inadvertently promote growth in the unregulated sector, adversely impacting both consumers and the industry.

Belgium Leads in Gambling Regulation

Belgium has emerged as a frontrunner in gambling regulation, implementing stringent measures to safeguard players. Past initiatives include a near-total ban on gambling advertising in July 2023 and a weekly loss limit of €200 for all players to prevent excessive losses. The minimum age for access to land-based casinos was set at 21 in 2018, surpassing other forms of gambling to shield young adults from potential risks.

Progress in Global Gambling Regulations

Following suit, other countries like the UK have recently introduced bans on credit card gambling, albeit with mixed results.

Minimum Gambling Age Comparison

• Belgium: 21 years
• Norway: 18 years
• UK: 18 years
• Spain: 18 years
• USA (Nevada): 21 years
• France: 18 years
• Italy: 18 years

Future Implications

The effectiveness of Belgium’s new regulations in reducing the number of players or potentially driving them towards illegal activities remains to be seen. Should the latter scenario unfold, the government may need to reconsider its decision.