Belgium’s gambling market has shown remarkable resilience in 2023, with the Commission des Jeux de Hasard (CJH) reporting a 16.7% increase in gross gaming revenue (GGR). The total GGR for the year reached €1.7 billion, a significant rise from €1.5 billion in 2022. This growth comes despite the Belgian government imposing tougher restrictions on the sector, including a weekly loss limit for players and a ban on all gambling advertising from mid-2023.
Growth in Online and Offline Markets
The surge in GGR was driven by robust performance across both online and offline gambling sectors. Online gambling GGR grew by 18% to €944.6 million, demonstrating the increasing shift towards digital platforms. Meanwhile, offline gambling also saw substantial growth, with GGR reaching €758 million, a 15.2% year-on-year increase.
This growth comes in the face of heightened regulations introduced by the Belgian government. Since 2022, operators have been required to enforce a weekly loss limit for players, which was reduced from €500 to €200. Further tightening occurred in mid-2023, when a ban on all gambling advertising came into effect on July 1, following an unsuccessful attempt by a consortium of Belgian sports teams and operators to overturn the decision.
Casino Sector Leads the Charge
Belgium’s casino sector was a standout performer in 2023, with GGR increasing by 18.7% to €594.9 million. This growth was largely fueled by a 20.2% rise in online casino revenue, which reached €455 million. Although brick-and-mortar casinos did not match the growth rate of their online counterparts, they still reported a 14.3% increase in GGR, totaling €139.9 million.
Among the nine land-based casinos in Belgium, Grand Casino Brussels, operated by Casinos Austria International, led the market with an offline GGR of €52.5 million. Circus Casino Resort Namur followed with €22.5 million. However, Casino Blankenberge, acquired by Kindred Group in 2020, was the only venue to report a year-on-year decline in GGR.
Mixed Results for Slot Arcades and Sports Betting
Slot arcades also saw strong growth, with GGR rising by 17.3% to €437 million. Online activity was a key driver, accounting for 57.7% of slot hall revenue and growing by 19.4% to €252 million. In-person slot arcade GGR increased by 14.5% to €184.9 million.
In contrast, the sports betting sector experienced more modest growth, with GGR increasing by 8.4% to €390 million. Online sports betting remained dominant, contributing 60.9% of the sector’s total GGR and growing by 12.8% to €237.6 million. Revenue from betting shops grew at a slower pace, rising by just 2.3% to €152.4 million.
The CJH noted that ten of the 24 licensed operators were responsible for 96% of offline bets and 94% of online wagers, highlighting the concentration of the market. Despite there being 30 available licenses, only 24 were in use throughout the year.
