Belgium has been enacting one new measure after the next, all designed to protect consumers and ensure that the clout of offshore gambling is lessened through the implementation of player-centric measures.
Player-Centric Measures Score Early-Day Success
Despite better intentions, however, the latest research from DataSynergy, a research agency, commissioned by the Belgian Gaming Commission (KSC), the country’s watchdog, shows that there are some areas for improvement.
The main focus of the research was to assess how the introduction of the new minimum gambling age of 21 years of age, up from the previously 18 years of age, since September 1, 2024, has impacted the market and whether it has made it less likely for players to register at unlicensed websites offshore.
The data used input from 1,001 respondents aged between 18 and 30. Essentially, the research looked into how recognizable offshore gambling brands are and discovered that 44% of all respondents did indeed recognize at least one prominent brand, pointing to the prevalence and permeance of the market.
However, 94% of people interviewed recognized at least one licensed brand, indicating that awareness for regulated products was still higher in the country. Licensed providers such as Casino777, Unibet, and Napoleon Games were among the best-known licensed brands, and bet365 and Stake were among the best-recognized unlicensed brands.
Although bet365 and Stake are not operating under a Belgian iGaming license, they are still well-established companies with a global standard for consumer protection and responsible play. The new measures implemented last year, however, have had a tangible impact on the level of participation of those aged between 18 and 21, the research indicated.
Participation in Illegal Gambling Websites Remains Fairly Steady
Previously, in that age group specifically, the participation level dropped from 51% previously to 39% based on the most recent research. Another noteworthy figure is the rate of channelization in the country, with 65% of respondents saying that they participated in gambling through a licensed gambling website exclusively
28% of respondents said that they participated in gambling exclusively through unlicensed websites. Interestingly, when it came to how people found out about gambling websites, there was a notable shift – younger people were more likely to trust TV advertising, whereas older people were more likely to trust online marketing.
A recent survey by the Belgian Association of Licensed Gaming Operators (BAGO) has cautioned that 47% of all self-excluded people were found to have switched their gambling habits to unregulated websites that allow them to continue gambling despite the fact that they are registered problem gamblers.