Eden Hazard’s Tie-up with Stake.com Could Lead to Sanctions in Belgium

Soccer legend Eden Hazard recently became a brand ambassador for the online gambling giant Stake.com and expressed excitement about backing the operator ahead of the World Cup. However, he has now found himself in potential trouble due to the fact that Stake.com is a banned brand in his home country.

Hazard Joined Stake as a Brand Ambassador

Hazard joined the Stake fold a few days ago. The former winger, known for his time at the likes of Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Belgium’s national teams, vowed to work with Stake on a variety of activations and marketing campaigns that promote the company’s brand.

Hazard said that he couldn’t “wait to engage with fans in new and meaningful ways, sharing insights, excitement, and the pure joy of football together with Stake.” The partnership was celebrated with a short promotional video that was shared across Stake’s social media accounts.

The deal sought to tap into Hazard’s huge following across social media, which includes 27 million followers on Instagram, 21 million on Facebook, 6.3 million on X, and 3.75 million on Weibo.

While the deal was praised by Stake.com and Hazard alike, it might mean some trouble for the former pro athlete, who is now being scrutinized in his home country of Belgium.

Hazard Could Face Sanctions in Belgium

For context, Belgium boasts some of the strictest gambling rules and prohibits the advertising of gambling. To top it all off, Stake.com is one of the gambling websites appearing on the Belgian Gaming Commission’s black list.

As a result, the Belgian Gaming Commission is now planning an investigation into the matter to determine whether Stake’s collaboration with Hazard directly targets the Belgian market. If so, Hazard would be given a formal notice to cut his ties with the gaming powerhouse. Failure to do so could result in further sanctions.

For context, Stake.com has been a prohibited brand since 2021, when the commission blacklisted it along with several other operators. The reason was its lack of a license, since Belgium only allows licensed companies to offer gaming.