Belgian KSC Reports a Record Number of Self-Exclusion Requests in July 2025

By July 2025, locals had submitted 61,095 inquiries via the Itsme digital ID platform or in written form. In comparison, there were only 12,509 such messages throughout all of 2024.

Key Figures of Belgium’s Gaming Market

On a monthly basis, KSC successfully intercepts approximately 40,000 attempts to engage in RMG activities by self-excluded gamblers. All such instances are duly documented in the official register.

As outlined in the authority’s latest published report:

• about 38,000 tries are rejected on online portals;
• another 2,000 are banished from ground gambling venues.

Numerous players reactivate their restriction feature several times throughout the year. Belgian legislation indicates that the minimum duration of the prohibition is 3 months from the date it is approved. Not only participants, but also their relatives can request to be excluded from access to entertainment services. All such inquiries are reviewed on an individual basis.

Approach to Tackling Shadow Portals

In early 2024, Belgium launched the Always Play Legally campaign, a government initiative to raise awareness among residents about recognising certified operators. This large-scale project rapidly garnered broad public endorsement and became a crucial part of the national policy to restrict access to the unregulated sector.

However, despite the vigorous promotion of the programme, in Q1 2025, the regulator discovered nearly 1,300 instances of advertising containing manipulative elements. These marketing materials were spread via Meta’s resources.

Belgian Legal Gambling Sector’s Prospects

The country's self-exclusion system has proven effective as a voluntary protection instrument, demonstrating positive results. Nevertheless, as the control authorities implement more measures, there is a corresponding increase in the number of players turning to shadow portals. Data from the Belgian Association of Gaming Operators report is evidence of it.

The investigation revealed that 47% of self-excluded residents still place cash bets on offshore websites. To effectively control the industry, the state must adopt a more comprehensive and balanced approach to its monitoring and transparency provision.

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