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Gaming law in Hasselt is primarily shaped by federal Belgian legislation, supplemented by Flemish regional rules and Hasselt municipal bylaws. In Belgium, a game of chance exists when players stake money for the possibility of a gain or loss and the outcome is wholly or partly determined by chance. The Belgian Gaming Commission supervises licensing, compliance, and enforcement. Operators that wish to offer land-based casinos, slot arcades, betting shops, or online gambling must hold the appropriate Belgian licenses and comply with player-protection, anti-money laundering, and advertising rules. Hasselt adds local layers related to zoning, permits, and public order for physical premises.
For video games and esports, most play is outside gambling law. However, features such as paid loot boxes can be treated as games of chance if they meet legal criteria, and betting on esports is regulated like sports betting. Individuals in Hasselt who use gambling services are protected by strict age limits, self-exclusion options, and responsible-gambling measures that operators must implement.
You may need a lawyer experienced in gaming law in any of the following situations.
- You plan to open a casino, slot arcade, café with gaming machines, or betting shop in Hasselt and need help with Belgian licensing, Flemish environmental and building permits, and city zoning rules.
- You are launching or partnering on an online gambling platform and must navigate Belgian online extensions to land-based licenses, technical requirements, and cross-border compliance.
- You run a video game or esports business and need advice on whether in-game monetization such as loot boxes, token packs, or skins trading could qualify as a game of chance under Belgian law.
- You need guidance on advertising and sponsorship in light of Belgium’s tightened gambling advertising restrictions and possible municipal signage limits.
- You require compliance programs for anti-money laundering, KYC, age verification, credit card restrictions, deposit limits, and data protection obligations.
- You face an investigation or sanction by the Belgian Gaming Commission, payment blocking, website blocking, or criminal charges for unlicensed gambling.
- You are a landlord or developer assessing whether to lease to a gaming arcade or betting operator and want to manage permitting, nuisance, and reputational risk.
- You are a neighbor or community group seeking to object to or condition a proposed arcade or betting shop during the permit process.
- You are a player disputing a bonus term, withdrawal, account closure, self-exclusion error, or data privacy issue with an operator.
- You need tax advice on gaming duty and accounting for gaming revenue, or on VAT exemptions and reporting obligations as they apply in Flanders.
Legal framework. The core law is the Belgian Gambling Act of 7 May 1999, as amended. It defines games of chance and sets the national licensing system. The Belgian Gaming Commission licenses, supervises, and enforces. Flemish regional rules affect taxes and permits for land-based premises. Hasselt can impose local conditions on location, opening hours, and signage for arcades and betting shops.
Licensing categories. Belgium uses distinct license classes for different activities. Examples include casinos, gaming arcades, café machines, betting organizers and points of sale, manufacturers and distributors, and online extensions of land-based licenses. Online gambling in Belgium generally requires an online extension tied to a corresponding land-based license. Operating without the correct license is illegal even if the servers or company are located abroad.
Age limits. As a rule, entry to casinos and gaming arcades is limited to 21 and over. Betting and café gaming machines are generally limited to 18 and over. Operators must verify age and identity and must refuse access to persons listed on the national self-exclusion register.
Player-protection measures. Belgium operates a central self-exclusion system known as EPIS. Licensed operators must check EPIS before allowing play and must implement responsible-gambling tools such as deposit limits, reality checks, and limits on payment methods. A default weekly deposit limit applies to online gambling. Credit cards are generally prohibited for gambling payments.
Advertising and sponsorship. Since mid-2023 Belgium has introduced broad restrictions on gambling advertising across media, with phased constraints on sports sponsorship. Stricter rules can apply to messages targeting young people. Local signage at premises in Hasselt may also be regulated through municipal bylaws.
Loot boxes and in-game monetization. The Belgian Gaming Commission has taken the position that paid loot boxes and similar mechanics can qualify as games of chance if there is a stake, chance, and a possible gain. Offering such features to Belgian consumers without a license is unlawful. Game publishers often disable or alter these features in Belgium.
Esports and skill contests. Running an esports tournament is generally outside gambling rules if no stake is paid for a chance-based prize. Betting on esports is regulated as betting and requires the appropriate license. Promotional games and skill contests must be designed so that chance does not predominate and that no prohibited stake is involved.
Permits and zoning in Hasselt. Beyond national licensing, physical venues typically require a Flemish integrated environmental and building permit. Hasselt can set conditions on location, maximum number of arcades or betting shops, distances from sensitive sites such as schools, opening hours, and public order measures. Early engagement with the city is advisable.
Anti-money laundering and data protection. Licensed operators are subject to Belgian AML requirements, including customer due diligence, recordkeeping, suspicious transaction reporting, and enhanced controls for higher risk customers. GDPR applies to all processing of player data, with transparency, purpose limitation, retention, and security obligations.
Taxation. Gambling is generally exempt from VAT, but gaming duty applies and treatment depends on game type and the region. Tax rules are complex and change over time, so tailored advice is recommended.
Enforcement and penalties. Violations can lead to administrative sanctions, fines, criminal prosecution, confiscation of equipment, blocking of websites and payments, and closure orders. Consumers may also lose access to funds held with illegal operators.
Yes, gambling is legal in Hasselt when it is conducted by operators holding the appropriate Belgian licenses and when premises comply with Flemish permits and Hasselt municipal rules. Unlicensed gambling is illegal even if organized from outside Belgium.
Yes. You need the relevant Belgian license for the activity, plus local permits for the premises. In Flanders, you generally need an integrated environmental and building permit, and Hasselt may impose zoning and public order conditions. Plan for both levels of approval.
Only with a Belgian online license extension that is linked to a corresponding land-based license category. You must meet technical, player-protection, and payment restrictions. Operating from abroad without a Belgian license is prohibited.
Paid loot boxes that involve a stake, chance, and a potential gain are treated as games of chance. Offering them to Belgian consumers without a gambling license is unlawful. Many publishers disable or modify loot boxes in Belgium to comply.
Casinos and gaming arcades are restricted to 21 and over. Betting and café gaming machines are generally limited to 18 and over. Operators must check identity and the national self-exclusion register before allowing play.
Belgium has imposed broad restrictions on gambling advertising, including online, broadcast, and print, with additional limits on sponsorship. Local signage and promotions at premises may face Hasselt-specific rules. Obtain legal review before any campaign.
Penalties can include administrative fines, criminal prosecution, confiscation of equipment, blocking of websites and payments, and closure orders. Consumers risk losing deposits with illegal operators and have weaker protections.
Belgium uses the EPIS self-exclusion system. Once registered, you are barred from licensed casinos, arcades, betting, and online sites in Belgium until the exclusion is lifted. Operators must check EPIS and refuse access to listed persons.
Yes, esports events are allowed. If there is no paid stake and chance does not determine the prize, they generally fall outside gambling law. Betting on esports requires the appropriate betting licenses. Prize structures and monetization should be reviewed to avoid triggering gambling rules.
During the permit process, proposed projects are usually subject to public notice. You can submit objections within the consultation period. There are routes for administrative appeal if the permit is granted. A lawyer can help draft objections focused on zoning, nuisance, and public order concerns.
- Belgian Gaming Commission.
- Federal Public Service Justice.
- Federal Public Service Finance and the Flemish Tax Administration for gaming duty matters.
- Flemish Omgevingsloket for integrated environmental and building permits.
- City of Hasselt administration for municipal bylaws and local permit conditions.
- Data Protection Authority for GDPR guidance.
- De DrugLijn and Flemish expertise centers for help with problem gambling.
- Clarify your activity. Define exactly what you want to offer in Hasselt, such as a slot arcade, betting shop, café machines, an online extension, or a video game feature with monetization.
- Gather documents. Prepare corporate documents, ownership details, business plans, funding sources, anti-money laundering policies, technical specifications, and responsible-gambling controls.
- Check location and permits. Identify premises that meet Hasselt zoning rules. Confirm whether a Flemish integrated permit is required and plan for the public consultation timeline.
- Map licensing. Determine the Belgian license class you need and any online extension. Do not operate until licenses are granted. Consider partnerships only with fully licensed operators.
- Build compliance. Implement KYC, age verification, EPIS checks, deposit limits, payment restrictions, AML procedures, and GDPR-compliant privacy notices and security.
- Plan advertising carefully. Pre-clear campaigns and sponsorships for compliance with national advertising restrictions and local signage rules.
- Seek legal counsel. Engage a gaming law lawyer familiar with Hasselt and Flemish procedures to manage applications, liaise with authorities, draft policies, and handle objections or appeals.
- Monitor changes. Belgian gaming rules evolve. Assign responsibility to track new regulations, licensing conditions, and enforcement priorities that could impact your operations.
This guide is informational only. For advice on your specific situation in Hasselt, consult a qualified lawyer.
