As of 1 June, the Federal Public Service Economy will oversee the Belgian Gambling Commission.
 

Key Points

The change reflects gambling’s growing economic significance

The reform strengthens the fight against illegal gambling

Municipalities will have more influence over granting gambling licences
 

Starting 1 June, the Belgian Gambling Commission, Kansspelcommissie (KSC), will come under the authority of the Federal Public Service (FPS) Economy and will be supervised by the Minister of Economy.

 The Chamber of Representatives approved this change in a plenary session. Previously, the commission was under the FPS Justice and the Minister of Justice.

This move is based on the belief that gambling is no longer just a matter of public order, but has become a significant economic sector with considerable economic impact.

The reform is part of the Government coalition agreement and aims to strengthen the fight against illegal gambling, both online and offline, while ensuring fair competition and protecting players.

Municipalities will also play a greater role in deciding whether to grant licences to gambling establishments.

Late last year, the KSC forged an alliance with DNS Belgium in the fight against black market gambling websites. DNS Belgium is responsible for managing domain names in the country, and this agreement ought to give the KSC better oversight of illicit websites using the '.be' domain.

In February 2026, the Belgian N-VA party, together with Middelkerke's Mayor Jean-Marie Dedecker, proposed a bill to reinstate the deductibility of the regional gambling tax for corporate income tax purposes.  

From 1 January 2024, this regional gambling tax is not deductible as a business expense for corporate tax purposes. At that time, the operators of the nine Belgian land-based casinos expressed concerns that this measure could threaten their profitability. 

Recent research from Ghent University suggests that the stricter rules on gambling advertising in Belgium have so far had a limited effect on gambling behaviour.

Despite regulatory measures, exposure to gambling promotions persists. The researchers have called for a total ban on advertising and sponsorship.

 

 

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