TABLE OF CONTENTS
As the betting industry has shown significant growth in recent years in Belgium, this calls for operators to start their own betting business in the Belgian market. Are you looking for ways on how to start your own betting business in Belgium but cannot figure out how to? Then this guide will help you.
Gain a deeper understanding of the Belgian betting industry and how it is drawing potential players to the Belgian bookmakers and allowing the operator to gain huge profit margins. You will gain insights into crucial aspects associated with setting up your business in the Belgian market ranging from obtaining a license to launching a full-fledged betting platform.
Sports Betting in Belgium: A Quick Overview of the Market
The Belgian Market is developing rapidly, is rich in its culture and known to be one of the best countries economy-wise. It is also well known for its regulated sports betting industry which keeps the gamblers entertained.
Here are the highlights of the Gambling Market in Belgium as per market research:
- The Gambling market can possibly reach US $ 4.64 Billion in 2025.
- The gambling market in Belgium is projected to result in the market volume of a whopping $1148.00m by 2029.
- The user penetration rate is also expected to rise exponentially as users are showing massive interest in the gambling market due to the convenience and accessibility of betting on their mobile phones.
- Even though the age restriction is changed to 21, the online casinos are still attracting a large chunk of the audience through welcome bonuses, free spins, advertisements, etc.
Licenses Required To Start Your Own Betting Business in Belgium
Someone who wants to know how to start a sports betting business in Belgium needs to understand the license acquisitions in the Belgian market. Obtaining a license from the Belgian Gaming Commission is a prerequisite before starting your betting business there.
All operators whether land-based or online, must acquire a license to work in the industry.
| Gaming Establishment Categories | CLASS 1 | CLASS 2 | CLASS 3 | CLASS 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories | Casino | Amusement Arcades | Cafes or Places That Can Sell Alcohol | Bookies |
| Purpose | Required for offering games and bets online in the market | Required for all online arcade games and activities | Required for offering game of chance in drinking cafes and restaurants | Required for organizing bets such as online bets, and bets on horse races |
| Licenses Covered | License A, A+ | License B, B+ | License C | License F, F1, F2, F+ |
| Renewal Period | 15 Years | 9 Years | 5 Years | 9 Years |
Want to start a sportsbook Business?
Get in Touch with us!
How to Open a Sportsbook Business in Belgium
Here is your guide to understanding how to open a sports betting business in Belgium:
Market Research
Conduct thorough research on the Belgian market to understand what their trends are, and gain insights into their betting behaviours, and preferences as well as how the competitors are performing in the market. If you are thinking about how to open a betting business in Belgium successfully, then your market research part has to be stronger.
Understand the ins and outs of the Belgian betting market to position your business just the way you desire.
Plan Your Costings
The budget defines the size and outcome of your sportsbook business to an extent. Plan where and how you are going to spend your money for a successful business. Some start with a low budget but later expand their costs by planning it for branding and new service inclusions.
With a limited budget, you need to be realistic with your offerings, you will have to make alterations and additions to the customization or services based on your budget. For someone with a flexible budget limit, they can start with all the betting services and additional customizations at the very beginning only. Therefore, planning a budget before starting your betting business is crucial.
Define Your Requirements
Decide at this point what all your betting platforms will include. It consists of the software solution you require, features you want to incorporate, market trends you want to cover, as well as the integrations and payment methods you want to add.
Everything at once on the plate leaves room for confusion and complexity. Therefore, it is crucial to define what you require and what you don’t to start somewhere smoothly.
Partner with a reliable software provider
Find a reliable software partner who understands your requirements, puts everything in place for you, and has a deeper understanding of the betting market and trends to meet your demands and requirements. A skilful provider will have an experienced developing team that will help you achieve your business goals by giving it the right direction.
Survey the market, look for software providers, analyze their services, read reviews and feedback to make an informed decision. Additionally, look for a provider that understands the regulations of the Belgian market, so that your platform meets the legal requirements for smooth operation.
Verify Laws and Curate Licenses
Your betting platform needs to be compliant with the laws and regulations necessitated by Belgian Legal Entities. Without the incorporation of laws and regulations into your sportsbook, you can face major legal issues which might take longer to resolve, causing unavoidable problems.
Ensure that you apply for all the necessary licenses to fairly conduct betting on your platform as it protects vulnerable populations, leaves no room for legal activities and prevents fraudulent activities.
Test and Launch Your Betting Platform
Once all of the above steps are completed, the final step involves testing the platform to ensure all the functions of the app are functioning smoothly. Any of the glitches or bugs, if they appear, are fixed properly to meet the user expectations.
Once the testing and optimization of your betting platform are completed, you can move ahead with its launch. Plan your launch in a way that it reaches the maximum targeted customers and highly resonates with their expectations.
READERS OF THIS BLOG ALSO READ
Current Trends & Future of Sports Betting in Belgium
Currently, the Belgian market is experiencing significant growth in betting through mobile, where an operator providing users with a collaborative and convenient way for betting can boost customer retention. Along with it, responsible gambling is being promoted in the Belgian market where existing operators are implementing tools that prioritize responsible betting for bettors.
The inclusion of age verification systems, limiting spending on betting and risk management tools are expected to see a rise in the betting market, expecting a higher user penetration rate in the coming years.
Another major shift that can be expected in the industry is AI adoption to gain accurate insights to improve decision-making and overall operational efficiency.
Last but not least, the sports betting market can also expect sustainable means of betting to eliminate any environmental concerns in future such as cashless transactions as well as environmentally friendly data centres.
EXPLORE MORE BLOGS FROM VARIOUS CATEGORIES
Gammastack: Advanced Sports Betting Software Solution Partner in Belgium
If you have no idea how to start a sports betting business in Belgium, GammaStack is the right place for you. We have a dedicated team of professionals who develop sportsbooks and help you set your foot in the betting industry of Belgium. GammaStack provides end-to-end development for your betting platform. With 13+ years of experience in providing services across the globe, GammaStack has created a distinctive mark on the betting industry. Collaborate with us to get a fully integrated and Compliant betting platform.
With a grave understanding of the industry, the latest advancements, innovative technologies, gaps and challenges, GammaStack helps you curate a solid betting platform considering your development goals. Gain round-the-clock customer support, customized solutions, licensed services and compliance, along with the risk and player management tools for a successful business setup.
Want to Start Your Betting Business in Belgium?
Call Us Today!
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQS)
Yes, we are well versed in the regulations, permits and industry knowledge of Belgium, therefore, we can confidently cater to all your sportsbook business needs to help you start your own betting business in Belgium.
Sports betting is regulated by the Belgian Gaming Commission in Belgium.
Yes, sports betting is permitted in Belgium however, obtaining licenses for a legal operation is a must for operators.
The regulatory body charges a 15% tax from online operators on their total betting revenues under “Tax on Gaming and Betting”. For the professional players, their total earnings will be subjected to tax ranging from 25% to 50% along with social security. However, for occasional players, their earnings are completely tax-free.
Complex UI/UX designs, no bonuses, low-quality solution, constant crashing, unlicensed, lack of security modules, no trackers are some of the mistakes that need to be avoided for a smooth functional sportsbook.
