Belgian Class A, B+ & F+ Gaming Licence - Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC)

License Name

Belgian Class A, B+ & F+ Gaming Licence

Issuing Country/Region

Belgium

Regulatory Body

Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC)

Types of Regulated Games

Land-based and online casino games (A, A+), slot machine arcades and online arcades (B, B+), and online betting (F+)

Market Coverage

Local

Regulator's Reputation

Excellent

Legal Entity Requirements

Company must be registered in Belgium or another EU/EEA country; local representative required; physical office in Belgium

Minimum Share Capital

Proof of solvency and financial health; minimum €250,000 guarantee for A/A+, €75,000 for B+/F+

Directors and Shareholders Requirements

Full identification; no criminal history; beneficial ownership declaration; directors cannot control a Class E licensee

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Requirements

Mandatory AML policies, customer identification, ongoing transaction monitoring, internal training, and appointment of AML compliance officer

Data Protection Requirements

Full GDPR compliance required; player data handling under strict legal rules; permanent data link with regulator for online platforms

Reporting Requirements

Ad hoc and regular reporting to BGC; suspicious activity, fiscal, and technical reports

Audit Requirements

Regular audits and solvency checks by Belgian certified auditor/accountant

Software Certification Requirements

Game software and platforms must be certified by approved labs (Class E licensed B2B suppliers)

RNG Certification

RNGs must be certified to assure fairness and randomness for all chance-based games

Payment System Requirements

Only certified payment systems; mandatory secure processing and transparent transaction tracking

Server Location Requirements

Server must be located in Belgium or within the EEA for online operations

Domain Name Requirements

Local (.be) domains preferred; local presence required for online activities

Language Support Requirements

Dutch, French, and German (at least one official Belgian language)

Currency Support Requirements

EUR

Legal Compliance Costs

Application and licence fees; annual fees; solvency guarantee (€250,000 for A+/A, €75,000 for B+, F+), ongoing legal expenses

Background Checks

Detailed criminal, financial, and fiscal checks for all directors, shareholders, and ultimate beneficial owners

License Scope Restrictions

Online licenses (A+, B+, F+) can only be granted to existing land-based licensees (A, B, F1)

Jurisdictional Tax Compliance

Operators subject to 11% GGR tax on online operations and local tax filings

Player Data Storage Requirements

Data must be securely stored and GDPR compliant; retention period as per Belgian/EU law

Cross-Border Operations

Only companies from the EU/EEA eligible; local presence mandatory for operations

License Application Transparency

Process published by BGC with thorough documentation requirements and strict review

Regulatory Contact Point

Belgian Gaming Commission

Compliance Officer Requirement

Designation of responsible AML/compliance officer required

Local Partnership Requirements

To obtain online licence (A+, B+, F+), partnership with an existing physical licence holder is mandatory

Legal Dispute Resolution

Legal disputes resolved under Belgian jurisdiction, with potential for court or arbitration

License Transferability

Transfer not permitted; any changes in ownership structure must be notified and approved by BGC

Sub-Licensing Rules

Not permitted

License Cost

€22,085 (A/A+) and €8,920 (B+) annual licence fee (2024)

Annual Fees

€22,085 (A, A+), €8,920 (B+), €22,085 (F+)

Income Taxes

11% on Gross Gaming Revenue for online, higher rates (up to 21%) may apply for sports betting

Player Winnings Taxes

Recreational players' winnings are not taxed; professional gamblers' income may be taxed

Financial Guarantees

€250,000 (A/A+), €75,000 (B+, F+), paid to the Deposit and Consignments Fund

Liquidity Requirements

Proof of solvency required, with regular updates

Financial Reporting Requirements

Annual and ad hoc fiscal reports

Application Processing Time

Up to 6 months from complete application submission

Required Documents

Company statutes, registration data, director/owner ID, criminal records, tax certificates, business plan, technical documentation, financial solvency proof

Business Plan Requirements

Submission required

Internal Policy Requirements

AML, responsible gaming, player protection, and complaint handling policies mandatory

Testing Requirements

Full platform and game certification by licensed Class E supplier

Certification Requirements

All technical and gaming systems certified by BGC-approved auditors/labs

Staff Qualifications

Key staff vetted; directors and significant shareholders require background checks

Physical Office Requirements

Physical presence required in Belgium

Local Representative Requirements

Mandatory for non-Belgian entities

Marketing Restrictions

Strict rules, bonuses restricted or banned for new customers, mandatory advertising restraint and approval

Responsible Gaming Measures

Mandatory limits (€200/week per player for online), self-exclusion (EPIS), real-time verification, player activity monitoring

Self-Exclusion System

Participation in EPIS self-exclusion database required

Age Verification Procedures

Compulsory; ID and age checks at registration and player entry

KYC Procedures

Stringent customer identification and verification, incl. ongoing monitoring

Customer Support Standards

Platform must provide support in local language(s)

Complaint Handling Procedures

Accessible complaint process; regulator must have access to player complaints

Player Funds Protection

Player funds separated from company operational funds

Payout Timelines

Cash payout within 3 business days; dormant accounts refunded

Bonus and Promotion Regulations

Bonuses for under-25 restricted, first deposit bonuses heavily limited, overall advertising and promotion highly controlled

Permitted Games List

As per BGC; prohibited games not licensed or authorised by the regulator

Betting Limits

€200/week deposit cap; additional limits for under-25s and by game type

RTP Requirements

Games must conform to fairness and payout policies; minimum RTP published by BGC per game type

Jackpot Regulations

Operator must guarantee payout; transparency and fairness required

Live Game Requirements

Only permitted for licensed land-based establishments linked to online operations

Mobile App Compliance

Online platforms, including mobile, must meet all technical, responsible gaming, and security rules

Affiliate Program Rules

Affiliates must comply with all BGC advertising, registration, and responsible gaming guidelines

Security Standards

Secure information handling; BGC mandates strict information security and integrity

Encryption Requirements

Mandatory use of encryption (SSL/TLS) for all communications

Backup Requirements

Operators must have robust regular data backup procedures

Monitoring Systems

Website activity, player identification, and transaction monitoring for suspicious activities

Operation Logging

Complete operational logging required and available to BGC on request

Anti-Fraud Systems

Full anti-fraud and AML measures implemented

API Integration Standards

B2B suppliers (Class E) provide compliant APIs for licensed operators

Hosting Requirements

Servers must be within EEA; physical presence in Belgium for some license types

Scalability Requirements

Infrastructure must support high demand and comply with regulator’s uptime/service requirements

Uptime Requirements

Operators required to provide maximum possible availability

Technical Support Availability

24/7 support not mandatory but highly recommended

License Duration

15 years (Class A/A+), 9 years (B+/F+), renewable on compliance

Renewal Procedure

Renewal involves re-submission of up-to-date documentation and compliance evidence to BGC

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Administrative fines, licence suspension or revocation

Ownership Change Rules

Any structural changes in shareholders or directors must be notified and approved by BGC

Mergers and Acquisitions Rules

Regulated by BGC; must show continual compliance post-change

Subcontractor Regulations

Only BGC-licensed Class E B2B suppliers may provide platforms/services

Branding Requirements

Licensed operator must display “Always Play Legally” logo and licence details on site

Intellectual Property Protection

Software and content used must be lawfully obtained and licensed

Dispute Arbitration

Legal action possible in Belgian courts; mediation or arbitration under Belgian law possible

Official Address

Kansspelcommissie/Commission des Jeux de Hasard, Cantersteen 47, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Work Hours

Monday–Friday, 9:00–12:00

Departments

Licensing, Compliance & Enforcement, Technical Evaluations, Player Protection, Secretariat

FAQ Question 1

What is Belgian Class A, B+ & F+ Gaming Licence?

FAQ Answer 1

Licences issued by the Belgian Gaming Commission authorizing land-based casinos (A), online arcades (B+), and online betting (F+) under strict national regulation.

FAQ Question 2

Which jurisdiction issues Belgian Class A, B+ & F+ Gaming Licence?

FAQ Answer 2

Belgium; licences are issued and regulated by the Belgian Gaming Commission.

FAQ Question 3

What is the cost of obtaining Belgian Class A, B+ & F+ Gaming Licence?

FAQ Answer 3

The annual fee is €22,085 for Class A/A+ and F+, and €8,920 for B+ (2024). A guarantee of €250,000 for A/A+ and €75,000 for B+, F+ is also required.

FAQ Question 4

What are the main requirements for Belgian Class A, B+ & F+ Gaming Licence?

FAQ Answer 4

Local legal entity or EU/EEA registration, compliance with AML/GDPR, solvency guarantee, certified software, strong responsible gaming controls, and ongoing regulatory reporting and oversight.