Belgium has adopted new laws set to raise the minimum gambling age and place further restrictions on operators. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Belgium has introduced new laws that equalize the minimum age for almost all forms of gambling to 21 years old.

Previously, the country had a discrepancy where players were required to be 21 to gamble in land-based casinos, but not for sports betting, arcades, or bingo.

Belgium has introduced several restrictions on online gambling companies in recent years. In 2023, virtually all forms of advertising were banned, and since 2020, bonuses and free bets have also been prohibited. There is also a weekly deposit limit of €200 ($220.81).

the Belgian national lottery was the most prominent operator to evade the new restrictions

The bill will now tighten those restrictions even further, although there are some notable exceptions. The Belgian national lottery was the most prominent operator to evade the new restrictions and will still be eligible to play for those aged 18 or older.

However, the restrictions may have some unintended consequences for regulators. A report released in April of this year showed that after the 2023 advertising ban, there was an increase in Belgians accessing illegal offshore gambling platforms.