Online Casino Regulation in Belgium: Are Online Casino Games Legal?
Although several amendments and new laws have been introduced, the main gambling law remains the Gambling Act of May 7, 1999. The key takeaway from this was that any online casino operator must have a physical casino license as well. Gambling, on the whole, is overseen by the Belgian Gaming Commission, which regulates both brick-and-mortar and online casinos in Belgium.
As a result of these regulations, online gambling in Belgium is legal and possible at many trusted online casinos. The Belgium Gaming Commission also regulates the huge variety of casino games found online, from games of chance, such as the lottery and video slots, to classic table games like roulette and poker.
Belgium: Taxation on Casino Winnings
So, you win big and are ready to withdraw the funds, but you might be wondering if you’ll be required to pay taxes on casino winning in Belgium. Well, simply put, there is a fixed tax rate of 11% on the net winnings at casinos in Belgium, but the process of paying them is much simpler than you might imagine.
Players aren’t required to pay the taxes on winnings themselves, nor fill out a complicated tax report and file it to the Belgian government. Instead, the amount is deducted at the source, so when withdrawing at the online casino, the operator will automatically deduct the amount according to the net taxable amount. Exceptions to this are lottery winners, as they aren’t required to pay taxes, and professional casino players must declare their profits and file their tax reports yearly.
Casino Promotions in Belgium
Casino players in Belgium can take advantage of a plethora of bonuses at many online casino sites. These range from an initial welcome bonus to daily free spins and other offers. A standard welcome bonus package in Belgium usually consists of a 100-200% percentage match bonus and some free spins for selected slots.
Many online casinos will also offer additional promotions for existing players, which can be redeemed daily, weekly, or monthly. We expect top-quality casinos in Belgium to have additional loyalty schemes that are lucrative and allow players to climb levels or accumulate points in order to win further prizes.
Bonus Wagering Requirements
Casino promotions in Belgium are varied and can be very generous. Still, we always suggest looking through the wagering requirements and conditions of the bonus to ensure they fit your necessities. Wagering requirements relate to the number of times you must play through the bonus before you are able to withdraw your winning funds. Some exclusive bonuses might not have any wagering requirements; however, the majority of promotions will have between 20-50x wagering depending on the offer.
As well as the wagering requirements, you’ll also find the validity period of the bonus stipulated in the conditions and any other terms that need to be followed, such as which games it’s possible to play and the payment methods that can be used as well.
Best Payment Methods for Online Casinos in Belgium
There are plenty of safe payment options for online casino players in Belgium to use; some are traditional methods that you’ll already be familiar with and others you might not have heard of. The best banking method for you will depend on your requirements for the amount you will usually deposit and the speed of the transaction. However, many of the options you’ll find will generally have quite a high deposit and withdrawal limit and usually are fee-free or at least with low fees.
Players will be more restricted in the size of deposits and withdrawals according to the casino that they choose to play at, so always check that in the casinos’ payment section. They will typically find a wide selection of options at online casinos, though. These are some of the most popular options you’ll find to make deposits and/or withdrawals at casinos in Belgium: