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Sports betting is one of Belgium's most popular pastimes. From Belgium's long history in horse racing to the nation's new-found love for eSports, sports and betting are rooted in the nation's culture.
While online gambling has only been legal in Belgium since 2011, Belgium's association with gambling dates back centuries before that. History books tell that card games and lottery-style games of chance were played in Belgium in 1300.
Belgium introduced its national lottery in the 15th century, with gambling in Belgium having become more diverse and sophisticated with every year that has passed since. Now, Belgian residents can gamble on a long list of markets and play tons of casino games, whether that be in one of the country's 9 land-based casinos or online via one of the many Belgium betting sites available.
Legal Sports Betting in Belgium
While regulated betting is now part of modern Belgian society, it has not always been. Belgium has a long and interesting history when it comes to its legal gambling sector. As the founding member of the European Union, Belgium is a country that very much leads by example. This is reflected in the strict nature of the Belgian igaming laws. Belgium's iGaming industry is government and regulated by The (Belgian) Gaming Commission. This body is responsible for issuing licences and monitoring operators' compliance in line with the Gambling Act.
In 2024, it was announced that the legal age for sports betting in Belgium would rise from 18 to 21. This amendment to the Gambling Act was met with resistance. Another law that Belgian punters need to be aware of is the mandatory spending cap. This is a blanket rule that placed a 200 EUR weekly deposit limit on betting accounts. However, players can apply to have this increased and, in some cases, removed altogether.
Although betting sites licensed by The Belgian Gaming Commission are notoriously strict, they are not the only options available to bettors in Belgium. Due to the rising popularity of online sports betting in the country, many offshore operators have started to accept Belgium players. This means that Belgian gamblers have more betting sites to choose from than ever before.
Popular Sports to Bet on at Belgian Betting Sites
Belgian punters enjoy betting on all sorts of sporting events and occasions. This has led to betting sites carrying impressively long lists of markets. Below, we look at the most popular events to bet on, as well as some niche markets that are gathering pace throughout the nation:
Football
This century's golden generation at international level epitomises football's long-standing popularity in Belgium. This popularity is seen in the betting markets, with Belgian football fans passionate about placing predictions on matches featuring The Red Devils. As well as betting on events in the Jupiler Pro League and Champions League, Belgians wager on everything from World Cup games to Premier League matches, with football markets readily available at all online sportsbooks.
Horse Racing
Belgium is home to several globally renowned racecourses, such as Hippodrome de Wallonie, Hippodrome Waregem and Hippodrome Wellington. Horse racing is a popular spectator sport, drawing a great deal of attention among bettors. Most Belgium betting sites will list daily horse racing markets, covering racing taking place at Belgium tracks and in various other countries. Whether you wish to bet on The Grand Steeple-Chase des Flandres or the Cheltenham Festival, you will face no trouble finding prices for your predictions.
Cycling
Cycling is the national sport of Belgium, with the famously flat country giving us some real cycling superstars such as Eddy Merckx. This love for the sport is evident when looking at the betting sites in Belgium. Belgium bookmakers make cycling events widely accessible, with odds and promotions available for cycling events taking place globally. From Tour de France to cycling at the Olympics, Belgium's cycling bettors are spoilt for choice when it comes to market selection.
Golf
Betting on golf can be truly fascinating, with a great number of bet types and golf betting markets found at Belgium betting sites. From predicting the outcome of the Belgian stop on the DP World Tour's global schedule (Soudal Open) to US Open bets, golf bettors have options galore!
eSports
eSports betting is growing in popularity across the world, and Belgium is no exception. In Belgium, punters enjoy betting on markets, including Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Fortnite, League of Legends, StarCraft II and Overwatch. This has seen the rise of eSports-online betting sites across European gambling jurisdictions.
Virtual Sports
Virtual sports became a hot topic due to the coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent lockdowns. With sporting events cancelled or postponed, betting on virtual sports has become the norm for Belgians. This enjoyment of wagering on virtual football matches and horse races has continued, with 9 out of 10 bookmakers carrying "Virtual" markets for their punters to tap into.
Political Betting and Alternative Markets
Although sporting events are what people head to Belgium betting sites for, games and matches are not the only markets able to bet on. Nowadays, online betting sites offer customers the chance to bet on everything from political outcomes to reality TV shows and singing competitions!
Aside from the above, most betting sites in Belgium will feature the following markets in their sportsbook:
Rugby Union, Rugby League, Tennis, Table Tennis, Basketball, Handball, Trotting, Boxing, MMA, Badminton, Motorsports, Swimming, Lacrosse and Darts.
Important Features of Top Betting Sites in Belgium
When comparing the betting sites in Belgium, it is important to focus on the following features:
- Language Options: Belgium players will want to know that their betting site can accommodate their individual needs, especially when it comes to support services. This is why having multiple language options is always an advantage. When reviewing the betting sites of Belgium, we were happy to see that most could be used in French, German, Dutch, English and various other languages.
- Live Chat: Live Chat is an important feature that all great betting sites possess. Belgium's leading sportsbooks will offer 24-hour Live Chat support 365 days a year. However, some are managed by Chatbots rather than human customer support representatives. Sportsbooks with human customer support agents are certainly the preferred option.
- Responsible Gambling Policy: A betting site is only as great as its Responsible Gambling policy. This is a policy that outlines the betting site's responsible gambling services and infrastructure. The more robust and comprehensive this policy is, the safer the betting platform is to use.
- Betting Markets: Regardless of whether you like to place bets on different sports regularly or are just interested in making football predictions, your betting site needs to reflect the markets that you are most interested in. When rating Belgium betting sites, we always give weight to bookmakers covering tens of markets that include popular and nice sporting events.
- Offers and Promotions: Betting offers are beneficial for many different reasons. As well as giving punters the opportunity to try new markets and explore different bet types, bettors can also save money by claiming certain betting promotions. Some of the most advantageous betting offers for Belgians include free bets, acca insurance, refer-a-friend bonuses and loyalty rewards.
- Design and Functionality: The visual aspects of a betting site are a lot more important than you may think. A superbly designed website can add to the usability and excitement of the betting experience. Here at betting.bet we value bookies with clean, intuitive websites that present perfectly on all sized screens.