• BAGO study reveals that 1 in 4 players in Belgium are gambling via illegal websites
• According to the study, 47% of all self-excluded players return to gambling via such websites
• BAGO has called for more power to be given to the regulator, allowing it to fight off offshore operators

The Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO), a trade body that focuses on analyzing market trends in the locally-regulated market, has issued a statement in which it outlined the findings of a new study which it highlighting many of the current challenges that the industry faces.

Illegal gambling is very tempting to young people in Belgium

Among those was the fact that 25% of all gamblers were in fact playing on an illegal website, as per the study’s latest findings.

Additionally, the study also highlighted the fact that 47% of all self-excluded players ended up returning to gambling and picking "illegal channels" to do so, highlighting yet another major concern that lawmakers and stakeholders ought to be addressing.

The reason why players prefer illegal gambling channels is that, once they self-exclude, onboarding with such websites is much easier as they require less control, such as age verification, deposit limits or self-exclusion checks.

BAGO Chairman Tom De Clercq said that the current status quo sets everyone on a "slippery slope," arguing that overbearing regulation has diminished the sector’s competitiveness at a time when offshore gambling websites need not comply with any mandatory consumer protection mandates.

He has outlined the consequences of the current form of regulation, saying: "More and more people, especially young people and vulnerable target groups, end up in an illegal circuit without rules, without control, and without protection. If we do nothing, Belgium (like some neighbouring countries) risks losing control over its gambling market."

Maintaining a well-regulated private market means uprooting offshore operators

De Clercq was joined by his colleague, BAGO Vice-Chairman Emmanuel Mewissen, who was similarly concerned about the recent findings, arguing that the country’s regulator would need a broader legal mandate in order to tackle the "plague of illegal gambling."

"Only in this way can it effectively tackle illegal providers, protect consumers and maintain a well-regulated private market," Mewissen added.

BAGO has highlighted the fact that about 65% of men between 18 and 21 have been gambling illegally, and that 97% of all people interviewed in this age group said that they recognized at least one offshore gambling brand, which shows how powerful these brands have become in marketing their offers to one of the most desirable demographics.

"The BAGO study highlights a pressing issue: it's not enough to restrict access to offshore sites—we must also understand why players are turning to them in the first place and work to make the regulated market a more appealing alternative. We need to stop treating offshore play as just a legal issue and start treating it as a market failure. Players go offshore because the regulated alternative isn't competitive enough," commented Casino Guru Head of Research Matej Novota.

BAGO has called for more to be done in order to uproot offshore gambling sites, and limit their clout, while making the local market more competitive. Not least, the regulator should be able to do more as well.

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