Most Belgians have visited a casino at some point in their lives, whether physically or online. Online slots have also become increasingly popular in recent decades. So,it’s high time to take a look at gambling habits in our country. How has casino culture developed in our Belgium and what is it like today? After this brief overview, you’ll be fully up to speed!
In the beginning
As far as we know, casino culture in Belgium originated with lotteries in the 16th century. The first organised casino, Casino de Spa, opened its doors in 1763, making it the oldest casino in the world. As in many other places in Europe, it was then only intended for the wealthy, something that changed over time.
Throughout the nineteenth century, more casinos were added, despite being officially banned. Because casinos were good for tourism, they were tolerated and each municipality was allowed to decide for itself whether gambling was permitted.
From the 1960s onwards, gambling gradually increased in Belgium. Horse racing and sports betting became legal in 1963, and amusement arcades and slot machines also became increasingly common in the public scene. In 1999, the Gaming Commission introduced regulations for all forms of gambling in the country. This was necessary because gambling grew explosively in the 2000s with the advent of the internet.
Today’s casino culture in Belgium
Nowadays, it is no longer unusual to place a bet or try a slot machine. One in two young people has gambled at some point. According to research from 2023, sixty percent of young adults occasionally engage in gambling or sports betting. Playing casino games such as slots and table games is by far the most popular form of gambling, but sports betting is still relatively common.
Football is by far the most popular sport to bet on. The number of football bets has grown enormously since 2014 thanks to the success of footballers such as Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne. Other popular sports include tennis, cycling, basketball and horse racing. Horse racing is still deeply rooted in Belgian gambling culture, with trotting and monté races at the hippodromes of Mons and Waregem proving particularly popular.
Recent developments
Whereas most gambling activities used to take place in physical casinos and amusement arcades, we are now seeing more and more people gambling from home via websites or apps. A small percentage of these people sometimes turn to illegal gambling sites, but the vast majority play at licensed casinos. In order to better protect players when gambling online, the government has introduced some stricter rules in recent years, such as a ban on gambling advertising and raising the minimum age to 21. Despite the popularity of the internet, physical casinos remain well attended.
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