Casino bonuses: what Belgian law prohibits
Since 1 September 2024, the law has prohibited online casinos licensed in Belgium from offering bonuses. This page explains the ban, its rare exceptions and the signs that give away an illegal site.
Affiliate links: We are paid if you sign up through our links; this does not affect our ratings or rankings.
When you open an account through one of our links, the casino may pay us a commission. It has no effect on ratings or on the order of our rankings, and we only feature casinos licensed by the Belgian Gaming Commission.
Affiliate transparency: how Online Casino Games earns money · Methodology: how we rate online casinos licensed in Belgium
Bonuses are banned in Belgium
Since 1 September 2024, article 60 of the Belgian Gambling Act of 7 May 1999 prohibits licensed online casinos from offering welcome bonuses, free spins, no deposit bonuses, cashback, game credits or VIP programmes. A site that promises you such an advantage is not a licensed operator: always check the licence list of the Belgian Gaming Commission.
On this page
Licensed casinos
The register of A+, B+ and F1+ online licences of the Belgian Gaming Commission: holders, licensed domains and expiry dates, synchronised daily.
- Licensed casinos
- 10
Illegal sites
The official blacklist of gambling sites blocked by the Belgian Gaming Commission, quoted as plain text with the date of each decision.
- Blocked sites
- 901
No deposit bonus
No deposit bonuses have been banned for casinos licensed in Belgium since 1 September 2024. What the law says and how to avoid illegal sites.
Best casinos
Our ranking of the online casinos licensed in Belgium, based on a public methodology: licence, games, payments, withdrawals and customer service.
- Licensed casinos
- 10
Payment methods
Bancontact, Payconiq, Paysafecard, e-wallets: payment methods accepted by casinos licensed in Belgium, with times and limits.
- Payment methods
- 20
Guides
What article 60 says
Article 60 of the Act of 7 May 1999, amended by the Act of 18 February 2024, prohibits licence holders from offering gifts, free participation in games, game credits or any advantage meant to influence gambling behaviour or to attract or retain players. The only exception concerns customers of land-based casinos, within a limit set by law.
What is therefore banned online
- welcome and deposit bonuses: banned;
- free spins: banned;
- no deposit bonuses: banned;
- refunds of losses: banned;
- VIP programmes and loyalty points converted into advantages: banned.
None of these offers is legal at an operator licensed in Belgium.
What is still allowed
The Gaming Commission accepts that an operator increases the return to player of a game through a mechanism written into the rules of that game, applied in the same way to all players, not dependent on their behaviour and not presented as limited in time.
A warning sign
A site that promises an advantage to a Belgian player is not a licensed operator, or is breaking the law. Always check its domain on the Commission licence list before depositing.
Further reading: why no deposit bonuses are banned and responsible gambling rules and help.
Official sources
Gaming Commission information on article 60 (official source, opens in a new tab)
Act of 18 February 2024 (official source, opens in a new tab)
Act of 7 May 1999, consolidated text (official source, opens in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions
Why do Belgian casinos no longer offer bonuses?
Because article 60 of the Gambling Act has prohibited them since 1 September 2024, to limit incentives to gamble.
Is a promo code banned as well?
Yes. At an operator licensed in Belgium, a promo code cannot unlock a bonus, free spins or game credits.
Are loyalty programmes banned?
A programme that grants advantages to attract or retain players falls under the article 60 ban. VIP programmes are no longer allowed online.
What does a site offering a banned bonus risk?
A licensed operator faces sanctions from the Commission. A foreign site without a licence is illegal and can be added to the blacklist.
Is there any exception?
Only customers of land-based casinos may receive advantages, within a legal limit. It does not apply to online gambling.
About the author
Online casino writer
Léo Michel has been writing about technical and regulated topics for more than ten years: gambling, cryptocurrency, finance and new technology. He holds a master's degree in modern literature from the University of Namur and writes our reviews and guides from the official lists of the Belgian Gaming Commission, so every reader knows what to check before opening an account.
Published · Updated
View profile and articlesGambling always carries risk
Set a time and budget limit before you play, and never play to win back a loss. If gambling is no longer a pastime, free and anonymous help is available.