The Act of 7 May 1999 on games of chance, betting, gaming establishments and the protection of players or Gambling Act defines a game of chance as follows: "Any game or bet, where a stake of any kind, either the loss of that stake by at least one of the players or bettors, or a profit of any kind for at least one of the players, bettors or organizers of the game or bet and where chance is an even incidental element in the course of the game, the designation of the winner or the determination of the winning size.”
The three elements bet, profit or loss and chance are necessary in order to speak of a game of chance. The definition of games of chance covers a wide range.
In Belgium there is a ban on games of chance, except where explicitly permitted. Because an absolute ban in the past has led to a proliferation of illegal games of chance, the government opted for a channeling policy with permits. The Gaming Commission (GC) was therefore established by the Gambling Act. The GC grants different types of licenses for the operation of games of chance, in order to properly frame these games.
Under "Gambling Act of 7 May 1999" you will find the unofficially coordinated Act in a readable version. The corresponding royal decrees are in italics for each article of law.