You can find the list of all active A licences here.
You can find the list of all active A+ licences here.
- Offline
A class A licence is required to operate a casino in Belgium. There is a maximum of 9 class A licences that can be granted. There are 4 casinos in Flanders (Blankenberge, Knokke, Middelkerke and Ostend), 4 casinos in Wallonia (Chaudfontaine, Dinant, Namur and Spa) and 1 casino in Brussels.
Currently, all 9 licences for casinos, as stipulated by the Gambling Act, have been granted. Therefore, there is no possibility to apply for an A licence.
A class A licence is valid for 15 years.
The following documents must be sent for the submission of a renewal application:
• This application form , duly completed, dated and signed;
• The full identity of the shareholders of the company (name, address, date of birth, place of birth and national register number/company number);
• A recent criminal record extract from the country of residence for directors/managers who reside in another country than Belgium and/or have resided in a foreign country in the last 5 years;
• An updated list of companies in which the directors/managers and the shareholders own shares. This list includes the exact number of shares, the name of the company and its corporate purpose;
• An updated list of companies in which the directors/managers and the shareholders hold a directorship. This list includes a description of the position, the name of the company and its corporate purpose;
• A dated and signed sworn statement in which each director/manager declares that they do not exercise direct or indirect control over a company holding a class E licence;
• A concession contract with the municipality where the establishment is located;
• The programme of forthcoming cultural events;
• A list of the suppliers working with the establishment and holding a class E licence;
• A tax certificate issued by the Federal Public Service Finance stating that all confirmed and undisputed tax debts have been paid;
• A tax certificate from the Regional Tax Administration from the region where the establishment is located stating that all confirmed and undisputed tax debts have been paid. Certificate requests can be submitted to relatiebeheer@vlaanderen.be (Flanders), https://fiscaliteit.brussels/fiscale-adviezen (Brussels-Capital), or fiscalite.wallonie@spw.wallonie.be (Wallonia).
The following documents are also required for the financial and transparency analysis:
• A complete group organisation chart showing all links (and share percentages) with the various parent companies, subsidiaries, sister companies, etc.;
• A copy of both sides of the identity card or passport of foreign directors/managers;
• The final beneficiary form : It is necessary to complete one form for each director/manager and shareholder being a legal entity, starting with a form containing the data of the licensee in the box above and of its directors/managers and shareholders in the table below, and completing another form for each legal entity director/manager and shareholder, and so on until the final beneficiary is reached. If none of the directors/managers and shareholders is a legal entity, only one form containing the details of the licensee must be filled in.
Criminal record extracts, tax certificates and sworn statements must not have been issued more than 3 months before the submission of the renewal application.
The Gaming Commission (GC) may request additional information if the transparency of the legal entity holding the licence is not sufficiently guaranteed by the documents submitted. The GC may verify at any time the accuracy and reliability of the documents submitted.
- Online
A supplementary A+ licence is required for operating casino games online.
Only A licensees may apply for an A+ licence.
Supplementary licences are valid for the same period as offline licences and must be renewed at the same time.
The following documents must be sent to apply for a supplementary licence and for the submission of a renewal application:
• The application form, duly completed, dated and signed;
• The full identity of the shareholders of the company (name, address, date of birth, place of birth and national register number/company number);
• A recent criminal record extract from the country of residence for directors/managers who reside in another country than Belgium and/or have resided in a foreign country in the last 5 years;
• A tax certificate issued by the Federal Public Service Finance stating that all confirmed and undisputed tax debts have been paid;
• A tax certificate from the Regional Tax Administration from the region where the servers are located stating that all confirmed and undisputed tax debts have been paid. Certificate requests can be submitted to relatiebeheer@vlaanderen.be (Flanders), https://fiscaliteit.brussels/fiscale-adviezen (Brussels-Capital), or fiscalite.wallonie@spw.wallonie.be (Wallonia);
• Proof of offline activity;
• The conditions under which games can be offered, covering at least player registration and identification, age control, games offered, game rules, payment methods and prize distribution;
• A website map including the name of the website, its structure, the location where the website is managed (address of servers), an indication of permanent contact possibilities and the person in charge of managing the website;
• A detailed list of the nature and types of games, together with the associated E licensees;
• A document guaranteeing the honesty of the games, such as RNG certificates;
• Details of a contact person who can be reached at all times;
• Proof that there is a permanent data link between the website and the Gaming Commission (GC);
• A detailed plan explaining how the security of payment transactions between the operator and the player is guaranteed. This plan must include at least:
- The technical characteristics of the current plan;
- The permanent safety checks that will be carried out in the future;
• The policy that the applicant/licensee is implementing to prevent groups socially vulnerable to games of chance from logging onto the website;
• A description of the complaint resolution process that applies to players, including:
- The fact that the GC must be able to take cognisance of any complaint registered by a player;
- The fact that the complaints procedure is permanently available to the player (this procedure must be available free of charge on the website);
- The measures taken by the applicant/licensee to ensure that complaints can be dealt with at all times;
• The advertising policy implemented by the applicant/licensee, including:
- The fact that the current advertising policy observes a certain restraint;
- Contact details for an advertising campaign manager who must be empowered to terminate an advertising campaign at the request of the GC;
• The identity of the E-licenced partner who provides and maintains the platform;
• For new applications: Proof that the applicant has sufficient financial resources to pay the €250,000 guarantee.
The following documents are also required for the financial and transparency analysis:
• A complete group organisation chart showing all links (and share percentages) with the various parent companies, subsidiaries, sister companies, etc.;
• A copy of both sides of the identity card or passport of foreign directors/managers;
• The final beneficiary form: It is necessary to complete one form for each director/manager and shareholder being a legal entity, starting with a form containing the data of the applicant/licensee in the box above and of its directors/managers and shareholders in the table below, and completing another form for each legal entity director/manager and shareholder, and so on until the final beneficiary is reached. If none of the directors/managers and shareholders is a legal entity, only one form containing the details of the applicant/licensee must be filled in.
Criminal record extracts, tax certificates and sworn statements must not have been issued more than 3 months before the submission of the (renewal) application.
The GC may request additional information if the transparency of the legal entity applying for the licence/renewing the licence is not sufficiently guaranteed by the documents submitted. The GC may verify at any time the accuracy and reliability of the documents submitted.