Belgian gambling licence holders paid higher contributions to the Gaming Commission in 2026. The Royal Decree of 11 March 2026 applies from 1 January 2026 and sets the official amounts for the main licence categories. Federal government information described the change as a 15% increase intended to support the Commission’s staffing and operating costs.
This is a contribution paid by licence holders to the regulator. It is not a new fee charged directly to players. It also does not automatically mean that an operator must change its odds, promotions, withdrawal conditions or account limits.
The official 2026 amounts
The decree sets a separate contribution for each licence. The amounts most relevant to online casino and sportsbook readers are:
- A licence: €25,398.
- A+ licence: €12,698.
- B and B+ licences: €12,698.
- F1 and F1+ licences: €14,493.
- F2 in a class IV gambling establishment: €4,347.
- F2 outside a class IV establishment: €1,998.
- Automatic gaming machines linked to an A licence: €821 per machine, with a minimum of €24,696, in addition to the A contribution.
The same Royal Decree also lists amounts for other licence classes, including C and E-related categories. The list above focuses on the licence types most likely to appear in consumer-facing casino, sportsbook and retail-betting explanations.
Who pays and when?
The contribution is linked to the licence, not to the number of individual customers. Annual contributions apply to A, A+, B, B+, E, F1 and F1+ licences. Contributions for C and F2 licences are due before the licence is granted and cover the relevant licence period.
This distinction explains why an operator’s regulatory cost cannot be calculated simply by multiplying one amount by the number of users. Different activities use different licence categories, and some categories are linked to machines or a specific retail setting.
Why did the contribution rise?
The federal government said the increase helps finance the Gaming Commission’s personnel and operational work. The Commission is responsible for tasks such as licensing, supervision and player-protection oversight. The contribution therefore finances the public regulatory framework rather than a marketing budget for individual operators.
The increase does not itself prove that enforcement has become stronger or that every player-facing protection has changed. Those questions depend on the Commission’s decisions, guidance and enforcement work, not on the amount alone.
The Royal Decree and the confirmation process
The Royal Decree is the instrument that sets the 2026 amounts and applies from 1 January 2026. A separate confirmation process has been discussed in Parliament. That process should not be confused with the effective date of the Royal Decree. The legal text and parliamentary record should be checked separately when the status of the confirmation bill matters.
What players should and should not infer
Players should not assume that the 15% increase creates a 15% increase in deposits, a new consumer surcharge or an automatic reduction in promotions. The decree concerns licence-holder contributions. A particular operator may review its commercial policy, but that would be a separate decision that must be verified in the operator’s current Belgian terms.
The useful player-facing check remains the same: use the Belgian Gaming Commission’s legal lists, confirm the operator and domain, and read the current payment, withdrawal and responsible-gambling information. Our page on legal gambling operators in Belgium provides the licence-check starting point.
Bottom line
Belgium’s 2026 gambling contributions increased by 15% and the Royal Decree provides the exact amounts for each licence category. The money is paid by licence holders to support the regulator. It is not a direct player fee and it does not, by itself, tell you anything about an operator’s current odds, promotions or withdrawal terms.
Gambling in Belgium is restricted to adults aged 21 and over. Set limits that fit your budget and take a break if gambling becomes difficult to control.
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