Belgium raises minimum age for gambling to 21

Garance Limouzy September 2, 2024

As of yesterday, 1 September, Belgium has officially raised the minimum age for all forms of gambling to 21 years. The change, which was enacted through the law passed on 18 February, 2024, standardises the minimum age across various forms of gambling activities, including online and physical venues.

The new regulation impacts all gambling establishments and activities regulated under Belgium’s gambling laws. Previously, the minimum age varied depending on the type of gambling: Belgians were not able to gamble in casinos and with slot machines – both online and retail – until the age of 21. However, the minimum age to place online or retail bets was 18.

VAD, the Flemish centre of expertise for alcohol, illegal drugs, psychoactive medication, gambling, and gaming, had been advocating for this new regulation, declaring that this change in the legislation was a “cost-effective” way to curb addiction among the youth.

Comparing global gambling age requirements

This legislative update brings Belgium in line with several other countries that have strict age requirements for gambling. For example, in the United States, the minimum age for most gambling activities is 21, though some states allow gambling at 18 for specific types of activities, such as lottery and horse racing. Similarly, in Singapore, the legal gambling age is set at 21 for casino entry, while Australia mandates a minimum age of 18 for gambling.

Compared to neighbouring countries, Belgium’s new regulations are more stringent. In France, for instance, the legal age for most gambling activities remains at 18, as it does in Germany, where regulations differ slightly between federal states. However, Maltese citizens have to wait until their 25th birthday to be allowed entry into casinos.

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