For 2023, Belgium gambling gross revenue was €1.7 billion or £1.5 billion or $1.9 billion. This marks a significant increase from the €1.5 billion generated in 2022. Online grew to a GGR of €944.6 million and grew by 18%. Meanwhile, offline GGR also increased substantially. It had €758 million reflecting a 15.2% year-on-year rise. This is despite of the tightening restrictions in gambling.
In spite of the Belgian government tightening restrictions on the sector, growth came. From 2022 operators had to enforce a €200 weekly loss limit, down from €500 limit in 2020.
They were then forced to stop all advertising midway through 2023. This is after a last-ditch attempt from a syndicate of Belgium sports teams and operators failed to stop the move. From July 1 of the past year, a ban on advertising came into force.
Casino GGR increased 18/7% year-on-year to €594.9 million. This is powered by a 20.2% rise in online GGR. It has reached €455 million. Brick-and-mortar casino GGR lagged behind. However, it still grew 14.3% to €139.9 million.
Online Casino Blankenberge, one of the nine land-based casinos in Belgium and acquired by Kindred Group in 2020, reported a year-on-year decline in GGR. With an offline GGR or €52.5 million, Casinos Austria International’s Grand Casino Brussels led the way. This is considerably ahead of Circus Casino Resort Namur in second with €22.5 million.
Just three casinos saw theirs decrease in regards to online GGR. One of these was Middelkerke Casino. In 2023, it didn’t have an active online license. Yet, last February, Betfirst which is a Betsson-owned company, announced it was launching online casino at Middelkerke Casino. Thanks to a deal with the casino’s owner, Groupe Partouche.
For the time being, slot arcades also reported strong growth as GGR increased 17.3% to €437 million. Again, online was an important factor. It accounts for 57.7% of slot hall revenue with a rise of 19.4% to €252 million. In-person GGR for automatic game rooms also grew, up 14.5% to €184.9 million.
