A growing number of Belgians that have gambling-related issues are requesting to be excluded from casinos and online gambling sites. This can be done by submitting a voluntary exclusion request to the Gaming Commission. In 2024, 12,509 new exclusion requests were submitted. This is around 2,500 more than in 2023. Those that wish to can protect themselves from gambling addiction by taking a break from gambling or even stopping completely with the help of the Gaming Commission.
People that feel that their gambling is becoming out of control can submit a voluntary exclusion request. This can be done online or by filling in a paper form and sending it by post it to the Gaming Commission.
Anyone with a voluntary ban will be barred from entering casinos, gaming halls and online gambling sites.
Procedure simplified
On 1 July this year there were 61,095 people in Belgium that had voluntary excluded themselves from gambling. The number of applications to the Gaming Commission for voluntary exclusion has risen sharply in recent years. In 2023 there were total of 10,057 new applications registered. This rose to 12,509 in 2024. Just to be clear, this refers to the number of applications and not the number of people excluded. It is quite possible to cancel an exclusion and submit a new exclusion application in the same year.
The number of applications has skyrocketed since 2021. Stefaan Savenberg of the Gaming Commission explains that “During the coronavirus pandemic, we significantly simplified the procedure. In addition, we ran a campaign to raise awareness of the system. This generated a lot of interest and caused numbers to rise”.
If you are concerned that you might have gambling issues or you want to help a relative or friend, you can contact the Gaming Commission via this link.