Belgium's Gaming Commission has suspended processing F2 betting licences for newspaper vendors following the Council of State's annulment of implementing regulations.
Belgium's Gaming Commission has suspended all new licence applications and renewals for newspaper vendors offering sports betting services after the Council of State struck down key implementing regulations.
The regulatory halt stems from Article 43/4, § 5, 1° of the Gambling Act, which permits bets on sporting events and horse racing as a strictly defined secondary activity by newspaper vendors and commercial enterprises registered in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises. These operators must hold a class F2 licence and cannot accept bets in establishments where alcoholic beverages are sold for consumption on premises.
The legislation grants the King authority to determine the description of ancillary activities and detailed conditions newspaper vendors must meet. To implement this framework, the Government adopted a royal decree on 17/02/2022.
Warning
Belgium's Gaming Commission has suspended all new licence applications and renewals for newspaper vendors offering sports betting services. This affects both prospective operators and existing licence holders requiring renewal.
However, the Council of State annulled this crucial decree on 22/01/2026, creating an immediate compliance vacuum. Without the royal decree defining operational parameters and licensing conditions, the Gaming Commission lacks the regulatory framework necessary to evaluate applications or renew existing F2 licences.
Important Notice
The Council of State's annulment of the royal decree on 22/01/2026 has created an immediate compliance vacuum. The Gaming Commission now lacks the regulatory framework necessary to evaluate F2 licence applications or renewals.
The Gaming Commission has urged ministers to resolve this situation as soon as possible, either through a new royal decree or legislative amendment. Until new implementing regulations are established, newspaper vendors seeking to offer betting services remain in regulatory limbo. This suspension affects both prospective operators seeking market entry and existing licence holders requiring renewal, potentially disrupting Belgium's retail betting landscape.
According to Belgian Gaming Commission.
Legal Disclaimer
This content reflects a general overview of regulatory frameworks based on publicly available information. It does not constitute legal advice or a legal opinion. iGamingWriter.blog disclaims any liability arising from reliance on this material.
Written by
Olga MuntyanDirector of Project Management
Olga has been leading project management at We–Right™ Factory since 2020, coordinating multilingual content delivery for iGaming operators and affiliates. She manages timelines, team capacity, and cross-market workflows that keep large-scale content production on track. On iGamingWriter.blog, Olga writes about project coordination, content pipeline management, and operational efficiency in iGaming content teams.
Sponsored content, banner placements & newsletter features for iGaming brands.
Belgium's Gaming Commission has suspended license payment requests pending publication of the 2026 contribution decree approved by the Council of Ministers.
The Kansspelautoriteit has ramped up collaboration with sports organizations to enforce gambling advertising restrictions more effectively.
MGA Industrial presented its latest roulette technology and cash management solutions at the Spanish gaming exposition, highlighting product innovations for operators.
Get regulation updates, content insights, and market news delivered to your inbox every week.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
