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.
Legal Framework Disrupted
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.
Regulatory Vacuum Created
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.
Urgent Resolution Needed
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.
The Council of State annulled the royal decree from 17/02/2022 that defined operational parameters for newspaper vendors offering betting services. This created a regulatory vacuum preventing the Gaming Commission from evaluating applications.
Both prospective operators seeking market entry and existing F2 licence holders requiring renewal are affected. Newspaper vendors and commercial enterprises registered in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises cannot currently obtain or renew betting licences.
F2 licence holders can only offer sports betting and horse racing as a secondary activity. They cannot accept bets in establishments where alcoholic beverages are sold for consumption on premises.
According to Belgian Gaming Commission.
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