Belgian GGR surpassed €1.7 billion in 2023

Garance Limouzy August 13, 2024

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Belgian GGR surpassed €1.7 billion in 2023

In 2023, the gambling market in Belgium experienced impressive growth, with gross gaming revenue (GGR) surpassing €1.7 billion, divided between online gambling (55.48%) and offline gambling (44.52%). This increase represents an overall growth of 16.74% compared to the previous year.

Growth in online and offline gambling

The online gambling segment saw an increase of 18.03% compared to 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Online GGR is dominated by casino websites, which account for 48.17% of the total, followed by slots (26.68%) and online betting (25.15%). This distribution remains consistent with previous years.

On the other hand, offline gambling also showed progress, with GGR rising by 15.18% compared to 2022. Bingo machines and low-stakes games in cafes generated more than a third of offline GGR (35.75%), while slot rooms, betting, and casinos contributed 24.40%, 21.40%, and 18.46%, respectively. Betting, which had taken the top spot during the pandemic, has now fallen behind bingo and slot machines.

Casino performance

In 2023, Belgian casinos saw their GGR increase by 18.74% compared to 2022, with a particularly strong performance in online activities (+20.17%).
All physical casinos, except one, recorded an increase in their GGR. The Middelkerke casino experienced the most significant growth, while the Brussels casino remains the market leader with a 37.48% share.

Expansion of slot machine venues

The slot machines venues market also saw expansion in 2023, with a total GGR of €436.9 million, the highest ever recorded.
This 17.29% increase compared to the previous year reflects a recovery and continued growth in this segment, surpassing 2019 levels. The top ten largest slot machine venues represent 16% of offline GGR, with Brussels leading in revenue per venue.

Dynamics of sports betting

Sports betting saw an overall increase of 8.43% in GGR in 2023, driven mainly by online betting (+12.79%).
Despite a slight increase in offline betting (+2.27%), bookstores and betting agencies continue to face challenges. Regulatory restrictions and the reduction in the number of licenses contributed to a significant decline in the number of player accounts, although GGR growth partly offset these losses.