In Belgium, buying lottery tickets is legal only through the state-owned Belgian National Lottery or authorised charitable lotteries. The Lottery Act of 31 December 1851 establishes that all public lotteries are prohibited unless organised by the National Lottery or under strict charitable conditions (1).
Under the Belgian Gambling and Betting Act, the National Lottery holds an exclusive licence to offer both online and land-based lottery games. No other commercial operator may sell lottery tickets without a licence from the Gaming Commission, ensuring a tightly regulated market (2).
"Article 1 of the Lottery Act prohibits all lotteries. This general rule has two exceptions: the state-owned Belgian National Lottery is charged with organising, in the public interest and according to commercial methods, public lotteries; and the Lottery Act allows, under certain conditions, lotteries organised exclusively for charitable works or public benefit."
Enforcement is robust: participating in or organising an unlicensed lottery can lead to criminal penalties, hefty fines, and inclusion on the Gaming Commission’s blacklist. Players are advised to purchase tickets only from recognised outlets to avoid legal repercussions.
Source:
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=d6323a82-5ced-4eae-9d21-23553d93ecb1
https://iclg.com/practice-areas/gambling-laws-and-regulations/belgium
Last updated: 20-05-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
