In a startling revelation, a study orchestrated by the Belgian Gambling Commission (Kansspelcommissie) has unearthed some concerning trends among the country’s youth and their gambling behaviors. This investigation, carried out by DataSynergy, zeroes in on individuals aged between 18 to 30, uncovering that more than a quarter of this demographic frequents illegal gambling platforms.

Diving deeper into the findings, it emerges that 28% of young participants engage with illicit websites for both sports betting and games of chance. Specifically, 8% are loyal to solely illegal sites while an additional 19% navigate between both legal and illicit waters. When it comes to sports betting exclusively, the figure escalates to 30%, whereas for games of chance, it sits at 22%.

The ubiquity of these unauthorized platforms is further underscored as three such sites rank within the top 1011 most-visited gambling portals in Belgium. This is despite legislative efforts to curb underage gambling by raising the minimum age requirement from 18 to 21 years—a measure that seems only partially effective as one in five youngsters within th

e 18 to 20-year-old bracket still manage to access these forbidden domains.

Interestingly, about a quarter of young Belgians can spontaneously recall at least one illegal gambling website’s name. Among them, 9% can only name illicit sites while another 16% can identify both sanctioned and unsanctioned ones.

This report arrives in the wake of stringent new regulations aimed at reining in gambling advertising introduced in July 2023 alongside the aforementioned age restriction adjustment set for September. Despite a notable dip in participation rates—from 51% down to 39%—the allure of illegal betting persists robustly among young adults.

Market surveillance authorities have since ramped up their oversight on emerging betting formats and gambling ventures. Drawing parallels with England’s impending prohibition on Premier League sponsorships by gambling entities, Kansspelcommissie has similarly mandated that sports clubs eschew partnerships with non-compliant gaming firms. However, associations between legal betting brands and sports continue unabatedly albeit under tighter controls.

Adding fuel to concerns over black market betting proliferation is Stake’s prominence as one of Belgium’s most frequented offshore websites without an official license. Alongside Stake, other notable names include 1Xbet and 22bet among others, spotlighting an increasing consumer awareness towards these unauthorized options.

Recently highlighted by Belgium’s Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO), an alarming trend where a quarter of gamblers venture into offshore markets was noted. More distressingly, nearly half of all players who had self-excluded from licensed sites have resumed their activities through unlicensed channels.

Tom De Clercq, BAGO’s Chairman voiced apprehensions over this slippery slope: “We’re witnessing a troubling shift where despite stringent regulations imposed on licensed sites committed to responsible gaming and player protection; illegal operators operate unhindered.” He further warned against complacency stating that without intervention, Belgium risks losing grip over its gambling landscape—a scenario fraught with consequences particularly for younger and vulnerable groups drawn into ruleless and unprotected illegal circuits.