TITLE: Belgium Increases Gaming Commission Contribution Fees for Licence Holders in 2026
BODY:
On 11 March 2026, Belgium's Federal Public Service of Justice issued a Royal Decree establishing the contributions that gaming licence holders must pay toward the operational, personnel, and establishment costs of the Gaming Commission (Kansspelcommissie) for the fiscal year 2026.
Under Article 19, paragraph 1, fifth indent, of the Gaming Law of 7 May 1999, licence holders of classes A, A+, B, B+, C, E, F1, F1+, and F2 are required to fund the Gaming Commission entirely. The decree implements a 15 percent increase in annual contributions across all licence categories, justified by the Gaming Commission's rising operational expenses. Since 2018, contributions had remained unchanged despite significant cost increases: personnel costs rose 58 percent, rental expenses increased 39 percent, information technology development costs grew 68 percent, and legal advice costs rose 19 percent. The Gaming Commission's total recurring annual costs evolved from €4.7 million in 2020 to €8 million by 2026. The expenditure ceiling for 2026 was estimated at €9.18 million, creating a projected deficit of €1.44 million if contributions remained at 2025 levels. The 15 percent increase generates approximately €1.32 million in additional revenue, nearly eliminating this shortfall.
The decree specifies differentiated contribution amounts for each licence class, ranging from €513 for automatic gaming machines to €25,398 for class A licence holders. Class E licence holders must submit information by 1 March 2026 regarding equipment and gaming production volumes. The decree takes effect on 1 January 2026 and applies to the entire fiscal year regardless of individual operator activity duration, ensuring equal treatment and predictable financial planning for the Gaming Commission.