Belgium has introduced a strong new approach to fight illegal online gambling, placing major tech companies under legal pressure to block access to unlicensed sites. The move is being closely watched across Europe, as it could reshape how digital enforcement works in the future.
The Belgium illegal gambling law framework now allows regulators to order infrastructure providers such as Google and Cloudflare to block illegal gambling websites. If companies fail to comply, they can face fines of up to €500,000 per violation.
The latest decision was issued on April 13, 2026, by the President of the Dutch-speaking Business Court of Brussels. It targets illegal gambling platforms and extends responsibility beyond website owners to the companies that keep these sites online.
A follow-up implementation order published on April 23 lists several major technology firms. These include Microsoft, Google, Cloudflare, Cisco, and multiple internet service providers in Belgium such as Proximus, Telenet, Orange Belgium, and Starlink. All are required to take action under the new system.
The Belgium illegal gambling law is based on Article XVII.34/1 of the Code of Economic Law. This rule allows courts to order blocking measures not only against illegal operators but also against key digital intermediaries. These include internet providers, domain services, search engines, and content delivery networks.
Under the system, companies must act within five working days after receiving a notice. ISPs must redirect users to warning pages. Cloudflare must block access at the content delivery level. Google and Microsoft must remove illegal sites from search results and advertising systems. Cisco’s OpenDNS service is also expected to apply restrictions.
Domain registrars can be instructed to suspend or revoke domains linked to illegal gambling operations. The goal is to cut off access at multiple levels of the internet, making it harder for blocked sites to reappear quickly.
Belgian authorities say the system also applies to mirror websites. These are duplicate versions of blocked gambling sites that often appear soon after enforcement actions. Regulators can continuously add new mirror domains to the block list as they are detected.
Officials argue that this model is more effective than older methods. In the past, enforcement focused mainly on blocking individual website addresses. Operators often avoided restrictions by quickly switching to new domains, allowing illegal platforms to return within hours.
The Belgium illegal gambling law changes this by targeting the infrastructure behind the websites. When CDN providers or search engines block access, new domains using the same services can also be restricted automatically. This reduces the ability of operators to bypass enforcement easily.
Belgium has also introduced strict penalties to ensure compliance. The €500,000 fine applies to each violation, starting from the eleventh working day after notification. This creates strong pressure on companies to act quickly.
The government says illegal gambling remains a serious issue. A 2025 survey found that among young adults who gamble online, more than a quarter used unlicensed platforms. Authorities believe these platforms pose risks because they operate outside national regulation and consumer protection rules.
Belgium already has strict gambling controls in place. These include a ban on gambling advertising, a weekly deposit limit, and a minimum gambling age of 21. However, officials say illegal operators continue to attract users through online channels.
The Belgium illegal gambling law also highlights differences across Europe. France already allows regulators to order blocking of illegal sites. The Netherlands uses financial penalties to restrict access. Germany, however, still lacks full legal powers to force internet providers to block gambling sites.
The European Union’s Digital Services Act also plays a supporting role. It requires platforms to inform users when content is blocked. However, the main enforcement power in Belgium comes from national law, which now acts as a possible model for other countries.
Technology companies named in the order have not all responded publicly. However, the decision signals that infrastructure providers are now central to digital enforcement, not just passive service providers.
For the gambling industry, the impact is significant. Licensed operators may now request blocking of competitors directly through the system. This could further tighten control over the market.
Experts say the Belgium illegal gambling law marks a shift in how governments regulate online content. Instead of reacting to new websites, authorities are now targeting the systems that make those websites accessible in the first place.
It remains unclear whether other European countries will adopt similar models. But Belgium’s approach is already being closely studied as a possible blueprint for stronger digital regulation across the region.
