Most Popular eSports Bookies in Belgium

Several reasons explain the exponential growth of esports betting. The industry is growing courtesy of the popularity of video games, the competitive edge of esports, live streaming platforms, and the huge prize money for tournaments.

There are dozens of betting sites in Belgium, the home of top-rated eSports teams including, Epsilon eSports and Team Belgium. Some betting sites are genuine, but others are not worth trying out. Fortunately, the experts have done the heavy lifting by assessing all the critical aspects before compiling this list of best eSports betting sites in Belgium.

In this segment, find out more about the history of eSports betting in Belgium, from where it started to its current state and, importantly, the trajectory. But to understand the history of electronic sports betting in this country, it's important first to understand the history of gambling in general.

History of gambling in Belgium

Gambling is not a new activity in Belgium. According to historians, gambling in this country can be dated back to 1300. Several documents referring to card games and games of chance have been discovered. Besides the card games, Belgium had a national lottery as early as 15th C.

From all indications, esports betting has a bright future, now that the eSports industry itself is booming. Video game developers design their games with esports in mind while huge investments are injected into the eSports industry. Several factors will contribute to the growth of eSports betting in Belgium.

First is the exposure to esports. At the time of writing, there are over 5.25 million players in the Belgian gaming market, which means a higher esports penetration rate. All factors held constant, these numbers are rising by the day.

Another factor that will shape the esports betting industry in Belgium is the availability of esports betting sites. Unlike in the past when there were just a handful of esports bookies, today, Belgium boasts hundreds of esports betting sites with plenty of esports bonuses and promotions to attract new players and keep the existing ones glued.

Last is the fact that the Belgian government has not banned betting and gambling. Instead, it regulates the industry so no impediments or sanctions can scare away gaming operators and bettors.

While the Belgian government regulates all gambling activities in Belgium, many players don't bet on locally operated betting sites. Instead, they bet on offshore sites. So, what makes Belgian punters shun local betting sites?

First is the fact that players need to be over 21 years of age while other countries allow players to bet as long as they are above 18. Perhaps the biggest reason players shift to international betting sites is that locally operated betting sites don't have bonuses as lucrative as those offered by international bookies.

Regarding online offshore bookies, the Belgian Gaming Commission has put measures to prevent punters from accessing these sites. There is a blacklist available on the Gaming Commission website. The blacklist includes names of websites that, in the Gaming Commission's opinion, are offering betting markets to Belgian players illegally.

With the cooperation of the Belgian Gaming Commission, special police IT-crime unit, and ISPs, such websites are blocked. But then, this is a strenuous exercise, and more so, the number of eSports bookies accepting Belgian players is rising by the day.

Belgian eSports fans have different tastes, and luckily, game developers are now designing games with esports in mind. There are over a dozen eSports games that Belgian punters can wager on today.

The first popular category is shooter games. There are plenty of video games that are based on guns and weapons. First-person shooters (FPS) are the most popular, and as the name suggests, they are played from the first-person perspective. The most popular FPS game in Belgium is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Valve, and Hidden Path Entertainments multiplayer blockbuster. Besides CS: GO, Belgian players also like Valorant, COD, Overwatch, Apex Legends, and Rainbow Six Siege.

Another popular genre among Belgium eSports fans is multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games. This category covers games where two teams are entangled in a vicious battle on a predefined shrinking battleground (map). The best MOBA games in Belgium include Dota 2, League of Legends and Heroes of the Storm, and Smite.

Belgian eSports enthusiasts are also into sports simulation video games. The most popular title in this category is FIFA, EA Sports' franchise that emulates real soccer. Other simulation games include Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) and NBA2K.

Is eSports betting legal in Belgium?

Yes. eSports betting in Belgium is legal as long as players bet on Belgian eSports betting sites with the F1 and the F1+ license. Betting on unlicensed bookmakers is not allowed, but many players do so now that the government doesn't prosecute offshore bettors.

Is betting on offshore betting sites safe?

Well, it's hard to answer this as there are two sides to it. As long as players are betting on an international eSports betting site licensed by a reputable regulatory authority in any jurisdiction. However, completely unlicensed eSports bookies pose a risk, from failure to pay winnings to match-fixing.

Can anyone in Belgium bet on eSports?

Yes. eSports betting is open to all Belgians as long as they have met the legal age requirement - 21 years.

Are there many eSports betting fans in Belgium?

There are no exact figures, but Belgium is one of the biggest eSports betting markets considering the country's high eSports exposure rates, especially after the pandemic struck.

Can players bet on mobile?

Yes. eSports betting sites in Belgium have been optimized for mobile gaming. Besides, some have native mobile apps for iOS and Android devices.