National Lottery: new management contract approved for five years

King Philippe signed, on September 14, 2026, the royal decree approving the new management contract concluded between the Belgian State and the National Lottery, a public law limited company. This text, referenced [C − 2026/005916], is published in the Belgian Official Gazette of September 16, 2026 (No. 209, 196th year), page 50324. It is countersigned by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Pensions, in charge of the National Lottery and Federal Cultural Institutions, J. Jambon.

The contract, concluded for a duration of five years, enters into force on the day of its publication in the Belgian Official Gazette. It succeeds the management contract of September 13, 2021, which was also approved for five years. Its preparation followed a long circuit of opinions: deliberation by the management committee of the National Lottery on March 25, 2026, opinion of the Finance Inspector on June 24, 2026, agreement of the Minister of Budget on July 14, 2026, and approval by the board of directors on July 22, 2026.

Public Service Missions

The contract entrusts the National Lottery with three public service tasks, carried out in the general interest and according to commercial methods:

• the organization of public lotteries, betting, competitions, and games of chance, as a socially responsible provider of gaming pleasure;
• the administrative management of the operations for the distribution and allocation of so-called National Lottery subsidies;
• the administrative management of authorizations granted by the government in application of Article 7 of the law of December 31, 1851, on lotteries.

Channeling of Players and Prevention of Addiction

At the heart of the system is the mission of channeling: the National Lottery must divert players away from illegal and unsecured operators, both national and international, and steer those who play high-risk games toward products with a lower risk profile. This ethical approach aims to attract a large number of players wagering small amounts.

Furthermore, the State charges the National Lottery with taking active measures for the prevention and fight against gambling addiction. The contract specifically provides for:

• the promotion of lottery products with a lower risk of addiction and the integration of responsible gaming principles into betting practices;
• the development of means to identify player transactions through a player pass, with a significant portion of transactions already identified;
• the implementation, by the end of the current contract, of an action plan in this matter.

Financial Obligations

The contract establishes the financial commitments of the National Lottery to the State. The annual monopoly rent is set at a flat amount of 145 million euros, including withholding tax, non-indexed. The annual amount of the so-called National Lottery subsidies amounts to 210 million euros, also non-indexed.

The text also frames the distribution of profits: a dividend of a maximum of 75% of the result to be allocated may be paid, provided that the National Lottery’s equity is not less than 200 million euros. Furthermore, the State charges the National Lottery with organizing a lottery using VAT receipts, the startup costs of which shall be borne by the company.

Scope for readers

This management contract, which runs until 2031, secures the operating framework of the public lottery monopoly and guarantees the funding of public subsidies in the amount of 210 million euros per year. For players, it strengthens responsible gaming mechanisms and transaction identification, while maintaining the National Lottery in its role as a channel to counter illegal operators.

Official source: Belgian Official Gazette of September 16, 2026, No. 209, 196th year, p. 50324 — Royal Decree of September 14, 2026, approving the management contract between the Belgian State and the National Lottery, a public law limited liability company, reference [C − 2026/005916].