European Commission Closes Case Against Ladbrokes: No Violations Found
The European Commission has concluded a five-year investigation into the Ladbrokes brand, owned by Entain, over alleged breaches of antitrust laws in Belgium.
The company had been accused of receiving state aid when launching its online betting operations in 2014–2015, but no violations were found.
The complaint was filed by competitors — Rocoluc NV and European Amusement Company. They claimed that the Belgian regulator Kansspelcommissie gave Ladbrokes unjustified advantages by allowing them to offer virtual betting without a full legal framework, while denying such rights to other operators.
Findings of the European Commission
- Ladbrokes did not receive exclusive rights to offer virtual betting;
- Emails from the regulator received by the company are not considered official support;
- The state did not forgo payments from Ladbrokes that could be considered aid.
Thus, Article 107(1) TFEU (Treaty on the Functioning of the EU) was not violated.
Presence in the Belgian Market
Today, Ladbrokes holds a strong position in the Belgian betting sector:
- Operates around 300 betting shops across the country;
- Fully licensed to offer bets on football, tennis, motorsport, cycling, horse racing, and other sports;
- Supports professional and grassroots sports through the Ladbrokes Foundation.
New Sponsorship Restrictions
In 2025, new rules came into effect in Belgium, restricting sponsorship of sports teams by gambling-related companies. Specifically:
- Front-facing logos of betting companies on sports kits are banned;
- Partnerships through foundations and sports information platforms are permitted.
It is still unclear how exactly these rules will be interpreted and enforced. For instance, the football club Royal Francs Borain, competing in the second tier of Belgian football, still wears kits with the Ladbrokes logo.
Conclusion
Despite complaints and new restrictions, Ladbrokes remains a strong player in the Belgian market.
The European Commission’s investigation officially confirmed that the company operates within the law and does not receive unlawful support.