BRUSSELS, 31 August (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Belgium’s Council of State has suspended the 15-year casino concession awarded to ECK NV, the company behind Napoleon Games Brussels, following a legal challenge over the tender process.
Current operator Viage, which has managed the central Brussels venue since 2010, challenged the award after finishing narrowly behind ECK in the selection process. The case reached Belgium’s highest administrative court after the Council of State’s auditor deemed Viage’s complaint about insufficient justification to be well founded.
Invalidation of the award process
The Council of State identified shortcomings in the assessment of the competing offers and in the reasoning used by the City of Brussels to justify its decision. The court found that the city’s reasoning did not sufficiently demonstrate whether requirements in the tender specifications were properly considered.
The legal proceedings raised issues regarding the assessment of certain partnerships presented by ECK. The proceedings also cited concerns under the European Union’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation, which aims to prevent non-EU subsidies from distorting competition within the internal market.
Financial stakes and operational impact
The suspension halts the planned transfer of the concession, which is valued at approximately €750 million over 15 years. ECK, part of the Romanian betting group Superbet, was scheduled to replace Viage on 1 January 2027.
Napoleon Games planned to move ECK’s headquarters and online gambling servers to the capital as part of the deal. Viage continues to seek retention of the Boulevard Anspach venue, which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
Next steps for the concession
The court order prevents the original award to ECK from proceeding until the identified legal issues are resolved. The ruling does not automatically grant the concession to Viage.
The City of Brussels must determine how to respond to the Council of State’s findings and ensure compliance with tender requirements. The administrative decision leaves the scheduled 1 January 2027 handover date uncertain.
