BetFIRST review Belgium: now Betsson, same A+ licence via Middelkerke
This BetFIRST review starts with the big news: since 22 September 2026 the brand has been called Betsson, and betfirst.be now redirects to betsson.be. Behind the new name you'll find the same Belgian licences, the same partner casino in Middelkerke and a Swedish group listed on the stock market. I go through what changed, what didn't and who should play there. Short version: if you want a sports-and-casino site with serious backing, sign up at Betsson and you're in good hands.
BetFIRST (Betsson) ★★★★★
🎁 Provider tournaments + Mega Wheels
BetFIRST becomes Betsson: what changed in September 2026
BetFIRST was a Belgian institution. Launched in 2011, it was the first operator licensed for online betting in Belgium. In 2023 the Swedish group Betsson AB bought betFIRST and its company Sagevas for €120 million. On 22 September 2026 the logo followed: betFIRST officially became Betsson, and press reports put the full switch-over on 5 October 2026.
What this means in practice:
- betfirst.be now forwards you to betsson.be.
- The casino lives on betssoncasino.be, the sportsbook on betssonsports.be.
- The licences behind them are the same Belgian licences.
So, is BetFIRST legit and safe today? Yes, as long as you land on the official Betsson domains. The brand has changed, the legal structure behind it has not. In my view the rebrand is a plus: you get the muscle of an international group with the Belgian roots intact.
Licences: A+ 595153 via Casino Middelkerke and F1+ 116764
The casino side runs under A+ licence 595153, held by Exploitatie Casino Middelkerke NV/SA. Casino Middelkerke belongs to Groupe Partouche, one of Europe's big land-based casino groups. That partnership is what allowed betFIRST to open its online casino in February 2024.
Sports betting runs under F1+ licence 116764, held by Sagevas SA, the original betFIRST company. Both numbers are printed in the footer of betsson.be and appear in the Gaming Commission register.
Watch out for clone sites
The Gaming Commission (CJH) blacklisted three fake domains on 27 November 2025: betfirst.win, betfirstcasino.org and betfirst-casino.org. None of them has anything to do with the real brand. With the name change, expect more copycats to try their luck. Type betsson.be yourself and check the licence numbers in the footer before you deposit a cent.
BetFIRST (Betsson) ★★★★★
🎁 Provider tournaments + Mega Wheels
Casino games: Greentube, Amusnet, Pragmatic and dice
Betsson has not yet published a game count for its Belgian casino after the rebrand, so I'm not going to guess one. What's confirmed is the line-up of studios:
- Greentube: the Novomatic classics Belgian players know from land-based halls.
- Amusnet: fruit slots with linked jackpots.
- Pragmatic Play: the big modern video slots.
- Relax Gaming: high-volatility titles and quirky mechanics.
There's also a dedicated dice games section, the Belgian speciality where reels show dice instead of fruit. New to the format? Our guide to dice games in Belgium explains how they work.
For the live casino, Betsson announced Betsson-branded live content as part of the rebrand. That's a step up from a generic lobby and fits the group's style in other markets. Overall the catalogue is solid and well-chosen rather than huge, which suits a player who sticks to known names.
Sports betting: the original betFIRST DNA
Betting is where this brand comes from. Fifteen years of taking bets from Belgian punters have built a sportsbook that knows its audience. It now runs on betssonsports.be under the F1+ licence of Sagevas.
For you, that means one brand covering both worlds: place your Saturday Jupiler Pro League bet, then switch to the casino in the evening. The two products run under different licences, as Belgian law requires, but under the same Betsson name.
Poker and bingo are not part of the confirmed offer in Belgium, so I'm not counting on them. Betsson is a sports-and-casino site, full stop.
Promotions for Belgian players: tournaments and Mega Wheels
Quick reminder for anyone who searched for a BetFIRST bonus code: since 1 September 2024, Belgian-licensed sites cannot offer welcome bonuses, free spins, no-deposit bonuses or deposit matches. No code anywhere unlocks one legally. That rule applies to Betsson exactly as it did to betFIRST.
What does run on betssoncasino.be:
- Provider tournaments with real prize pools, for example a €10 000 Greentube tournament and a €5 000 Amusnet tournament.
- Mega Wheels, a cashback wheel.
For me, provider tournaments are the best value you can find under Belgian rules: you play your usual slots and climb a leaderboard without a single wagering condition. The current line-up is on our page about BetFIRST and Betsson promotions.
BetFIRST (Betsson) ★★★★★
🎁 Provider tournaments + Mega Wheels
Deposits and withdrawals: Bancontact, PayPal and Apple Pay
Betsson brings one of the widest cashiers among Belgian-licensed sites:
| Type | Methods |
|---|---|
| Belgian | Bancontact card, Bancontact Pay (the former Payconiq) and Bancontact one |
| Cards and mobile | Visa, Mastercard debit, Apple Pay |
| E-wallets | PayPal, Skrill, Neteller |
| Prepaid | Paysafecard, Neosurf |
PayPal is a real plus here: not every Belgian casino accepts it. Compare the options on our page about PayPal casinos in Belgium.
The honest part: since the rebrand, Betsson has not published a minimum deposit, minimum withdrawal or withdrawal timeframe for Belgium. I'm not going to invent one. What I can say is that e-wallets are usually the quickest route back on any site that offers them. Look at the cashier for the exact figures once you're logged in.
Apps, sign-up and limits
Betsson has native apps for iOS and Android, so you don't depend on the mobile browser. After the rebrand, make sure you install the Betsson-branded app from the official store listing.
Sign-up follows the Belgian standard: your identity is checked against your national register number, and the EPIS exclusion register is consulted automatically. Have your eID or itsme ready. You must be 21 or older. Your deposit limit starts at €200 per week by law, and you can ask to raise it to €500, at which point the Gaming Commission checks the National Bank credit register.
Support is advertised as 24/7 assistance on betsson.be. That's a strong promise compared to rivals that close their chat in the evening.
Who should sign up? Betsson vs Unibet and bwin
Betsson suits you if you bet on sports and play slots, want PayPal or Apple Pay in the cashier, and like the idea of a listed group behind your account. Former betFIRST customers: same licences, bigger brand.
- Versus Unibet: Unibet puts casino, poker, bingo and sports on one account, takes Payconiq (now Bancontact Pay) from €5 and runs Drops & Wins. More complete. See our Unibet review for Belgium.
- Versus bwin: bwin, owned by Entain, also combines casino, poker, sports and dice with PayPal and Apple Pay, plus big slot tournaments. Very close profile; read the bwin Belgium review.
Where Betsson wins: the 24/7 support claim, a sharp provider line-up and fifteen years of Belgian betting know-how. Where it still has to prove itself: published withdrawal terms and a game count after the rebrand.
📊 BetFIRST (Betsson) — Detailed rating
| Promotions | 8.4/10 | |
| Payouts | 9.1/10 | |
| Games | 9.3/10 | |
| Mobile | 9.5/10 | |
| Security | 9.5/10 | |
| Support | 9.1/10 |
✓ Pros
- A+ licence via Casino Middelkerke (Groupe Partouche) and F1+ sportsbook
- Backed by Betsson AB, a listed international group
- PayPal, Apple Pay, Skrill, Neteller and Bancontact accepted
- Provider tournaments with €5 000–€10 000 prize pools
- Native iOS and Android apps, 24/7 support claimed
✗ Cons
- Rebrand means new domains: clone sites already blacklisted
- No published game count or withdrawal terms since the rebrand
- Poker and bingo not confirmed for Belgium
🚀 How to get started at BetFIRST (Betsson)
- Type betsson.be yourself (betfirst.be redirects there)
- Register and verify your identity with eID or itsme
- Set your weekly deposit limit (€200 by default)
- Deposit with Bancontact, PayPal or Apple Pay
💳 BetFIRST (Betsson) — Payment methods
| Payment methods | Min. deposit | Withdrawal |
|---|---|---|
| Bancontact | — | — |
| Visa | — | — |
| Mastercard | — | — |
| Apple Pay | — | — |
| PayPal | — | — |
| Skrill | — | — |
| Neteller | — | — |
| Paysafecard | — | — |
🏁 Kevin's verdict — 4.5/5
BetFIRST is gone, Betsson is here, and for Belgian players that's good news. The licences are unchanged, the partner casino in Middelkerke is unchanged, and you get PayPal, Apple Pay, 24/7 support and real provider tournaments on top. For me it keeps its 4.5/5 without hesitation.
Only two things to watch: use the official domains and check the cashier for withdrawal terms until Betsson publishes them. Want to compare first? The Napoleon Games review shows our number one. Otherwise, sign up at Betsson and join the next tournament.
Frequently asked questions
BetFIRST became Betsson on 22 September 2026. Betsson AB had bought the company in 2023, and betfirst.be now redirects to betsson.be.
Yes. The brand, now Betsson, holds A+ licence 595153 via Casino Middelkerke and F1+ licence 116764 via Sagevas SA. Only use the official betsson.be domains, as clone sites have been blacklisted.
Yes. Betsson operates the former betFIRST licences issued by the Belgian Gaming Commission. Both licence numbers are shown in the site footer.
No. Since 1 September 2024 Belgian-licensed casinos may not offer welcome bonuses or free spins. Betsson runs provider tournaments and a Mega Wheels cashback wheel instead.
Yes. PayPal sits alongside Bancontact, Visa, Mastercard debit, Apple Pay, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard and Neosurf.
Yes. Betsson offers native apps for iOS and Android. Download the Betsson-branded version from the official store listing.
