Our verdict: the switch from BetFIRST to Betsson changes the name, not the safety. The licences are the same, the land casino partner is the same (Casino Middelkerke) and the owner has been Betsson AB since 2023. Since 22 September 2026, betfirst.be redirects to betsson.be, and the brand keeps its 4.5/5 score and ninth place in our ranking. Here is what changed, what did not, and what you should do now.
What happened: from BetFIRST to Betsson
BetFIRST has a special place in Belgian gambling history. It was the first operator licensed for online betting in Belgium, back in 2011. In 2023, the Swedish group Betsson AB bought the company behind it, Sagevas, for €120 million. In February 2024, BetFIRST added an online casino, launched with Casino Middelkerke, which belongs to Groupe Partouche.
The final step came this autumn. According to betsson.be, BetFIRST became Betsson on 22 September 2026, and press reports covered the full switch on 5 October 2026. Today, typing betfirst.be sends you straight to betsson.be. The BetFIRST brand no longer exists in Belgium; what remains is the same operation under the international Betsson name. Our BetFIRST and Betsson review has been updated accordingly.
For players, the practical effect is limited: a new logo, a new address, and Betsson-branded live content on the way. For English speakers living in Belgium, the new name may even feel more familiar, since Betsson is a brand many expats already know from other European markets. The difference is that here it operates under Belgian rules, with a Belgian land casino behind it, and not under a foreign licence.
What stays the same: the licences
This is the part that matters for your safety, and the good news is that nothing changed. The casino (betssoncasino.be) runs under A+ 595153 via Casino Middelkerke, held by Exploitatie Casino Middelkerke NV/SA. The sportsbook (betssonsports.be) runs under F1+ 116764, held by Sagevas SA. These are the same licence numbers that appear in the site footer and on the Gaming Commission register.
| Item | Before (BetFIRST) | Now (Betsson) |
|---|---|---|
| Main domain | betfirst.be | betsson.be (betfirst.be redirects) |
| Casino licence | A+ 595153 via Casino Middelkerke | Unchanged |
| Sports licence | F1+ 116764, Sagevas SA | Unchanged |
| Owner | Betsson AB (since 2023) | Betsson AB |
| Our score | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
All the Belgian rules apply exactly as before: 21+ only, EPIS check, €200 weekly deposit limit by default (up to €500 on request), no welcome bonuses. If you had an account with BetFIRST, the licensed companies holding it are the same ones. If anything looks unusual when you log in on betsson.be, contact support first; Betsson claims 24/7 assistance.
The real risk: fake BetFIRST domains
Every rebrand is a gift to scammers, because old customers go looking for the old name. The Gaming Commission had already blacklisted three BetFIRST clone domains on 27 November 2025: betfirst.win, betfirstcasino.org and betfirst-casino.org. None of those has ever been the licensed operator.
My rule: type betsson.be yourself, or go through the official app. Do not click a ‘BetFIRST login’ link in an ad, an email or a search result you do not recognise. The safest starting point is our ranking of Belgian casinos, which shows the exact licence status of every brand we cover. And if any site claiming to be BetFIRST or Betsson offers you a welcome bonus as a player in Belgium, close the tab: licensed Belgian operators cannot offer one.
What you get at Betsson today
Games. The casino features Greentube, Amusnet, Pragmatic Play and Relax Gaming, a dice games section, and Betsson-branded live casino content announced at the rebrand. No verified game count has been published since the switch, so I will not guess one.
Promotions. In place of bonuses, Betsson runs provider tournaments, for example a Greentube tournament worth €10,000 and an Amusnet tournament worth €5,000, plus the Mega Wheels cashback wheel. The Betsson promotions page lists what is currently live.
Payments. Bancontact in three forms (card, Pay and one), Visa, Mastercard debit, Apple Pay, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard and Neosurf. That is one of the widest e-wallet selections in the market. Our Bancontact casinos guide explains the differences between the Bancontact options.
Apps and support. Native iOS and Android apps, and 24/7 assistance as claimed on betsson.be.
What still holds the score back
The weak spot is transparency during the transition. Since the rebrand, Betsson has not yet published verifiable figures for its game count, minimum deposit, minimum withdrawal or withdrawal time in Belgium. I do not mark a casino down for being new to a name, but I do reward brands that put their numbers on the table. Until Betsson does, it stays at 4.5/5.
If clear payout terms are your top priority today, three alternatives publish theirs in detail. The Napoleon Games review covers our number one, with Bancontact payouts reported in about 36 minutes. The Unibet review shows a brand with €5 deposits and minute-level e-wallet payouts. And our Casino777 review details a long-running A+ casino with a cash-convertible loyalty programme.
Our verdict on the new Betsson
BetFIRST becoming Betsson is a rebrand, not a restart. Same licences, same Casino Middelkerke partnership, same owner, and a stronger international brand on top. For existing BetFIRST customers, there is no reason to leave; for new players, Betsson is a solid, safe pick with a wide choice of payment methods and round-the-clock support. My advice: sign up at Betsson via betsson.be, deposit with Bancontact or PayPal, and join the provider tournaments while they are running. Full scoring in the Betsson Belgium review.
Following the other big moves in the market? Find out what the Betano welcome bonus really is in Belgium, or whether bwin is the best casino in Belgium.
FAQ
Does BetFIRST still exist in Belgium?
No. BetFIRST became Betsson on 22 September 2026, and betfirst.be now redirects to betsson.be. The operation, licences and owner remain the same.
Is Betsson legal in Belgium?
Yes. The casino runs under A+ licence 595153 via Casino Middelkerke and the sportsbook under F1+ 116764 held by Sagevas SA, both registered with the Belgian Gaming Commission.
Which BetFIRST websites are fake?
The Gaming Commission blacklisted betfirst.win, betfirstcasino.org and betfirst-casino.org on 27 November 2025. Only betsson.be and its official casino and sports domains are licensed.
Kevin is a Brussels-based casino reviewer who works in French and Dutch and follows the Belgian online gambling market closely: licences, new rules, rebrands and payment changes. He rates every casino against the Kansspelcommissie register, its terms and its payment options, and he never holds back on his opinion.
