BESF extends strategic partnership with Lotto Belgium

The BESF has extended its strategic partnership with Lotto Belgium. Thanks to the players of the National Lottery, we have been able to set up many great projects such as the national esports teams, the E-rena at Pukkelpop or the Esports Events Incubator. We have now entered the 5th year of this hugely important partnership with many exciting projects, which you can read all about in this article.

National teams at Global Esports Games

The Lotto national teams will be our proud representatives at the Global Esports Games in Los Angeles, this year from 1-7 December, where they’ll battle to become world esports champions! This edition, Belgium and  host nation USA will be international frontrunners on inclusivity by sending senior teams for a showcase on senior esports in Rocket League!
The national CS team also has an academy roster for young players that want to get experience with guided training by a coach and playing on -and offline events.

Esports Events Incubator

Local esports events are crucial for the development of our Belgian esports ecosystem. With the Esports Events Incubator, we want to financially support our starting event organizers or organizers that bring innovation to existing events. A panel of judges, with expertise in esports and/or event management, provide guidance and professional advice on how to bring the events to a higher level and (financial) stability.
In 2026, we were able to support 6 Belgian events for a total of 5000 euros. Thanks to the support of the players of the National Lottery, we are now able to increase this budget to 8000 euros for 2027. Applications for the incubator will open later in September. 

Senior Games

Every year, we show that esports is not just for the young but that it can be a unique tool to bring generations together. At the senior games, residents of multiple retirement homes battle it out in games like Wii bowling, guided by young, enthusiastic pupils of local schools. The atmosphere is amazing every year and the smiles on the faces of young and old is evidence of the societal impact esports can have! 

Heroes Game Island – Esports Experience Center

Heroes Game Island (previously GameForce) is part of the Heroes World fair and is one of the largest (gaming) fairs in Belgium. The BESF, together with partners from schools, colleges and student organizations, will be creating an esports experience center. 
At the esports experience center, visitors will get into contact with many different aspects of esports from playing to coaching to setting up esports stream productions. We will do this with interactive experiences, guided by people from the esports scene. There will be experiences such as a beat the pro challenge, live coaching sessions, a casting initiation, a stream production playground where you can tinker with overlays, scenes and replays and more!

Esports at the municipal level

More and more local administrations, policy makers and organizations are curious about esports and wonder if it can be used to add value to the local community. At the same time, many esports organizations are looking for more stability and opportunities. With the esports at the municipal level project, we’re providing ready-made esports concepts that bring the value that local stakeholders are looking for and can be executed by, or in collaboration with, esports organizations. 
These concepts will be publicized online as well as with a physical seminar where we will inspire 80 decision makers from local governments, administrations and organizations about how they can concretely use esports in their community. The BESF will then serve as matchmaker between them and esports organizations to use the concepts to make an esports strategy and execute it.

Educational modules for esports 

More and more research shows that esports can be used to teach many skills that are in demand in the workplace, both within the esports sector as outside of it. Companies and educational institutions are increasingly interested in using esports, since a majority of young people are already involved in esports in some shape or form.
As an industry partner, the BESF is working with educational partners, like KTA Brugge, to design educational modules around esports. These range from topics such as transferable game skills like analytical thinking, strategy and communication to esports business or event management. This involves lesson packages for schools but can also extend to trainings for potential esports coaches, etc. 

Importance of the Lotto partnership

As the BESF, we believe that esports creates real opportunities for people and that it has an increasingly important place in our society. Our partnership with Lotto enables us to do meaningful projects that show the societal relevance of esports. This is integral to the mission of the BESF to make people more aware of what esports is and what its benefits are. 

With Belgian esports we support initatives that connect the youth, develop digital talent and invest in inclusion, respect and community building. That makes this partnership socially relevant and future proof.

Nicolas Theodoroudis, partnership manager at the National Lottery