Luxembourg Plans to Introduce State Monopoly on Gambling

^{Pictured: Elisabeth Margue, Minister of Justice of Luxembourg}

The government of Luxembourg is preparing a reform that would establish a state monopoly on gambling, according to RTL Today.

The proposal seeks to grant exclusive rights to the National Lottery and the country’s only casino — Casino 2000 — to organize all forms of gambling.

At the same time, authorities are considering the legalization of online gambling under the supervision of Casino 2000, although a final decision has not yet been made.

Justice Minister Elisabeth Margue said the draft law is still being prepared and must comply with European Union standards. She emphasized that a monopoly can only be justified if the state guarantees effective protection against gambling-related harm. Among the issues under discussion are the use of geo-blocking and other technical tools to restrict access to unlicensed websites.

Special attention is also being given to gaming terminals in cafés and bars. Under the current proposal, such venues would be allowed to operate only National Lottery machines, while all other devices involving monetary stakes would be banned.

In parallel, the government is strengthening problem-gambling prevention efforts. According to the Centre for Addictions and Behavioural Disorders, the number of people seeking help has almost tripled between 2020 and 2024, reaching about 100 individuals — mostly men. The centre’s budget rose from €220,000 in 2020 to €560,000 in 2025.

Overall, Luxembourg appears to be moving toward a system in which both offline and online gambling will be under full state control. However, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has criticized monopoly models as outdated and inefficient, noting that most European countries have already shifted to multi-licensing systems. Finland, for example, recently decided to phase out its long-standing gambling monopoly.