Luxembourg plans gambling monopoly, new measures as addiction cases rise

Lawmakers in Luxembourg’s parliament turned their attention to the country’s growing problem with gambling addiction this week, as calls intensified for tighter regulation and the establishment of a legal monopoly for the National Lottery and casinos.

During a parliamentary interpellation, Dan Biancalana of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP) questioned the government’s response to the spread of interactive gambling terminals commonly found in cafés, as per RTL Today. He also pressed for details on upcoming legal measures for online gambling and sports betting, urging a stronger focus on addiction prevention.

Justice Minister Elisabeth Margue confirmed that a legislative reform is underway to grant a legal monopoly to the National Lottery and the country’s casinos. Under the proposed framework, cafés would be limited to hosting National Lottery machines, while all other gambling devices — including skill-based games — would be prohibited.

Regarding online gambling, Margue said the government is considering granting a license to the casino, but several legal and technical issues remain unresolved. "According to European case law, you can create such a monopoly, but then you must protect your citizens. There are also questions around geo-blocking,” he said.

“We are examining these issues internally with all concerned parties to determine what can be done, what must be done, and how far we should go if we proceed," Margue added. "These are complex questions, and discussions are widely ongoing."

Health Minister Martine Deprez said the government is collaborating with the Centre for Excessive Behaviour and Behavioural Addictions (ZEV) to combat gambling addiction.

From 2020 to 2024, the number of individuals seeking assistance almost tripled to 100, with men making up the majority of cases. Consequently, the government boosted ZEV’s funding from €220,000 (US$253,000) in 2020 to €560,000 (US$645,000) this year.