🇱🇺For operators · Tax, marketing & compliance
Luxembourg for operators: state monopoly
Luxembourg allows online gambling only through the state Loterie Nationale (lotteries, scratch games, sports and horse-race bets). Foreign sites are not blocked; a bill against illegal machines is in committee.
Product by product
| Product | Status | Licensed by | Tax | Key restriction | Advertising |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online casino and slots | Banned | No online licence exists | No online levy | The 1977 Act bans operating games of chance. The only casino authorisation covers a physical casino in special premises | Announcing an unauthorised gaming establishment by any means is an offence |
| Online poker | Banned | No authorisation for online poker | No online levy | No instrument gives an authorisation for online poker | As for Online casino and slots |
| Sports betting | Limited | Minister of Justice (points of sale); Loterie Nationale sells online outside the Act | 15% of gross stakes plus an initial fee of up to €600 | Authorisation is built around authorised points of sale. No authorisation for commercial online betting exists | No channel-specific rule; Art. 16 offence for an unauthorised operator |
| Lottery | State monopoly | Loterie Nationale (state-owned); charity lotteries authorised per lottery | Loterie Nationale exempt from State and communal taxes except VAT and fees for services | Loterie Nationale operates outside the licensing system; its exclusive position is not written as such in the Act | No advertising rule beyond a duty to inform the public of the real chances of winning |
| Land-based casino | Limited | Government Council (personal authorisation, term set in the authorisation) | Progressive levy of 10% to 80% of gross gaming product | Special, separate premises installed in the interest of tourism; one casino operates, at Mondorf-les-Bains | No channel-specific rule |
Decided7 Jan 2026Bill 8679 filed, 7 January 2026
Is Luxembourg about to open or tighten online gambling?
Bill 8679 amends the 1977 Act. It raises the penalties for operating prohibited gambling to 5-8 years in prison and EUR 250,000-500,000, and would make taking part in prohibited gambling an offence. It does not add a website-blocking power or an online licence. As of 7 November 2026 it is in committee with no vote. Its memorandum calls it the first step of a larger reform that would follow a monopoly approach, mainly online.
Bill 8679 dossier, Chamber of Deputies ↗Bill 8679 as filed ↗
Regulator and player protection in Luxembourg
Self-exclusion scheme
Casino exclusion by the Minister of Justice
How players exclude themselves; what it covers is in the player guide
Mandatory RG controls
No limit imposed on players
Deposit limits or reality checks the law requires operators to offer
Heads-up for operators
2 items · last change 8 Oct 2026
Projet de loi 8679, deposited on 7 January 2026 to strengthen enforcement against illegal gambling machines, is before the Commission de la Justice: the Conseil d'État gave its opinion on 10 June 2026 and no plenary vote is listed. The bill calls itself the first step of a global reform of the gambling framework, which is being drafted on a monopolistic approach aimed at steering players away from illegal games, mainly online; no bill for that step is listed.
Bill 8679 deposited (illegal gaming machines)
Higher penalties, a ban on kiosks giving access to gambling sites in public places and a player offence; the memorandum calls it the first step of a reform with a monopoly approach. In committee (as of 7 November 2026).
Source: 1
Not yet in force: drafts, laws adopted without a start date, and sections of the law still to be commenced. An item moves to the timeline below on the day it takes effect.
Getting licensed: no online licence route
Why there is no online licence, and what exists instead, are in the licence guide
No private operator can be licensed online. The legal basis, what the law allows instead and what an operator or supplier can do are set out there.Read the licence guide
Gambling tax and fees in Luxembourg
Detail
Casinos pay a progressive State levy on the gross gaming product, from 10% up to EUR 45,000 to 80% above EUR 8,100,000 (RGD of 1 August 2001 Art. 39, within the 10%-85% bounds of the 1977 Act Art. 12 II); the host commune receives 20% of it, never more than one fifth of its budget. Authorised sports betting pays 15% of gross stakes (RGD of 7 September 1987 Art. 17).
The Œuvre that runs the Loterie Nationale is exempt from State and communal taxes except VAT and fees (2009 Act Art. 8(1)).
Which foreign licences Luxembourg accepts
Luxembourg recognises none of these 8 foreign licences.
Not recognisedMalta (MGA) · United Kingdom (UKGC) · Curaçao (CGB) · Alderney (AGCC) · Kahnawake (KGC) · Anjouan · Isle of Man (GSC) · Gibraltar (GRA)
Gives no right to operate in Luxembourg (1977 Act Art. 1); no Luxembourg authority can block sites, and none has.
Bonus rules: welcome bonuses restricted
Bonuses bannedInducement ads: Channel-restricted
The practices of the state-owned Loterie Nationale define the regulatory framework for bonuses, rather than a comprehensive code for a competitive market. The monopoly's own ethical code sets the rules and focuses on channelling play towards a legal and responsible offering.
What the player can claim
- Welcome bonus
- Restricted
- VIP schemes
- Banned
- Loyalty schemes
- Banned
- Cashback
- Banned
The Loterie Nationale may offer promotional bonuses, but affiliate sites note the absence of significant welcome offers. Bonus funds are not directly withdrawable until associated wagering requirements are met, though no specific cap is publicly defined.
What the operator can advertise
- Channels off-limits
- Advertising must not target minors or other vulnerable groups
- Messages ads may not give
- Misleading claims
- Declaring that a product increases the chances of winning
- Mentioning winnings or odds that are not verifiable
- Mandatory disclaimer
Playing can be addictive! Don't let it get that far: talk to us!
The Ministry of Justice is the primary oversight body for all gambling. However, the current legislative focus is on tackling illegal, unlicensed gambling machines rather than the marketing practices of the state operator.
Advertising: most channels open
Luxembourg's gambling advertising is governed by a strict state-monopoly system that limits all activities to two licensed operators. Advertising for online sports betting is permitted exclusively for the Loterie Nationale. In contrast, online casino games are illegal, and all related advertising is consequently prohibited.
| Channel | Status | Vertical & Platform Split (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Google Search Ads | Licensed operators only | Only the state-monopoly Loterie Nationale can apply for Google's gambling certification to advertise its online sports betting products. Keywords related to online casino games are blocked.56 |
| App Store Publishing | Licensed operators only | Real-money gambling apps from the Loterie Nationale for sports betting and lottery are permitted if they hold a Luxembourg licence and are geo-restricted. Apps must comply with Apple's Guideline 5.3 and Google's policies, but online casino apps are prohibited.78 |
| Google/Apple App Store Ads | Restricted | The Loterie Nationale can use promoted listings and Universal App Campaigns within app stores for its compliant sports betting and lottery apps. All ad content must adhere to platform-specific creative and targeting rules, while online casino app ads are banned.910 |
| Meta (FB/IG) | Licensed operators only | Both Loterie Nationale (sports betting) and Casino 2000 (land-based) must get prior written permission from Meta by submitting their Luxembourg-issued licence for verification. All campaigns must be age-gated to 18+.11 |
| TV & Radio | Restricted | The gambling instruments set no rule for television or radio as a channel. The only advertising offence in force is announcing an unauthorised gaming establishment by any means of publication (Art. 16 of the 1977 law), and claiming falsely, on radio, television or any other medium, that betting is organised for the State, a public body, a charity or a sports association is prohibited (Art. 15 RGD of 7 September 1987).1213 |
| Sponsorships | Allowed | Sponsorship is permitted and actively practiced by the licensed operators. For example, the land-based Casino 2000 sponsors the US Mondorf football club, and the Loterie Nationale sponsors various social and cultural projects.1415 |
| Digital OOH | Restricted | Only the Loterie Nationale and Casino 2000 are permitted to use digital out-of-home advertising. Placements are subject to the general principle of not targeting minors under the Law of 20 April 1977, as specific buffer zones around schools are not publicly defined.1617 |
Channel rules for Luxembourg reflect each platform's published policy and the sources numbered in each row (listed under Methodology & sources). Verify with the local regulator and your ad-platform account manager before launching.
How Luxembourg enforces against unlicensed operators
No Luxembourg authority can block gambling websites, domains or payments, and none has (13.03). Operating unauthorised gambling is an offence (1977 Act Art. 14: 8 days to 6 months, EUR 63 to 25,000). Bill 8679, in committee, targets illegal machines and kiosks in cafés with penalties of 5 to 8 years and EUR 250,000 to 500,000.
- No blocking order or list of blocked gambling sites is published.
- Bill 8679 deposited on 7 January 2026; Conseil d'État opinion of 10 June 2026; no committee report or vote.
Licensed operators: ~2
As of 10 Nov 2026, approximately 2 operators hold an active licence in Luxembourg. Size your entry against this base before committing capital.
Notable licensed operators
Casino 2000
Traps operators hit in Luxembourg
Specific operational risks that have caught new entrants in this market. Each item is country-specific. Generic gambling-ops issues (KYC, RG tools) are not included unless they have a local twist.
No online licence exists
The 1977 Act bans games of chance (Art. 1) and authorises only a land casino, sports betting at authorised points of sale and charity lotteries. Operating without authorisation, in any place and form, is an offence (Art. 14).
Sources18
Advertising an unauthorised establishment
Publicising an unauthorised gaming establishment by notices, announcements, posters or any other means is an offence (Art. 16: 8 days to 1 month, EUR 63 to 3,750).
Sources18
Bill 8679 raises the penalties
Pending (not law, as of 7 November 2026): operating prohibited gambling would carry 5 to 8 years and EUR 250,000 to 500,000, and taking part would become an offence for players.
Timeline: rules in force
- June 10, 2026
Conseil d'État opinion on bill 8679
Formal oppositions, among them to the vague funfair exclusion.
Source: 19
- 2009
Loterie Nationale Act
The law of 22 May 2009 sets up the Œuvre and lets the Loterie Nationale sell through information-society tools (Art. 9).
Source: 21
- 1977
Law of 20 April 1977 Enacted
The foundational law establishing a general prohibition on games of chance and creating the legal basis for the current state-monopoly model was passed.
Source: 22
Operator myths vs reality in Luxembourg
Common assumptions about gambling licensing that turn out to be wrong in practice.
- MythAn MGA or other EU licence allows us to legally serve the Luxembourg market under free movement of services.Reality
No foreign licence authorises gambling in Luxembourg: the 1977 Act bans games of chance except the authorisations it lists (Art. 1), and operating without one is an offence (Art. 14).
Sources18
- MythLuxembourg is an unregulated 'grey' market, so there is no risk.Reality
Luxembourg is a highly restrictive monopoly market, not a grey one. The 1977 law is an explicit prohibition. The risk is being in direct violation of a long-standing criminal prohibition, not a lack of regulation.
Sources18
- MythEnforcement is non-existent, so targeting Luxembourg is low-risk.Reality
No site is blocked, but bill 8679 (in committee) would raise the penalty for operating prohibited gambling to 5 to 8 years and EUR 250,000 to 500,000, and its memorandum names online gambling as the next step.
Sources1
Markets that work like Luxembourg
Compared on what our records hold for each country: whether online casino, betting, poker and lottery are licensed, state-run or banned, the licensing model, what the operator tax is levied on and its band, how most advertising channels are treated, and how foreign licences are treated. A point we hold for only one of the two countries counts for nothing.
- IcelandChecked
Online casino and poker banned; betting limited; state monopoly; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly not recognised.
- SingaporeCheckedUruguayCheckedMoroccoAI overviewHong KongAI overview
Online casino and poker banned; betting and lottery limited; state monopoly; most ad channels restricted.
Methodology & sources
Our Deep AI Scan took Luxembourg through all 201 questions of our regulatory checklist, from 51 official documents, read on 7 Nov 2026. Our research team then traced every figure on this page to the document and sentence that states it. The full research report is due to go to our compliance team. Where a fact rests on a press report or a law-firm summary rather than an official document, the page says so.
Documents cited on this page
- 1Bill 8679 as deposited (7 January 2026), with its memorandum
- 2Loterie Nationale
- 3JohnnyBet
- 4Guichet Public
- 5Google Ads Gambling Policy
- 6Legal Framework in Luxembourg
- 7Apple App Review Guidelines
- 8Google Play Gambling Policies
- 9Apple Search Ads Policies
- 10Google Ads App Campaign Policies
- 11Meta Advertising Policy
- 12Loi modifiée du 20 avril 1977 relative à l'exploitation des jeux de hasard et des paris relatifs aux épreuves sportives
- 13Règlement grand-ducal du 7 septembre 1987 concernant les paris relatifs aux épreuves sportives
- 14Casino 2000 Sponsorship
- 15Loterie Nationale Public Mandate
- 16General Advertising Restrictions
- 17Monopoly Operator Rights
- 18Loi modifiée du 20 avril 1977 (games of chance and sports betting), consolidated text
- 19Conseil d'État opinion of 10 June 2026 on bill 8679
- 20Chambre des Députés: dossier 8679
- 21Loi du 22 mai 2009 (Œuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte, Loterie Nationale)
- 22Law of 20 April 1977 on games of chance
The 10 documents this page relies on most
- Loi modifiée du 20 avril 1977 relative à l'exploitation des jeux de hasard et des paris relatifs aux épreuves sportives (consolidated 22 Aug 2023)Regulator
- Règlement grand-ducal du 12 février 1979 (casino games and operation), original textRegulator
- Règlement grand-ducal du 8 mars 2002 modifiant le règlement grand-ducal du 12 février 1979Regulator
- Règlement grand-ducal du 1er novembre 2015 modifiant le règlement grand-ducal du 12 février 1979Regulator
- Règlement grand-ducal du 7 septembre 1987 concernant les paris relatifs aux épreuves sportives, original textRegulator
- Règlement grand-ducal du 5 juin 1997 modifiant le règlement grand-ducal du 7 septembre 1987Regulator
- Loi modifiée du 12 novembre 2004 relative à la lutte contre le blanchiment et contre le financement du terrorisme (consolidated 8 Aug 2026)Regulator
- Loi du 22 mai 2009 relative à l'Oeuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte et à la Loterie Nationale (consolidated 4 Nov 2022)Regulator
- Projet de loi 8679, document de dépôt (7 Jan 2026)Regulator
- Règlement grand-ducal du 1er août 2001 (euro changeover), Arts. 39-40Regulator
51 documents in all. Request the full research report for every source, answer by answer.
Looking for the player guide?
For consumer-facing information about gambling in Luxembourg (tax on winnings, where to play legally, self-exclusion options), see the Luxembourg player guide.
Disclaimer. This page reflects the law as we understood it on 10 Nov 2026. Rules change: always check the current position with Ministry of Justice. We are not a legal adviser.