Draft legislation grants more powers to seize illegal gaming terminals in Luxembourg
There are also plans to regulate online gambling in Luxembourg.
Luxembourg.- The government of Luxembourg has introduced draft legislation designed to tackle the spread of illegal gambling terminals in bars. Presented to the Parliamentary Justice Committee yesterday, the bill aims to protect minors and strengthen enforcement as the initial step in a wider overhaul of the country’s gambling laws.
Lawmakers cited concerns over the growing number of unlicensed gaming machines, often disguised as internet kiosks but functioning as gambling devices. They say the proposal aims to strike a balance between allowing legal gaming at licensed venues and ensuring stronger safeguards.
Under the bill, authorities would have a streamlined route for seizing illegal gaming terminals, while bar owners who permit such activity on their premises would face tougher sanctions.
Justice minister Elisabeth Margue told MPs that the bill made changes in definitions to provide clearer legal instruments to ensure only games authorised by the Luxembourg National Lottery could be offered.
The draft legislation sets out a three‑month transition period for bar operators to comply. Certain exceptions are included, such as raffles at local village festivals, even when minors are present.
The only legal land-based casino in Luxembourg is Casino 2000 in Mondorf-les-Bains, which is run by a joint venture between Partouche Group and Luxembourg Casino. Many cafes host unregulated gaming machines, but the new legislation makes it clear that only National Lottery machines are pemitted.
A second phase of reform is planned, focusing on the regulation of online gambling in Luxembourg. Margue has previously said that the government is considering the possibility of granting the sole land-based casino operator a licence to operate online casino gaming on a monopoly basis.
However, the minister said several questions were still being evaluated, including around how to implement geo-blocking, oversight and enforcement.
The European Gaming and Betting Association has previously noted that with Finland planning to open a licensed regulated gambling market next year, there will remain only three countries in Europe with no form of multi-licensing for gambling: Iceland and Norway retain state monopolies, while Luxembourg is the only country with no dedicated regulations for online gambling.
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