An end to clandestine machines in Luxembourg cafés
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14 Jan 2026 •
Reading time: 3 minutes With gambling on the increase in cafés and bars in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, a new bill aims to tackle unauthorised gaming terminals and clarify a legal framework deemed obsolete.
Legislation designed to plug historic loopholes
For years, the interpretation of the rules surrounding gambling in Luxembourg has been based on legislation designed before the advent of modern technology and hybrid machines. It no longer effectively embraces the reality of current practices. This situation has prompted parliamentarians to propose a more robust text, capable of offering greater legal certainty in the face of the expansion of unauthorised gambling machines.
Numerous terminals are appearing in public places, often disguised as conventional Internet terminals but actually allowing gambling or games of chance. Until now, the lack of a clear classification has hampered action by the authorities and left grey areas in the application of the law. But today, these ambiguities must be swept away: the reform under discussion proposes a clearer legal definition of what constitutes an illegal gambling machine and what is an authorised activity. The text now proposes a more direct administrative procedure, enabling inspectors to act quickly as soon as a non-compliant device is identified.
But the reform is not limited to the machines themselves: it also extends the liability of venue operators. Owners of cafés and bars who tolerate unauthorised gambling on their premises will now be held liable. New, stricter penalties and fines are planned to deter any implicit tolerance of these practices.
A transitional period to support operators
Aware of the potential impact of these new rules on the hotel and catering sector, the government has included a three-month transitional period before the sanctions actually come into force. This period is intended to allow operators to identify and remove any non-compliant machines from their premises, or to clarify their legal situation if their status was uncertain.
A first step towards comprehensive reform
While the current draft focuses on physical machines, it is only the first step in a more ambitious reform aimed at modernising the entire regulation of gambling in Luxembourg. Several government officials have hinted that the next phase will focus on online gambling, an area that is still largely under-regulated.
Discussions have already begun on the idea of a state monopoly for online gambling, entrusted to a national entity like the Lottery or the official casino. Minister Margue has indicated that this possibility is being examined, although legal and technical issues remain to be resolved.
As with any ambitious reform, this bill raises a number of questions. Some players in the sector are concerned that the tightening up will be too rapid or poorly targeted, which could penalise honest traders or leave grey areas open to unscrupulous operators. Others are calling for greater clarity around implementation and precise criteria for equipment qualification.
For the time being, the Luxembourg government assures that the text will be the subject of in-depth debates in parliamentary committee over the coming weeks, before being put to a vote in plenary session. However, everyone agrees on one point: there is an urgent need to respond to a gambling market that has evolved faster than the legal framework that governed it.