Best Luxembourg Betting Sites

Ever since the 19th century and Casino Bourgeois, the gambling world of Luxembourg has seen its fair share of ups and downs. Under the 1977 Luxembourg Law, all forms of gambling were prohibited except for the National Lottery and the regulated land-based Casino 2000. However, over the years, some forms of gambling became legal, like sports betting. As the sole proprietor of licensed gaming services, it is the National Lottery’s prerogative to offer lottery games and sports betting; with the latter being offered exclusively by Oddset.

Foreign betting sites take a significantly larger part of the market, regardless of their unregulated position; since the local authorities do not persecute players who opt for online bookies. Bettors from Luxembourg can freely play in international bookmakers and enjoy better odds and more betting markets than in the one offered by the state-owned monopoly operator Loterie Nationale.

Best Betting Sites in Luxembourg

We gathered the best betting sites you can find in Luxembourg by narrowing the choice down to the ones that are available both in German and French and by comparing their odds, variety of markets and live betting offerings.

Betting in Luxembourg - 5 Things to Know

• 1
  The legal gambling age stands at 18
• 2
  Winnings from online betting are tax-free
• 3
  German operator Oddset is only authorized by Loterie Nationale to accept locals
• 4
  Bitcoin betting is legal in the country because the CSSF (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier) accepts cryptocurrencies
• 5
  Luxembourg holds the third-highest gross gaming revenue per capita in the EU

General info

⏩Population: 613.894

⏩Active Players: 295.000

⏩Currency: Euro

⏩Regulated gambling products: Sports betting and National Lottery games

⏩Designated authority: Ministry of Justice

⏩Operator types: Online sports betting monopoly (Loterie Nationale), licensed land-based Casino 2000

⏩Status: Regulated

Online Gambling in Luxembourg: The Law Framework

The primary legislation under the Luxembourgish Law that regulates all forms of gambling in the country, is the “1977 Law”; which postulates that “the operation of a business of ‘games of chance’ is prohibited”. However, many amendments have been made since then, in order to facilitate different forms of gambling present in Luxembourg today.

One of these amendments is the Grand-Ducal Regulation of September 7, 1987, which regulates sports betting. Another amendment is the 2009 National Lottery Law, that places all types of lottery and online sports betting under the jurisdiction of the National Lottery.

Although international bookmakers are not licensed, the German operator Oddset is fully licensed to operate in Luxembourg. The tax regime, as regulated by the Ministry of Justice and applicable to gambling, is the same no matter if operated online or land-based. The tax rate for sports betting and lotto is 15% and applies solely to operators and their gross gaming revenue.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Luxemburg?

Sports betting is legal in Luxembourg and was first legalized in 1987. Currently, it is placed under the auspices of the Loterie Nationale. The latest legislation set also the ground for online sports betting and made it legal for all Luxembourgers.

The minimum age for betting is 18 and players’ winnings are not taxable. Even though only the National Lottery holds the license for sports betting, players from Luxembourg can access foreign betting sites freely, since there aren’t any laws that prohibit them from doing so.

Which .com Bookmakers Accept Players from Luxembourg?

Since Luxembourgers have no restrictions as to where they can place their bets, it might be challenging to choose the most popular bookmaker. Bwin, Bet365, and Unibet are very good options for local bettors as they have websites in German and French and offer great promotions and numerous betting markets.

Bwin Luxembourg

At Bwin LU, there are 90 different sports on its betting platform. The average payout on the site is 94.3% for all sports. Bwin football events include 160+ betting markets and specialty football bets like Combi+ and Price Boost that offer extra odds for particular matches.

Bet365 Luxembourg

Bet365 offers an array of 37 sports with hundreds of events daily. The most frequent bets are placed on the top 5 football leagues in the world where the payouts reach 96%. Luxembourgers often utilize Sofort, Skrill and Neteller as payment methods in Bet365. All deposits and withdrawals are free of charge.

Unibet Luxembourg

Players from Luxembourg have no problem finding their favorite sports at Unibet as there are 200+ daily events from 35 sports and the average payout is 94%. Deposit methods for Luxembourgers include Sofort, Giropay and Skrill; while withdrawals are made mostly via Skrill and Visa/MasterCard.

Comparing International Bookies to the Local Operator

One of the key advantages that these international bookies hold over the German sportsbook (i.e. Oddset) authorized by the local monopoly operator Loterie Nationale, is the sheer number of betting options they provide punters with. They also offer 35+ sports compared to Oddset’s 5.

As regards football in particular, bookies such as Bet365 and Bwin can offer 150+ betting markets. The payouts for the top 5 European leagues go between 93% and 96%. They also offer 100% matched welcome bonuses and promotions for the first deposit, as well as cashback bonuses and free bets.

How to Deposit at Online Bookies

The quickest possible methods for deposits on Luxembourg betting sites are e-wallets such as Neteller, Skrill and PayPal and instant banking methods such as Sofort and Giropay. Other payments include credit/debit cards and prepaid vouchers.

If you opt for more traditional methods though, there are also some local Luxembourgish banks, such as Advanzia Bank, that will facilitate the bank transfer between your sportsbook and bank account.

The Future of Online Betting in Luxembourg

Considering that players from Luxembourg are granted access to internationally acclaimed betting sites without any repercussions or fears of legal persecutions; it would be prudent for the local authorities to grant licenses to foreign bookmakers and end the monopoly of the National Lottery.

Unfortunately, for the time being, there aren't any specific plans in sight towards the legalization of international betting operators. Therefore, the future of the online betting market in Luxembourg is uncertain at best.

Gambling in the Neighbouring Countries

Examining the gambling landscapes in neighbouring countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, and France can provide valuable insights for bettors. If we take a look at the scene and laws of each, we can make informed decisions and identify opportunities. 

⏩ Belgium:  Both land-based and online betting is legal, which means that online operators have to abide by local laws and sometimes obtain licenses. The Belgium betting sites that operate illegally can also be accessed, bypassing the government's blacklisting. If you choose to do so, however, make sure you are using a VPN. 

⏩ The Netherlands:  The government recently implemented new gambling legislation that legalized online gambling and expanded land-based betting options. The country now offers a regulated market with licensed operators. Dutch betting sites sometimes have to obtain local domains and even have specific conditions to offer their apps to local bettors.

⏩ France: The country has a tradition of land-based casinos, horse racing tracks, and betting shops. Online gambling is also legal, with licensed operators offering a wide range of casino games, sports betting, and poker. French betting sites offer players many regulated options ensuring their protection.