The Last Gambling Monopolies in Europe

In recent decades, most European countries have liberalised their gambling markets, moving away from state-run monopolies toward licensing systems that allow private operators to enter under regulation. However, a handful of countries still maintain strict monopoly models — where only government-controlled entities are permitted to offer gambling services. These last-standing gambling monopolies in Europe continue to draw attention from both regulators and industry observers.

What Is a Gambling Monopoly?

A gambling monopoly is a system in which a government grants exclusive rights to a single state-owned or state-sanctioned company to operate various forms of gambling, such as lotteries, sports betting, or casino games. The reasoning behind this model often includes consumer protection, public health, prevention of gambling addiction, and ensuring that profits are directed to social causes.

Countries Still Holding on to the Monopoly Model

As of 2025, the main European countries that continue to operate under a gambling monopoly are:

Norway

Norway has one of the most rigid gambling frameworks in Europe. Only two companies — Norsk Tipping (for lotteries, sports betting, and online casino) and Norsk Rikstoto (for horse racing) — are legally allowed to offer gambling services. These are both state-owned entities. Foreign operators are not allowed to advertise or target Norwegian players, and measures like payment blocking and DNS filtering are enforced to discourage access to unlicensed platforms.

Despite this, many Norwegians continue to use international gambling sites, suggesting a growing gap between regulation and consumer behavior. Many believe that reform is needed, but the government remains committed to the monopoly system for the time being.

Finland

Finland maintains a similar approach through its state-owned company Veikkaus, which has exclusive rights to provide most gambling services in the country. Like Norway, Finland uses reduction of gambling addiction among its citizens to justify its model.

However, Finland has announced plans to transition to a licensing system by 2026, recognizing that the current monopoly no longer effectively channels gambling behavior into the right direction. The decision came after criticism from both domestic stakeholders and the European Commission.

Austria (Partially)

While Austria has a licensing system for sports betting at the regional level, casino gaming and lotteries remain under a state monopoly, operated by Casinos Austria and Österreichische Lotterien. This hybrid system has faced legal challenges, especially concerning EU law and competition rules. Critics argue that the monopoly has created unequal conditions for private operators.

The Trend Across Europe: Licensing and Regulation

Most other European countries — including Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK — have moved to license-based systems, where private companies can legally operate under strict regulatory oversight. These systems typically include player protection mechanisms, responsible gambling tools, taxation requirements, and compliance audits.

The European Commission has long advocated for transparent and non-discriminatory access to gambling markets, putting pressure on remaining monopolies to justify their legal status under EU law.

Conclusion

While the monopoly model once dominated across Europe, it is now increasingly rare. Norway and Finland are the clearest examples of countries still holding on, though even Finland is now preparing to shift. The broader trend across the continent favors regulated competition over exclusivity, as governments seek to balance consumer protection with market realities.

For the last remaining monopolies, the question is no longer if change will come — but when?