EGBA claims multi-licence model “momentum is undeniable”
European Gaming and Betting Association urges Norway, Iceland and Luxembourg to abandon monopoly models, with Finland set to switch in 2026
The post EGBA claims multi-licence model “momentum is undeniable” first appeared on EGR Intel.
New analysis from the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has found the overwhelming majority of European countries are implementing a multi-licence model.
Recent analysis conducted by the EGBA concluded that 27 of 31 countries in Europe are currently employing some form of multi-licensing system for their respective online gambling markets.
This is in stark contrast to 2009 when only seven countries – Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Malta and the UK – were using a multi-licence model for igaming.
Further EGBA findings showed that 23 of those 27 countries have implemented a full multi-licence model across all igaming verticals.
However, Slovenia and Switzerland continue to have a monopoly for online sports betting and likewise Austria and Poland for icasino and poker, creating a partial competitive market augmented with historical monopoly approaches.
On the other hand, Cyprus and France have yet to regulate online casino, with the former also having an existing ban on online poker.
The remaining four countries yet to abandon the monopoly model across all verticals are Finland, Norway, Iceland and Luxembourg – the latter currently lacking regulation whatsoever for online gambling.
As one of the last remaining countries to still employ a monopoly model, Finland has plans in place to make the switch to a multi-licence model in January 2026, which would leave only Norway as the remaining country in the European Economic Area (EEA) to have not adopted an open-licence system.
The EGBA were one of the voices backing Finland to make the transition, with the country’s monopoly operator, Veikkaus, also in support of the switch.
Maarten Haijer, EGBA secretary general, commented on the findings and called on those European countries yet to move away from a monopoly model to begin phasing it out to become more effective.
Haijer said: “The momentum towards full multi-licensing for online gambling in Europe is undeniable. While a few exceptions still exist, governments are concluding that public policy objectives, particularly related to consumer protection and tax generation, are more effectively met through well-regulated online competition.
“Finland’s current transition towards multi-licensing signals the impending end of the last online gambling monopoly in the EU, marking a significant regulatory milestone.”
He continued: “Similar deliberations regarding the future of the online monopoly are inevitable in Norway and Iceland. Furthermore, the handful of countries with either partial monopolies or product prohibitions should strive for greater consistency and effectiveness in their policies by phasing these out.
“With over 15 years of regulatory experience in Europe, it’s clear that full multi-licensing offers the best pathway to enhance consumer protection, increase tax revenues and ensure stronger regulatory control. The time has come for the last remaining European countries to embrace this optimal form of online regulation.”
The EGBA recently backed the European Union’s (EU) anti-money laundering package which will give operators a more consistent approach to battling financial crime.
The post EGBA claims multi-licence model “momentum is undeniable” first appeared on EGR Intel.
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