Austria Moves Toward Multi-Licence Online Gambling Market
VIENNA – Austria is preparing a major gambling reform that could open its online casino market to multiple licensed operators for the first time.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:A leaked draft law from the Austrian Finance Ministry outlines plans to move away from the country’s current online casino monopoly and create a regulated licensing system for several providers. The proposal builds on earlier reports that Austria was poised to end its casino monopoly as policymakers considered a liberalised online market.
At present, Austria’s online gambling market is controlled through a single licence held by Austrian Lotteries’ Win2day brand, which operates under Casinos Austria. The same group also holds all 12 land-based casino licences.
Online Casinos Could Move to Multi-Licence Model
According to the draft cited by iGB, several providers would be allowed to offer online gambling in Austria under a strictly regulated licensing framework.
The Finance Ministry said the goal is to channel players away from illegal operators while maintaining strong player protection standards.
Lotteries would remain under a monopoly model, but online casino licences would be opened to multiple operators. The proposed licences would initially run for five years, with the possibility of a 10-year extension.
The reform is likely to attract interest from international gambling companies, many of which have long pushed for Austria to liberalise its online casino market. Access may still be limited in practice, however, because operators could be required to settle outstanding Austrian court rulings and pay back taxes linked to previous activity in the country.
More Regulation
Draft Includes Strict Player Protection Rules
The proposed framework also includes some of Europe’s stricter consumer protection measures.
Players under 26 would face a weekly deposit limit of €250 per operator, while older players would have a weekly limit of €1,680. The higher limit could be lifted if a player proves sufficient liquidity.
Maximum stakes would be capped at €2 per spin or game, while maximum winnings would be reduced to €2,000. Jackpot games would be banned under the draft.
The proposal also includes mandatory cooling-off periods, requiring players to take a 15-minute break after 90 minutes of continuous play. Online gambling would also be subject to continuous monitoring and linked to a national self-exclusion system.
Reform Timeline Remains Uncertain
Austria’s current Win2day licence is due to expire in 2027, alongside several land-based concessions held by Casinos Austria. The draft suggests those permits could be extended if the new concessions process faces delays or legal challenges.
A fully independent gambling regulator may not be established until around 2030, meaning early licences under the new model could still be granted by the Ministry of Finance.
The proposal must still pass through negotiations between Austria’s coalition parties, the SPÖ, NEOS and ÖVP. Changes could be made before any parliamentary vote, which would need to take place before the summer recess in early July.
Simon Priglinger-Simader, president of the ÖVWG trade association, said the industry is “feeling more hopeful than ever”, while noting that several difficult details still need to be resolved.
RELATED TOPICS: Regulation
Review this New Post
Leave a Comment
User Comments
Comments for Austria Moves Toward Multi-Licence Online Gambling Market