Austria Prepares Gambling Bill Ahead of 2026 Market Shake-Up
The governing coalition plans to table a gambling bill before the end of the year, aiming to open Austria’s tightly controlled market to new tenders.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Vienna – Austria’s coalition government of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and NEOS intends to present draft gambling legislation before year-end, according to reporting from the Austria Press Agency. The draft is expected to come into force in early 2026 and is designed to address the impending expiry of the country’s long-standing monopoly licences.
At present, Austria operates a duopoly: Casinos Austria AG holds the licences for the nation’s 12 land-based casinos, while Österreichische Lotterien manages lotteries and operates the only authorised online gambling site, Win2Day. Casinos Austria AG is 59% owned by Allwyn, with a significant 33% stake held by the state holding company ÖBAG; ownership of Österreichische Lotterien and Win2Day rests within the same state-linked corporate circle via ÖLG Holding.
The licence covering Österreichische Lotterien and its Win2Day platform expires in autumn 2027. The concession for Casinos Austria is staggered, with licences set to lapse between 2027 and 2030. Those timelines are the immediate driver behind the government’s push to legislate now and to design the procurement process that will follow.
Industry observers note a sizeable grey market currently serving Austrian bettors: some international operators target Austrian customers using EU licences from other jurisdictions, and unlicensed operators also remain active. Market liberalisation would therefore be significant for both consumer protection and fiscal oversight.
Reports in Der Standard indicate that Brightstar (the company previously operating as IGT) is weighing participation in the forthcoming lottery tender and has held talks with Österreichische Post AG about a potential consortium. That pairing has drawn attention because Österreichische Post is majority-owned by ÖBAG, the same state holding company involved in the current gambling ownership web.
Reaction from industry groups has been swift. The Austrian Association for Betting and Gambling (OVWG), which represents major operators, has welcomed the prospect of reform. "We view legislative change as a necessary step to align Austria with other European markets and to introduce competition that can improve product standards and player protection", said an OVWG spokesperson. "A transparent, well-structured tender process will benefit consumers and the state if it is accompanied by robust regulation and enforcement."
Not all commentary is unreservedly positive. Dr. Anna Meier, a gambling policy analyst at the Vienna Institute for Regulatory Studies, cautioned: "Opening the market without clear safeguards risks fragmenting oversight and increasing exposure to illicit providers. The government must build compliance, responsible gambling measures and strict supplier due diligence into the new law if competition is to deliver better outcomes."
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Tender Timeline and Market Risks
Officials have signalled that formal procurement for lottery and casino concessions could follow the 2026 enactment. That timeline leaves a narrow window for drafting tender rules, setting eligibility criteria and establishing an independent regulator or enforcement regime. Key questions include how the state will manage its existing stakes, whether public entities will be allowed to bid, and how cross-ownership will be handled to avoid conflicts of interest.
Potential bidders will watch three factors closely: licence duration and fee structure, responsible gambling obligations, and transparency in the evaluation criteria. International suppliers such as Brightstar – and a range of pan-European operators that now access Austria via other licences – will likely assess whether the tender framework offers a level playing field.
With licence expiries concentrated between 2027 and 2030, the government faces a tight political and technical timetable. The draft bill and the decisions it embeds will determine whether Austria moves toward a competitive, regulated online casino and lottery market or retains substantial state influence in the industry. Stakeholders expect the coalition to present a unified position by year-end; the draft will be the first concrete test of that commitment.
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