The challenge has transformed what was initially a market-opening reform into a harder political question. Austria’s current online casino model involves a single licence, held through Austrian Lotteries and the win2day platform. The current licence is due to expire at the end of 2027.
The leaked Finance Ministry draft indicated a shift away from that model. Online casinos would no longer be limited to one operator. However, lotteries would continue to operate under the monopoly model.
Cooling-Off Plan Splits the Debate
The first concern revolves around access. Austrian reports and industry sources point to a cooling-off period for operators that have been working in Austria without a local license.
A possible scheme assumes blocking the companies found to have broken Austrian gambling laws within the previous five years. According to public affairs consultant Felix Geyer, the waiting period could stretch to between 24 and 36 months. Casinos Austria has supported the idea, with spokesperson Patrick Minar saying a three-to-five-year phase would be possible.
Supporters frame the idea as a fairness measure. They argue that operators staying within the legal framework of Austria should not be put in the same bracket as those that built Austrian revenue before licenses were introduced.
Industry Warns of Channelisation Risk
OWVG views the situation differently. It argues that delaying licences for grey-market operators would undermine the reform’s aim of moving players into the regulated market.
That is an important risk. The licensing model will work only if enough operators currently used by players can be attracted to the new market. If well-known brands are kept out for several years, players may continue to prefer unlicensed services.
The cooling-off debate also intersects with player claims. An earlier draft suggested that operators may need to pay player claims and unpaid taxes from previous years before entering the market. Player claims lawyers have warned that such a delay could make it harder for companies to settle court rulings in favour of players.
Stake Limits Add Pressure
Access for operators is not the only unresolved issue. Online gambling restrictions are being negotiated, such as the cap at €2 on stakes and the limit at €2,000 on winnings per game.
Those provisions have been introduced in connection with player protection. However, they might affect the competitiveness of licensed online casinos against their offshore rivals. With the regulated offering being too restricted, the market opening may lose part of its practical effect.
Land-based casinos are another open issue. The proposed draft had indicated up to 12 concessions, but some voices within the coalition would like to increase that number to 15. NEOS is reportedly in favour of raising the lottery licence fee from €20 million to €40 million.
Final Draft Expected Before Summer Recess
The coalition is aiming to finalize drafting before parliament’s summer break in July. After that, Austria will have to complete its formal process of notification to the EU authorities. If the timetable holds, the law could enter into force in autumn.
The expert reading is that Austria is no longer debating whether to open online casino. It is debating how much past offshore activity should cost. A strict cooling-off period may please local incumbents, but it also risks shrinking the licensed field before the market even starts.
