Austria’s gambling reform sent to Brussels for review

The Austrian Ministry of Finance has submitted a draft of the new gambling law to the European Commission for review. This marks the start of a mandatory three-month waiting period, after which the country will be able to adopt the law. The legislation brings an end to the era of the online monopoly and introduces a system of multiple licences.

The draft was sent to Brussels on Tuesday, 4 August, via the TRIS technical notification procedure. While the review is underway, the European Commission and other EU countries may raise questions regarding the law’s compatibility with single market rules and state aid regulations. The Austrian Parliament will continue to work on the text during this time.

Currently, the sole licence for online gambling in the country is held by the win2day platform operated by Austrian Lotteries, part of the Casinos Austria group. For years, international companies have been serving Austrian customers without a local licence, and the courts have regularly ordered them to reimburse players’ losses.

Limits, the register and mandatory breaks

The law prioritises player protection. A single self-exclusion register will be introduced across the country, covering online gaming, casinos and slot machines. Players included on the register will not be able to simply switch to another licensed operator.

Mandatory deposit limits are being introduced, with lower limits for players aged 18 to 26 than for others. A central system, independent of operators, will monitor spending. Slot machines will feature reduced stakes, slower gameplay and a mandatory break after 90 minutes of continuous play.

Unlicensed operators face a costly path to entry

The strictest conditions have been imposed on companies already operating on the Austrian market without a licence. To be immediately eligible for a licence, they must stop accepting Austrian players by 1 January 2027. Those who fail to meet this deadline will face an 18-month waiting period, which will increase to 24 months from 2030.

Applicants will also have to settle tax arrears and make payments to around 20,000 players in accordance with previous court rulings. The industry association OVWG doubts that such conditions will drive traffic into the legal sphere and warns of the risks of a growing black market.

Casino licences have become the main point of contention

The land-based sector will be allocated a maximum of 13 casino licences, with the government intending to issue them in blocks rather than individually. Critics argue that these bundles favour major players such as Casinos Austria and bar smaller companies from entering the market. Casinos Austria itself supports the bundle model and, according to media reports, is hoping for a split into blocks of six and seven licences.

There is just over a year to go before the market opens

Provided Brussels does not raise any serious objections and parliament passes the legislation without delay, the new market is due to open in October 2027. Political analyst Felix Geyer doubts that the authorities will be able to issue licences within the allotted 12 months. Austrian administrative procedures rarely proceed quickly, and it is the timetable that currently appears to be the reform’s weakest link.