Austria’s long-awaited iGaming reform is entering its final stage, with coalition negotiators working to resolve the last sticking points. A leaked draft from the Ministry of Finance revealed that the country’s online gambling monopoly will expire in 2027, opening the market to competition and dismantling Europe’s final gambling monopoly.
Austria’s monopoly stretches back nearly a century, rooted in state control of games of chance. For decades, Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries held exclusive rights, making Austria one of the last EU members to retain such a system.
Cooling-off period debate
One of the most divisive questions is whether unlicenced operators should face a “cooling-off” period before applying for licences. The draft bill, backed by the SPÖ-led Ministry of Finance, proposes barring companies that violated Austrian gambling laws within the past five years. Consultant Felix Geyer told iGB the ban could last 24 to 35 months, mainly affecting EU-licenced operators active in Austria.
Casinos Austria, the sole licence holder and until recently partly state-owned, strongly supports the measure. Spokesperson Patrick Minar told Krone newspaper that a three-to-five-year hiatus would prevent “those who operated illegally yesterday from being granted a licence today.”
Yet critics argue Austria’s monopoly model is outdated, especially in the online sector where cross-border competition is unavoidable. With licences expiring in 2027, the country faces a pivotal choice: maintain strict state control or transition to a multi-licence system more in line with EU norms, as noted by GGB Magazine.
Industry opposition
To date, EU gambling regulation remains fragmented. Each jurisdiction maintains its own licencing system. But Brussels, for instance, has introduced the proposed EU Gambling Act 2026 to unify the rules. While enforcement is set to take effect in 2027, the drive signals a shift toward standardised consumer protection and cross-border licencing, as reported by several media outlets.
The Austrian Betting and Gaming Association (OWVG) warns that a cooling-off period would undermine reform. President Simon Priglinger-Simader cautioned: “A cooling-off period would be the reform killer. Tax-paying operators must leave, the black market jumps in, revenues collapse, and budgeted income fails to materialise.”
The draft law also requires operators to settle outstanding player claims and unpaid taxes before entering the market. Observers warn this could complicate ongoing court rulings in favour of players. While reform is expected to boost fiscal revenues and attract major EU operators, high taxes and compliance costs may deter smaller entrants, driving market consolidation.
Stake and winnings limits
Another controversial proposal would cap stakes at €2 ($2.30) and winnings at €2,000 ($2,303) per game. Geyer argued such limits would “probably ruin the regulated online industry,” adding further tension to negotiations.
Austria’s iGaming reform is projected to generate billions in fiscal revenue but will impose some of Europe’s highest tax and compliance costs, likely reshaping the market for consolidation among large operators. Additionally, the country’s latest move to end its monopoly will reshape the gambling landscape, depending how on how lawmakers resolve these final hurdles.
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