Austria’s first gambling draft backs private online operators
Austria has taken a major step towards reshaping its gambling industry after the government released the first draft of a wide-ranging reform package that would end the country’s long-standing online gambling monopoly and open the market to private operators.
The draft legislation, now in public consultation, has been described by the coalition government as the country’s biggest gambling reform in 26 years. Alongside market liberalisation, the proposals introduce a series of new player-protection measures and stronger enforcement tools to tackle illegal gambling.
The reforms have been agreed by Austria’s three-party coalition government, comprising the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and NEOS.
Licences likely for private operator
Rather than limiting online gambling to Casinos Austria and its win2day platform, the draft legislation would allow private operators to enter the market. To qualify for a licence, applicants would need to meet a series of regulatory requirements, including AML controls, player protection systems and at least €10 million ($11.7 million) in share capital.
According to the draft, operators hoping to secure a licence must stop offering illegal online gambling services in Austria from 1 January 2027. Those that comply with this cooling-off period would become eligible to receive licences from 30 September 2027.
Companies that continue operating illegally beyond that deadline would face tougher consequences. Initially, they would be required to wait 18 months before applying for a licence, with that waiting period increasing to 24 months from 1 January 2030.
Alongside opening the market, the government is proposing stronger measures to reduce the influence of unlicensed operators. Banks and payment service providers operating in Austria would be required to block payments linked to illegal gambling businesses, while international payment companies such as Visa and PayPal would also be expected to end relationships with unlicensed operators.
Authorities are also considering website blocking measures by working with major cloud service providers and search engines to limit access to illegal gambling websites. ÖVP finance spokesperson Andreas Ottenschläger said the reforms seek to balance competition with consumer protection.
“With the new gambling law, we are taking a step towards more competition, legal certainty, and fair market conditions,” he said.
Player protection prioritised
The draft also introduces several new responsible gambling measures. A central exclusion register would allow both self-exclusion and operator-imposed exclusions to be recorded across almost all forms of gambling, excluding lotteries. New deposit limits would also apply across online gambling and land-based slot venues.
Players aged 18 to 26 would be limited to deposits of €250 ($293) per week, while players over 26 would be limited to deposits of €1,680 ($1,967) per month. Higher limits could be granted only after affordability assessments and ongoing monitoring.
Slot machine regulations would also become stricter. The minimum spin speed for both retail and online slots would increase to two seconds per spin, a mandatory cooling-off break would apply after 90 minutes of continuous play, and the maximum stake would be halved to €5 ($5.85) per spin. The existing €10,000 ($11,710) maximum win limit would remain in place, although the current ban on jackpots would be removed to help licensed operators compete more effectively with the black market.
The government said the reforms are to create a more transparent, competitive and better-regulated gambling market while strengthening player protection. The draft legislation will now undergo public consultation before formal approval.
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