Austria is moving ahead with a broad restructuring of its gambling framework after governing parties reached agreement on a draft reform that would reshape both online and land-based regulation. The proposals, currently under consultation and parliamentary review, represent the most extensive update to the Austrian Gambling Act in more than two decades and shift the structure away from the existing monopoly model toward a supervised licensing system.
Shift from monopoly structure to regulated licensing system
The planned reform replaces Austria’s long-standing single-operator approach in online gambling with a framework that allows multiple licensed providers to operate under state supervision. The change is designed to formalise a market that regulators describe as increasingly dominated by unlicensed activity while maintaining strict oversight mechanisms.
Under the draft framework, any operator meeting defined regulatory conditions would be eligible to apply for an online gambling licence. Requirements include compliance systems covering money laundering controls and player protection measures, as well as a minimum share capital threshold of €10 million.
The reform is presented by political negotiators as a way to balance market access with regulatory control. Andreas Ottenschläger, ÖVP finance spokesman, stated:
“With the new regulation of the Gambling Act, we are taking a step towards more competition, legal certainty and fair market conditions. The opening of the online market puts an end to outdated monopoly structures, creates new investment incentives and strengthens Austria as a business location. At the same time, we strengthen player protection through clear and up-to-date protection mechanisms and take consistent action against illegal providers. This will enable legal companies to operate, invest and create value in Austria under fair conditions in the future. In this way, we have succeeded in finding the right balance between effective player protection and a legally secure, functioning market.”
Jan Krainer, SPÖ finance spokesman, commented:
“The reform of the gambling law was overdue. It has been possible to reconcile many conflicting interests. The most important of these are that we are improving player protection and bringing order to an online market that has become increasingly grey and blacker in recent years.”
Christoph Pramhofer, NEOS spokesman for health and capital markets, said:
“A gambling offer that takes place in the legal and regulated area is the best player protection. This is exactly why we are opening up the online market – in a controlled manner and with uniform rules for all providers. The previous state monopoly has led to players far too often switching to the grey or black market due to a lack of alternatives. With liberalisation, we are now creating a modern market with healthy competition and high and binding player protection standards. The fact that this long-standing demand is now being implemented is also of crucial importance for me as health spokesperson.”
Enforcement framework and player safeguarding measures
A central component of the reform is the expansion of enforcement tools aimed at restricting access to unlicensed gambling services. Both payment-level controls and platform restrictions are included in the draft.
Financial transaction blocking is designed to prevent transfers to and from operators that are not authorised under Austrian law. Banks and payment service providers will be required to restrict transactions linked to identified illegal operators, including cross-border payments.
A second mechanism introduces a centralized exclusion register covering all gambling products except lotteries. The system will record both operator-initiated restrictions and voluntary self-exclusions, allowing a unified view across multiple gambling services.
The draft legislation published for consultation also includes behavioural monitoring requirements for operators and age-related limits for certain user groups. Deposit restrictions form part of the proposed safeguards, with weekly and monthly thresholds introduced depending on player age, alongside conditions allowing limited increases where risk indicators are not present.
Licensing conditions, duration and market access rules
The regulatory framework defines structured entry conditions for operators seeking access to the Austrian market. Applicants must be registered as corporate entities within the EU or EEA and demonstrate financial and operational stability. A licensing fee of €300,000 is required for initial authorisation, alongside minimum capitalisation requirements.
Licences would be issued for an initial period of up to five years, with renewals potentially extending up to ten years. Authorities would also retain the ability to assess ongoing compliance throughout the licence term.
A separate set of provisions addresses operators that previously served Austrian users without authorisation. These companies may apply for entry into the regulated system but must first meet outstanding tax obligations and resolve relevant court rulings in Austria.
The draft also introduces a staged market entry restriction linked to prior unlicensed activity. Operators that fail to withdraw by early 2027 face exclusion periods before they can re-enter the regulated market, with longer restrictions applied to continued activity beyond later deadlines.
Land-based gambling remains part of the reform package, with the number of casino licences set at 13. Allocation criteria include regional coverage, tourism factors, and socio-economic conditions intended to guide distribution across the country.
Stakeholders are currently able to submit feedback on the draft before the consultation period closes in mid-July 2026, after which the proposal is expected to continue through the legislative process.
Source:
Coalition agrees on new gambling law in Austria with draft law under review, g3newswire.com, June 30, 2026