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Austria has submitted sweeping gambling reforms to the European Commission, starting a mandatory review period that will determine whether the government can overhaul its licensing and player protection framework.
The Ministry of Finance formally filed the draft legislation with Brussels on Tuesday, beginning a three-month standstill window during which the Commission can raise concerns about state aid or single market compatibility. Austria’s parliamentary work can continue in parallel.
The proposal represents one of Austria’s most significant shifts in gambling policy in years, aiming to tighten online controls, strengthen player protections, and establish a modern licensing regime.
Open licensing with a catch
The government plans to introduce open licensing for online gambling operators with a transitional pathway that includes sharp conditions. Operators currently serving Austrian players without authorisation must cease all operations by 1 January 2027 to be immediately eligible for a licence.
Failure to comply would impose an 18-month waiting period before any licence application can proceed, rising to 24 months from 2030. Applicants also need to settle outstanding tax debts and unpaid claims from around 20,000 affected players, a requirement intended to close historical enforcement gaps.
The Austrian Betting and Gaming Association (OVWG) expressed doubt that the transitional period will drive high channelisation toward Win2Day or legal land-based venues. Instead, the association predicts the black market could emerge as the biggest beneficiary.
Player protection measures
Austria would establish a national exclusion register covering self-exclusions and operator-imposed bans across casino gaming, slot machines, and online gambling. The register aims to prevent excluded players from switching between products or operators to evade restrictions.
The draft law mandates deposit limits for online gambling and slot machines, with stricter caps for players aged 18 to 26, targeting increased protections for younger adults considered more vulnerable.
Slot machines would face lower maximum stakes and slower game speeds. A mandatory cooling-off break after 90 minutes of continuous play is designed to combat excessive gambling sessions.
Operators would be legally required to conduct analyses of the addiction potential of their offerings, supporting broader research and policymaking on gambling harm reduction.
13 casino licences, with tensions over structure
The reform caps the number of casino licences at 13, which may be allocated in packages. Licensing authorities are instructed to prevent excessive competition and ensure balanced geographical distribution.
Casinos Austria, which currently holds the casino monopoly, has publicly called for retaining the package structure. Former Casinos Austria employee Niklas Sattler suggested individual concessions would be fairer, warning that packaging could allow a single large entrant such as Merkur to secure a second bundle while effectively shutting out smaller operators.
“We believe it’s quite unfair,” Sattler said, describing a scenario in which one package of six and another of seven could be tendered.
Political analyst Felix Geyer voiced scepticism about the timeline. “Given how slow political processes in Austria can be, I’m sceptical about whether they will be able to hand out licences within 12 months,” Geyer told iGaming Business. “Especially since I don’t expect them to begin before the law actually comes into force.”
Enforcement tools and digital supervision
The legislation includes a digital supervisory platform with a central, operator-independent deposit limit. Enforcement measures such as payment blocking, blacklisting, and network blocking are intended to prevent unlicensed operators from reaching Austrian customers and steer players toward the legal market.
The three-month EC review period will determine whether Brussels raises any objections before Austria can proceed with formal adoption.
Key questions answered
When must unlicensed operators stop serving Austrian players to be immediately eligible for a new license?
Operators currently serving Austrian players without authorization must cease all operations by January 1, 2027 to be immediately eligible for a license. Failure to comply would impose an 18-month waiting period before applying, rising to 24 months from 2030.
How many casino licenses will Austria allow under the new reforms?
The reform caps the number of casino licenses at 13, which may be allocated in packages. Licensing authorities are instructed to prevent excessive competition and ensure balanced geographical distribution.
What special player protections are planned for younger adults?
The draft law mandates stricter deposit limits for players aged 18 to 26, who are considered more vulnerable. Slot machines would also face lower maximum stakes and slower game speeds for all players.
How long is the European Commission review period for these gambling reforms?
The European Commission has a three-month standstill window to raise concerns about state aid or single market compatibility. Austria’s parliamentary work can continue in parallel during this review period.