Austria has published draft legislation to open its online gambling market to multiple licensed operators from October 2027, marking a major step towards ending one of Europe’s last remaining online gaming monopolies.
The proposed framework would replace the current monopoly model, under which Austrian Lotteries, part of Casinos Austria, holds the country’s sole online gaming licence through its Win2Day brand.
The draft law sets out plans for a regulated multi-operator market, but market access will not be automatic. Operators that have previously served Austrian customers without a local licence are expected to face conduct checks and a mandatory cooling-off period before being allowed to apply.
The cooling-off rules would prevent market entry for operators that provided online gambling services illegally in Austria during the previous 18 months. From 2030, the exclusion period would extend to 24 months. Companies seeking licences would also be required to settle outstanding tax liabilities and player compensation rulings from earlier years.
The cooling-off proposal is likely to be welcomed by Casinos Austria, which has argued that operators active without local authorisation should not be allowed to move immediately into the regulated market. However, the Austrian Betting & Gaming Association has warned that such a measure could weaken channelisation by excluding operators that might otherwise bring players into the licensed system.
The draft also softens some of the more restrictive measures contained in earlier leaked proposals. A previous version had suggested reducing the maximum stake for online slots from €10 to €2.00. The latest draft would set the limit at €5.00. Customer winnings would remain capped at €10,000, rather than the €2,000 ceiling previously discussed, while jackpots would continue to be permitted. Players would face a weekly deposit limit of €1,680, with a lower €250 weekly limit for customers under the age of 26. Game design rules would also be tightened, including mandatory breaks and restrictions on spin speed.
The legislation also addresses Austria’s land-based sector. A total of 13 casino licences would be made available in the next tender, either as standalone concessions or grouped into packages. The market would remain controlled rather than fully liberalised.
Casinos Austria currently operates all 12 land-based casino concessions in Austria, dominating the country’s gambling sector for decades. The company is majority owned by the Austrian state through ÖBAG, with other significant interests linked to the Czech gaming group Allwyn.
For Austria, this reform represents a structural shift in gambling policy. For operators, the key issue will be whether the final framework creates a competitive regulated market or whether cooling-off rules, stake limits and deposit controls give the incumbent a significant advantage before liberalisation begins.
