Austria is preparing for reformed gambling regulations in the wake of the existing licences expiring in 2027. Lawmakers have agreed to draft a new law, establishing a competitive licensing regime before the 2027 deadline. The next few weeks could change the course of the country’s regulatory framework, opening the door to regulated online gambling operators.
Austria Moves Towards an Open Gambling Market: Brief Overview
- Austrian coalition parties have agreed to draft new gambling legislation before the end of 2025. Lawmakers anticipate that the draft bill will take effect within the first quarter of 2026.
- At present, two companies have a gambling monopoly in Austria. Casinos Austria AG operates 12 land-based casinos, and Win2Day has a monopoly on licensed online gambling operations.
- The lottery licences of six casinos are due to expire in 2027. Lawmakers are expediting the competitive licensing framework before the deadline to allow private operators to participate in a transparent auction for the permits.
Reform on the Cards as Licence Expiration Date Approaches
The coalition government in Austria is reportedly drafting reformed gambling legislation that will allow private operators to host licensed gambling activities. The Austria Press Agency (APA) reported that the ÖVP-SPÖ-NEOS government plans to present the draft bill before the end of the year.
Austrian authorities have taken proactive measures to modernise the gambling industry. In May, the government cracked down on an illegal lottery company operating out of a quiet residential building in Vienna. Remote gambling is quite popular in the region, and Austrian players prefer visiting online casinos in Czechia. This has encouraged local authorities to regulate offshore casinos more diligently.
Online gambling in Austria is currently monopolised by three state-run gambling companies, each responsible for hosting different games of chance. Casinos Austria AG, which is a collaboration between state-run OBAG and the Allwyn Group, operates 12 land-based casinos nationwide.
Österreichische Lotterien (OL) is responsible for lottery operations, while Win2Day holds a monopoly on online gambling. Both OL and Win2Day are part of ÖLG Holding, which itself is a subsidiary of Casinos Austria AG (CASAG). Win2Day’s lottery permit is scheduled to expire in 2027, while many of Casino Austria’s licences will expire between 2027 and 2030.
International operators have long expressed their interest in entering the Austrian market. Several brands currently cater to Austrian consumers, although they operate in the grey area, using licences issued in other European jurisdictions. Opening up the Austrian market will enable reputable foreign brands to operate legally throughout the country.
Reforms Aimed at Curbing the Spread of Black-market Gambling
Austria is one of many European nations that have updated their gambling legislation. Finland is about to transition from a gambling monopoly to an open market in 2027, while Latvia plans to introduce regulatory changes in 2026. Polish lawmakers have also been under pressure to regulate online gambling following a surge in its popularity.
Marco Tasso, COO of Italian and International Sales and Operations at Brightstar, has confirmed the company’s interest in entering the Austrian market once the monopoly ends. Brightstar is reportedly negotiating a partnership deal with Österreichische Post AG, the Austrian national postal service, to operate lottery services.
Tasso noted:
Brightstar is considering participating in the upcoming tender for the Austrian lottery concession… We are delighted… and see great potential in Austria.
This could be an interesting situation, as ÖBAG Holdings owns 53% of Österreichische Post AG. If Brightstar partners with the postal service, the two state-owned companies would become direct competitors, with Allwyn trapped in the middle. However, with several factors still in play, it would be premature to draw conclusions at the moment.
A previous attempt to end the state’s gambling monopoly failed due to political differences between ÖVP and Greens. This time, the situation appears to be more conducive as ÖVP and SPÖ share an aligned agenda. However, several questions about the draft law remain unanswered.
There is no clarity on whether the number of licences will be capped or left open, or how to prohibit illegal operators from targeting Austrian consumers. The future of online casinos in Austria remains uncertain, with the regulatory landscape yet to be fully defined. As the year comes to a close, the government is expected to issue a formal statement outlining its ideas. Until then, Austrians can continue playing at licensed venues.