Austria’s Federal Ministry of Finance has drafted legislation that would dismantle the country’s long-standing online casino monopoly and open the market to an unlimited number of licensed operators — a significant shift for one of Western Europe’s most tightly controlled gambling markets.
Currently, only a single online casino and lottery licence exists in Austria, held by Win2day, a brand owned by Austrian Lotteries — itself a subsidiary of the quasi-state company Casinos Austria, which also holds all 12 land-based casino licences in the country. Under the proposed reform, lotteries would remain under state monopoly, but the online casino market would be fully liberalised.
Initial licences are planned for a five-year term with the option to renew for a further ten years.
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Why Austria is acting now
Authorities have framed the reform primarily as a consumer protection and market integrity measure. The existing monopoly structure, they argue, has failed to contain the illegal market — a familiar argument in jurisdictions moving toward regulated multi-operator frameworks. Opening the market to trusted online casinos operating under robust Austrian licences is seen as the most effective way to channel players away from unlicensed offshore alternatives and toward platforms that meet the country’s player protection standards.
Strict entry requirements
Not every operator will qualify. The draft legislation sets demanding conditions for licence eligibility. Operators must resolve all outstanding legal disputes in Austria and fully settle any tax obligations — including arrears from previous periods of activity in the market. Legal observers have noted that these requirements could create a significant financial barrier, particularly for smaller operators with complex regulatory histories.
Robust player protection framework
The proposed rules include some of the strictest player protection measures in Europe. Key provisions include:
- Weekly deposit limits of €250 for users under 26 and €1,680 for all others
- The possibility of raising limits upon verified proof of financial capacity
- A maximum stake of €2 per spin or game
- A maximum win cap of €2,000
- A complete ban on jackpots
- A mandatory 15-minute break after 90 minutes of continuous play
The draft also calls for the creation of a national self-exclusion system and the introduction of continuous monitoring of player activity. Crucially, the player protection rules currently applied to land-based casinos will be extended to cover online operations — ensuring that the standards governing trusted online casinos in Austria are consistent across all formats.
A reform that will take time
Despite the draft being ready, the rollout of the new regulatory framework is unlikely to be swift. Win2day’s current licence expires in 2027, as do some of Casinos Austria’s land-based licences — and if the reform process extends beyond that point, those licences may need to be extended as a transitional measure.
The creation of an independent gambling regulator is not expected before 2030, meaning the Ministry of Finance will likely continue to handle licensing in the interim. The draft is still under discussion within the ruling coalition and its provisions may change before the bill reaches parliament.
Industry participants are cautiously optimistic. The direction of travel is clear — Austria is moving toward a competitive, multi-operator online casino market. But the timeline, the final shape of the player protection rules and the precise licence conditions remain subject to political negotiation.
