Austria Sends Sweeping Gambling Reform to EU Review as Market Opening Moves Closer

Brussels Begins Review of Austria’s Biggest Gambling Shake-Up in Years

Austria has taken a major step toward dismantling its long-standing gambling framework, sending a draft reform package to the European Commission for review before introducing a regulated multi-licence market.

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The submission, made by the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday, starts a mandatory three-month standstill period under EU rules. During that time, the European Commission will assess whether any part of the legislation conflicts with state aid rules or the single market, while Austria’s parliament can continue working on the bill.

The proposal would reshape almost every part of the country’s gambling system. It combines tougher player protection measures with plans to open online gambling to multiple licensed operators, replacing a model that has long faced criticism.

New Safeguards Target High-Risk Gambling

One of the biggest changes is the creation of a nationwide exclusion register covering online gambling, casinos and slot machines. Players who exclude themselves—or are barred by operators—would no longer be able to switch to another licensed product to continue gambling.

The draft also introduces mandatory deposit limits for online gambling and slot machines. Adults aged 18 to 26 would face lower limits than older players, reflecting concerns that younger customers are more vulnerable to gambling-related harm.

Slot games would also become less intensive. The proposal cuts maximum stakes, slows gameplay and requires a compulsory cooling-off break after 90 minutes of continuous play.

Operators would face another new obligation. They would have to assess the addiction risks linked to their products and contribute data that could support future gambling research and policymaking.

Tough Conditions for New Licence Applicants

Austria’s planned licensing system includes strict transition rules for operators already serving the market without authorisation.

Companies currently operating illegally would have until 1 January 2027 to stop accepting Austrian customers if they want immediate access to the licensing process. Those that fail to comply would face an 18-month waiting period before becoming eligible, increasing to 24 months from 2030.

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Applicants would also need to settle unpaid taxes and outstanding claims involving roughly 20,000 affected players before receiving approval.

The reform also proposes stronger enforcement against unlicensed gambling through payment blocking, network blocking and blacklists. A central, operator-independent deposit limit system would monitor spending across licensed operators.

Not everyone is convinced the strategy will deliver its intended result. The Austrian Betting and Gaming Association has questioned whether the transition rules will encourage players to move into the regulated market, warning that illegal operators could continue attracting customers instead.

Casino Licensing Debate Remains Unsettled

The bill would permit a maximum of 13 casino licences, with regulators able to award them in packages rather than individually. The government argues that limiting competition and controlling the geographic spread of casinos would support player protection objectives.

That approach has already drawn criticism.

Former Casinos Austria employee Niklas Sattler believes issuing individual licences would create a fairer market. He argues that packaging licences could favour large operators while making it difficult for smaller businesses to compete. Casinos Austria, which currently holds the casino monopoly, has publicly supported keeping the package model and is understood to favour a future tender split into groups of six and seven licences, a structure that could allow another major operator, such as Merkur, to enter the market without opening the door to a broader range of competitors.

Questions also remain over timing. Political analyst Felix Geyer has expressed doubts that Austrian authorities will be able to complete the licensing process within the proposed 12-month window, pointing to the country’s often lengthy legislative and administrative procedures.

If the reform clears both Brussels and the domestic legislative process without major delays, Austria’s newly licensed gambling market is expected to open in October 2027.

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Source: igamingbusiness.com