Austria is preparing to break apart one of Europe’s last major gambling monopolies, and the impact will extend far beyond Vienna. Regulators across the continent are watching because Austria’s 2026 reform has become a real-time test of whether Europe is moving toward open licensing or toward renewed state control. The stakes are unusually high. Several EU officials quietly acknowledge that if Austria fails, liberalization momentum across the bloc could stall for a decade.
If Austria succeeds, Germany and France will face immediate pressure to revisit their restrictive frameworks. If it stumbles, the arguments for protectionist structures will become far stronger. Europe is not just observing Austria’s reform. It is benchmarking its own future against it.
At a Glance
- Monopoly status ends in 2026 under the forthcoming Federal Gambling Reform Act, according to parliamentary planning documents
- CASAG and Österreichische Lotterien concessions expire between 2027 and 2030, based on the Ministry of Finance’s 2024 concession registry
- Selective licensing holds broad political backing according to Finance Committee summaries from early 2025
- OVWG has stated in its 2024 position paper that 20 to 30 operators are preparing early submissions
- The Ministry of Finance’s 2024 digital gambling dataset indicates potential online tax revenue of 1.3 to 1.4 billion euros by 2031
- Draft bill scheduled for publication in the fourth quarter of 2025 according to the parliamentary calendar
Why Austria is shifting its regulatory course
Austria’s two-operator structure no longer reflects market conditions. CASAG manages land-based casinos, and Win2Day holds online exclusivity, yet offshore channels have expanded steadily for more than a decade.
The European Commission’s 2018 proportionality review raised questions about whether Austria could justify such a protected online environment. Although the review was not binding, it accelerated debate in Vienna and set a baseline for modern EU expectations.
The domestic debate intensified in 2024 when MP Karin Leitner told the Finance Committee that a rushed transition might disrupt short-term revenue. Her comment summarized the core tension: modernization versus fiscal caution.
What the 2026 framework is expected to deliver
Documents reviewed by CasinoNews.io, along with ministry policy notes and stakeholder submissions, point to three foundational pillars.
A controlled licensing system
Finance Ministry officials have indicated that exclusivity will be replaced by a structured licensing model. The selective licensing approach, which caps the number of approved operators, currently has the strongest parliamentary support.
Enhanced player protection
Austria intends to align its rules with some of Europe’s strictest responsible gaming standards. Expected measures include:
- A national exclusion register
- Payment and IP blocking for unlicensed operators
- AMLD6-aligned monitoring systems
- Session and deposit limits
- Behavioral risk scoring for early harm detection
Draft policy documentation from 2025 reflects these planned requirements.
Clear rules for affiliates and suppliers
The 2025 reform guidelines outline:
- Mandatory affiliate registration
- License-linked advertising permissions
- Full prohibition on promoting unlicensed platforms
- Certification windows for suppliers
OVWG Secretary General Bernhard Kappel stated during a 2025 consultation that the reform must remove marketing ambiguity and create enforceable standards for affiliates.
Why the rest of Europe is watching Austria closely
Austria is one of Central Europe’s highest-value digital casino markets. The transition from monopoly to selective licensing is attracting strong interest from major EU operators preparing early applications.
Why it matters for the EU
A successful transition in Austria would create measurable pressure on:
- Germany, where the GluNeuRStv remains unpopular with operators
- France, which still prohibits online casino
- The Czech Republic, which is evaluating the next stage of its regulatory framework
A failure in Austria would reinforce the case for restrictive models and challenge the broader European trend toward controlled liberalization.
Market drivers
- Predictable regulation aligned with AMLD6 from the start
- A market already showing quasi-liberalized behavior through offshore activity
- Projected online tax revenue that could reach 1.4 billion euros by 2031 with strong channelization
A senior compliance officer noted that Austria is building a framework for the next decade, not the last one, which is why the industry is watching the reform so closely.
What operators and affiliates can expect from the reform
The reform will redefine operational standards across the supply chain.
For operators
Key requirements are expected to include:
- Local representation or physical presence
- AMLD6 compliant identity and verification systems
- Stricter rules for CRM, retention, and bonuses
- Higher reporting frequency to the regulator
- Real-time monitoring of transactional activity
- Certification cycles for casino content
Lawmakers emphasize three goals: clarity, consistency, and effective oversight.
For affiliates
The new system will require:
- Mandatory registration with the regulator
- A complete ban on unlicensed promotion
- Revised SEO and paid media strategies
- Higher data transparency obligations
Affiliates that register early are expected to have an advantage once operators begin allocating partnership slots.
The political core of Austria’s reform
The national debate reflects Europe’s broader divide between liberalization and state influence.
The modernization faction
- Supports transparent competition through licensing
- Views diversification as a long-term revenue stabilizer
- Wants to reduce offshore leakage
- Warns that Austria risks falling behind its neighbors if it delays reform
The state-influence faction
- Seeks to preserve CASAG’s strategic position
- Fears near-term revenue volatility
- Raises concerns about foreign operator dominance
A policymaker involved in the draft told CasinoNews.io that Austria is choosing the regulatory direction that will define Central Europe through the 2030s.
The models still under review
Austria is considering three structural models:
- Selective licensing with a capped number of operators
- Open licensing similar to Denmark
- Controlled expansion that allows private entry while preserving significant state influence
Signals from 2025 discussions suggest that selective licensing remains the preferred direction.
Timeline for Austria’s reform from 2026 through 2031
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Q4 2025 | Draft bill released |
| H1 2026 | Licensing system opens |
| 2027–2030 | Expiration of CASAG and Lotterien concessions |
| 2031 | Market expected to reach maturity |
EU benchmark snapshot
| Country | Model | Online GGR Tax | Player Protection | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria (2026+) | Selective | 25 to 28 percent | National exclusion and behavioral monitoring | First major monopoly breakup in Central Europe |
| Denmark | Open | 20 percent | Strong responsible gaming system | Considered one of the EU’s most stable frameworks |
| Netherlands | Controlled | 29 percent | CRUKS exclusion register | Stringent enforcement and rapid channelization |
What to watch next
- How many operators formally signal interest once pre-registration opens
- Whether Germany responds with discussions on GluNeuRStv recalibration
- Whether France faces renewed pressure to revisit its casino ban
- The strength of Austria’s enforcement capacity during the first licensing wave
Where this leaves the industry
Austria is approaching one of the most consequential gambling reforms in modern European regulation. A successful transition will set a new benchmark for supervised, multi-license markets and elevate pressure on countries that maintain strict or closed systems. If the reform falters, protectionist arguments will strengthen and Europe’s progress toward controlled liberalization may slow for years.
Austria is not simply updating its laws. It is defining the next chapter of European gambling policy, and the rest of the continent is preparing for the outcome.
References
https://www.bmf.gv.at/en/topics/taxation/regulation-of-games-of-chance.htm
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