Austria moves to liberalise gambling market amid industry concerns

The Austrian government has drafted a reform to open its tightly regulated gambling sector to competition. The plan would end the monopoly held by Casinos Austria and its subsidiary Österreichische Lotterien, allowing new licences for online betting, lotteries and casino games. International operators such as US‑based Brightstar, France’s FDJ United, Entain (bwin), Evoke, Bet‑at‑home, Kaizen Gaming and others have expressed interest in the forthcoming concessions.

Industry participants criticize several provisions of the bill. They note that licences are not guaranteed even when conditions are met, that applicants must withdraw from the market for at least nine months, and that a 45 % levy on gross gaming revenue – without credit for refunded bets – effectively doubles the tax burden. Additional restrictions include a €5 maximum stake, a €10,000 maximum win per game, and mandatory pause periods for prolonged play. At the same time, the state‑licensed platform win2day continues to operate under Austria’s current concession, offering a wide range of casino, lottery and sports‑betting products and promoting responsible gambling.