[REVISION HISTORY]
Austrian online gambling law reform
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2026-11-07 08:23 UTC → 2026-11-12 06:42 UTC ·
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The Austrian government proposed significant reforms to national gambling laws to end the current restrictive concession model held by the Austrian Lotteries. The proposed legislation aims to transition to an open licensing system for multiple providers, focusing on enhanced player protection, IT security, and anti-money laundering systems. The reform entered is currently undergoing an extended review period by the European Commission following objections from Malta. While the original standstill period was set The regulatory review period, originally scheduled to end in early November, it has been extended to December 7. 7, 2026, after Malta provided a detailed opinion on the draft legislation. Concerns from Malta reportedly involve the enforceability of court rulings regarding online gambling refunds, which is a requirement for obtaining an Austrian license. Under the draft law, illegal Gambling Act, the new regulatory system is intended to take effect on January 1, 2027, with concessions becoming effective on October 1, 2027. Illegal operators would be required to secure licenses by January 1, 2027, to avoid exclusion periods. The Austrian Department of Finance noted that parliamentary discussions may continue during this review, but official acceptance periods of 18 to 24 months. Allwyn AG, a shareholder in Austrian gambling monopolies, has urged the law depends on European Commission to evaluate the completion feasibility of the EU process. implementation timeline. The company described the nine-month window to deploy necessary oversight systems, such as exclusion registers and payment blocking tools, as “extremely tight.” The Austrian Finance Ministry anticipates approximately 20 companies may seek licenses once the legislative standstill concludes.
Versions
- 2026-11-12 06:42 UTC Austrian online gambling law reform
- 2026-11-07 08:23 UTC Austrian online gambling law reform
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