Austria’s Government Is Planning to Eliminate the Local Gambling Monopoly

Details of the Amendments

The final decision regarding the transformation of the entertainment sphere remains pending, with industry stakeholders anticipating a definitive resolution by the end of 2025.

The review process involves the following parties:

• Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs (SPÖ);
• Österreichische Volkspartei (ÖVP);
• Neos.

At present, the state's gambling sector is represented by the national corporation Casinos Austria. OVWG, a domestic betting and gaming association, has demonstrated the strongest interest in breaking this monopoly.

The union comprises numerous prominent European and international brands, such as:

• Entain;
• bet365;
• Merkur;
• LeoVegas.

According to OVWG’s representatives, the decision to launch the gambling sector will provide substantial advantages to the country. One key benefit is the potential to boost tax profits to €1.4 billion by 2031.

Austria’s Market Following Reorganisation

The government has yet to agree on how many operators will be approved within the country. At present, discussions concerning 30 licences are underway. Industry specialists are confident that this step would foster a stable and competitive environment while substantially diminishing the influence of shadow portals.

Companies already operating in the state, but in other verticals, will enjoy first-mover benefits. For example, Tipco and Bwin may rapidly boost their popularity.

Currently, the country is following Germany's instance, which has successfully opened access to private entrepreneurs. The national monopoly is an outdated regulatory model, as demonstrated by Norway's experience, where entertainment options are limited to Norsk Tippin's products.

Gaminator’s specialists diligently monitor recent legislative updates and the overall situation in the most promising jurisdictions to equip entrepreneurs with the information needed to launch a successful gambling business anywhere in the world.