TLDR Austria is reforming its online gambling market, replacing the current monopoly held by Austrian Lotteries, whose licence expires in 2027. Coalition negotiators are divided over whether unlicensed “grey market” operators should face a cooling-off period before entering the new regulated market. Casinos Austria and Admiral (Novomatic) support the cooling-off period; industry groups warn it could push players to fully unlicensed offshore sites. A controversial proposal would cut the maximum online casino stake from €10 to €2 per game, with winnings capped at €2,000. The government aims to pass the legislation before parliament’s summer break in July 2026.
Austria is in the final stretch of overhauling its online gambling laws. The country has run one of Europe’s last monopoly-controlled online gambling sectors, but that is about to change.
The current online gambling licence is held by Austrian Lotteries. It expires in 2027. Plans to open the market to competition have been in motion since the Finance Ministry released a draft proposal earlier this year.
Coalition negotiators are now working through the final details. Most of the major issues have been resolved, but a few sticking points remain.
The Grey Market Debate
The biggest dispute is over what to do with operators that have been serving Austrian customers without a local licence — the so-called grey market.
One proposal would bar these companies from entering the new regulated market for a set period after it opens. The idea is that operators who ignored Austrian rules should not walk straight into a licence once the market opens up.
Casinos Austria has backed this position. Its Austrian Lotteries subsidiary currently holds the sole online licence. The company has argued that allowing grey-market firms to enter immediately would damage the credibility of the new system. It has suggested a transition period