TLDR Austria plans to end Win2Day’s online casino monopoly when its license expires on October 1, 2027. Operators must exit the Austrian market by January 2027 or face licensing bans of up to two years. A gap of at least nine months could exist between operators leaving and new licenses being issued. The proposal includes a 45% tax on online gambling revenue and strict player protection rules. Industry groups warn this transition period could push players toward unregulated offshore websites.
Austria is moving to end one of Europe’s last online casino monopolies. The change could expose players to unregulated betting sites during the switch.
A draft law sitting before parliament and the European Union would replace the country’s single-operator system with a competitive market. This comes ahead of October 1, 2027, when Win2Day’s 15-year exclusive license ends.
The Transition Timeline
Operators currently serving Austrian customers under licenses from other EU countries face a hard deadline. They must stop offering services in Austria by January 2027.
Companies that continue past that date would be barred from applying for a new license for 18 months. Starting in 2030, that penalty grows to two years.
This setup creates a gap of at least nine months. During this window, many current operators would be locked out of the market before new licenses are awarded.
Companies would also need to settle outstanding player reimbursement claims and unpaid taxes during this period. Industry estimates put these liabilities in the millions of euros.
Getting the law approved is only the first step. Austria must complete the EU’s notification process before anything takes effect.
After that, the country needs to build a licensing system, review applications, and set up a new gambling regulator. This body would replace the Finance Ministry’s current oversight role.
Political analysts