Austria Publishes Draft Online Gambling Reform and Licensing Rules

Austria Publishes Draft Online Gambling Reform and Licensing Rules

The Austrian government has launched a public consultation on a sweeping reform of the country's online gambling market, unveiling a draft framework for a new licensing regime. The move follows the coalition government's announcement that the liberalised market is expected to launch in October 2027.

Under the proposal, any operator meeting the established requirements will be eligible to apply for a licence. Applicants must have a supervisory board, robust anti-money laundering (AML) and player protection measures, and a minimum share capital of €10 million.

The capital requirement is significantly higher than in several other European jurisdictions. For comparison, Estonia requires online gambling operators to have at least €1 million in share capital, while Finland, which is also preparing to end its state monopoly, does not impose a fixed capital threshold and instead assesses applications individually.

The proposed licence fee is set at €70,000. In addition, operators seeking a licence must suspend all gambling services in Austria from 1 January 2027 until their licence is approved. Companies that fail to comply will be barred from obtaining a licence for 18 months.

The draft also requires licensees to be based in a jurisdiction where Austrian court judgments are enforceable. This provision has renewed attention on Malta's controversial Bill 55, which limits the enforcement of foreign court rulings against Maltese gambling operators.

Before entering the market, operators must also settle any outstanding tax liabilities and player protection claims.

The proposed framework introduces new player protection measures. Weekly deposits for players aged 18 to 26 will be capped at €250, while players aged 26 and over will face a monthly deposit limit of €1,680. Higher limits may be approved on a case-by-case basis for customers aged 23 and above.

Online gambling stakes will be limited to €5 per bet, with maximum winnings capped at €10,000. Each slot spin must last at least two seconds, and players will be required to take a mandatory break after 90 minutes of continuous play.

The reforms would also lift the ban on jackpot features in online games while maintaining 13 land-based casino licences nationwide.

The future regulator would receive expanded enforcement powers, including the ability to block payments, blacklist IBANs and order payment service providers to restrict transactions. Illegal gambling websites could also be blocked through infrastructure provided by AWS, Cloudflare and Google.

Additionally, the proposal includes the creation of a centralised self-exclusion register covering all forms of gambling except lotteries, which will remain under the control of the state-run operator Win2Day.

Stakeholders have until 15 July 2026 to submit feedback on the proposed legislation.