Austria Gambling Reform Hits EU Review — 13 Licences by 2027

⏱ 3 min read

Austria's Ministry of Finance formally submitted its draft gambling reform to the European Commission on 4 August 2026, triggering a three-month TRIS standstill period before the law can be enacted. The move marks the single biggest step toward dismantling the casino monopoly held by Casinos Austria — a structure that has been in place for more than three decades under the Glücksspielgesetz.

If the Commission raises no objections and the parliamentary timetable holds, Austria's restructured gambling market could open in October 2027, admitting up to 13 casino licences and creating an open online licensing regime for the first time. For operators currently serving Austrian consumers without authorisation, the clock is now running.

---

What the Reform Does

The coalition government of ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS agreed the reform package earlier in 2026, describing it as the most comprehensive overhaul of the Glücksspielgesetz in more than 30 years. A draft was published on 27 May 2026 and sent to public consultation before the 4 August submission to Brussels.

The core change is structural: Austria moves from a single-operator monopoly to a capped multi-licence market. Online gambling, previously restricted to the Casinos Austria group, will open to any qualified applicant that can satisfy the new licensing criteria set by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF).

• A maximum of 13 casino licences will be available, awardable in packages rather than individually.
• Industry analysts expect the 13 licences to be split into two packages — likely six and seven — limiting realistic entry to one major new operator alongside the incumbent.
• A new digital supervisory platform will oversee the licensed sector and enforce spending controls in real time.
• Online operators currently serving Austrian consumers without a licence must cease operations by 1 January 2027 to remain eligible to apply immediately once licences open.

---

Player Protection Measures

The BMF has stated that player protection is the central pillar of the reform. Two headline measures stand out for their practical impact on bettors.

First, statutory deposit limits: players aged 18–25 will be capped at €250 per week, while those aged 26 and over face a monthly ceiling of €1,680 per month. Both limits apply across online gambling and land-based slot machines and will be enforced through the new digital supervisory platform rather than left to individual operators.

Second, a national exclusion register will be introduced for the first time, spanning casinos, slot machine venues and online platforms simultaneously. Self-exclusions and operator-imposed exclusions will be recorded centrally, preventing players from circumventing bans by switching between licensed brands or channels.

---

Operator Transition Rules

The reform creates a clear but time-sensitive path for international operators that have been serving the grey Austrian market. The deadline mechanics matter:

• Operators that stop serving Austrian consumers by 1 January 2027 may apply for a licence as soon as the market opens.
• Operators that miss the 1 January 2027 deadline face an 18-month waiting period before they can apply.
• From 2030, that waiting period extends to 24 months for any operator that has not already complied.

The three-month EU standstill runs until approximately early November 2026. If the Commission issues no objections, Austria can enact the law immediately after the standstill expires, leaving operators a narrow window to prepare before the January 2027 compliance cut-off.

---

Licence Structure at a Glance

Parameter	Current Framework	Proposed Reform
Casino licences	1 (Casinos Austria monopoly)	Up to 13 (awarded in packages)
Online gambling	Monopoly; grey market widespread	Open licensing; full regulation
Deposit limits (18–25)	None statutory	€250 per week
Deposit limits (26+)	None statutory	€1,680 per month
National exclusion register	Not available	Cross-channel, mandatory
Market open date	N/A	October 2027 (target)
Grey-market exit deadline	N/A	1 January 2027

---

Sources

Reporting verified against primary regulatory sources and specialist iGaming trade press. All URLs confirmed at time of publication.

The core of the reform is the new regulation of online gambling and the modernisation of player protection — with a focus on a wide range of player-related measures.

— Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance, Official statement on EU TRIS notification · 4 August 2026