When Austria’s Federal Ministry of Finance circulated its draft amendment to the Gambling Act (Glücksspielgesetz) in mid-2026, it became apparent that its authors had been looking very closely across the border at their western neighbour. Austria’s lawmakers have often been fond of looking to Germany for guidance: the new gambling regulation is no different. Germany had, after all, just been through exactly this transition from an online gambling monopoly to an open licence framework.

The Austrian reform is not least a consequence of the recognition that the monopoly offering failed to achieve adequate channelling despite its exclusive position. It is very much to be welcomed that this monopoly is being phased out, as it clearly has not proven effective.