Austria’s Public Prosecutor’s Office for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKStA) has filed bribery-related charges against former Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Public Service and Sport Heinz Christian Strache and two executives of gaming supplier Novomatic, following an investigation first launched in 2018.
The two executives are Novomatic founder Johann Graf and former Novomatic and Ainsworth Game Technology (AGT) CEO Harald Neumann. Neumann stepped down from AGT in October after the Nevada Gaming Control Board opted not to renew his state gaming licence.
According to WKStA, the charges relate to allegations that Strache demanded the appointment of a preferred candidate, Peter Sidlo, to the board of Casinos Austria AG based on political affiliation rather than qualifications.
In return, Strache is alleged to have agreed to decisions on gambling licences in favour of Casinos Austria. Novomatic held a 17.2% interest in Casinos Austria at the time.
WKStA said charges have been laid against Strache for accepting benefits to exert influence and against the “two executives of Novomatic AG” for granting benefits to exert influence.
It has also filed an application for a fine against Novomatic AG under the Association Liability Act, under which a company can be held responsible for criminal offences committed by decision makers.
Novomatic said the demand for prosecution by the Senior Public Prosecutor’s Office Vienna and the Federal Ministry of Justice was “not comprehensible” and stated there were no new interrogations or evidence supporting the decision.
Novomatic spokesperson, Alexandra Lindlbauer, said: “Novomatic has consistently rejected all allegations as untrue from the very beginning.”
Lindlbauer added: “We are therefore convinced that this last remaining allegation will also prove to be groundless, and we welcome clarification by an independent court.”
WKStA confirmed that the statutory penalty is up to two years’ imprisonment.
The charges could have implications for AGT, where Novomatic holds a 67.39% stake and Kjerulf Ainsworth holds 7.49%. The supplier has faced shareholder scrutiny over governance and disclosure matters linked to Novomatic’s recent attempt to take AGT private.
Novomatic increased its holding in AGT to 66.84% after its off market takeover offer closed on 6 February 2026, falling short of the 75% threshold required for compulsory acquisition and full privatisation.
AGT previously said it did not consider itself obliged to disclose earlier media allegations because they were not supported by “factual evidence”
