Austrian draft law might end online casino monopoly

According to the Austrian political party KPÖ, the Ministry of Finance has completed an initial draft amendment to the Gambling Act which would bring an end to the monopoly system for online casinos.

State-owned brand Win2Day currently holds the monopoly. The draft also introduces stricter rules on maximum betting stakes and winnings, alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for players. Reports inidcate that the framework currently under discussion would allow for an unlimited number of online casino licences, with no cap on market entrants.

Furthermore, it is alleged that the draft would give operators who previously served Austrian customers without a local licence a route towards compliance. Under the proposal, operators could become eligible for a licence by settling outstanding Austrian court judgments and paying unpaid tax liabilities in Austria.

Previously, Casinos Austria CEO Erwin van Lambaart spoke out against liberalising the monopoly. Casinos Austria, through its stake in ÖLG Holding, partly operates Win2Day. Van Lambaart, unsurprisingly given his position, argued that opening the market could create risks for player protection.

Sports betting, meanwhile, would reportedly continue to be classified as a game of skill rather than gambling. As a result, it would remain outside a unified federal framework and continue to be regulated at state level. There is also expected to remain only a single concession for lotteries.

The current draft remains subject to further negotiations between the three coalition partners. The reform had initially been expected to be presented by the end of March and passed before the parliamentary summer break in early July.

The timeline is now becoming increasingly tight and will likely be missed. However, lawmakers previously stated that delays would be acceptable if they resulted in stronger and more effective regulation.