Austria has taken one other formal step towards altering its playing legal guidelines after sending a draft of its proposed reforms to the European Commission. The submission begins a obligatory three-month standstill interval throughout which the Commission will study whether or not the deliberate laws complies with European Union guidelines, together with these masking state support and the one market.
The Ministry of Finance submitted the draft bundle on Tuesday. Although the overview is now underway on the European stage, lawmakers in Austria can proceed working by the parliamentary course of whereas the Commission carries out its evaluation.
If the proposal clears each stage as deliberate, Austria expects to introduce a newly structured playing market in October 2027, opening the door for added licensed operators beneath a special regulatory system.
Proposed Rules Focus on Player Safeguards
The draft laws consists of a number of measures aimed toward strengthening participant safety throughout completely different types of playing.
One of the central proposals is a nationwide exclusion register that might apply to casinos, slot machines, and on-line playing. The register would mix self-exclusions with operator-imposed bans, stopping excluded gamers from transferring to a different playing product or licensed operator to bypass restrictions.
The proposal additionally introduces obligatory deposit limits for on-line playing and slot machines. Players between the ages of 18 and 26 would face decrease deposit limits than older clients.
Other deliberate adjustments embody lowering the utmost stake allowed on slot machines, slowing the tempo of gameplay, and requiring a compulsory cooling-off interval after 90 uninterrupted minutes of play.
Operators would additionally want to judge the habit dangers linked to their playing merchandise. Those assessments would contribute to playing coverage growth and analysis efforts.
Authorities additionally plan to create a digital supervision platform that might handle a central deposit restrict throughout operators as an alternative of counting on separate limits set by every firm.
The laws would additionally broaden enforcement powers towards unlicensed playing companies. Regulators would obtain authority to make use of fee blocking, blacklisting, and community blocking measures to make it harder for unauthorized operators to succeed in clients in Austria.
Licensing Changes Could Open the Market
Austria additionally plans to switch its present on-line playing construction with an open licensing mannequin.
Companies that at present present playing companies illegally must cease these actions by January 1, 2027, if they need quick eligibility for a licence as soon as the brand new system begins.
Operators that don’t meet these transitional situations must wait 18 months earlier than making use of. That ready interval would improve to 24 months from 2030.
Applicants would additionally must clear excellent tax obligations and resolve unpaid claims involving round 20,000 affected gamers earlier than changing into eligible.
The Austrian Betting and Gaming Association (OVWG) has questioned whether or not the proposed framework will efficiently direct gamers towards Win2Day and licensed land-based playing companies. The affiliation believes unlawful operators might proceed attracting clients if the brand new guidelines fail to encourage sufficient individuals to modify to the regulated market.
The proposed on line casino framework would allow as much as 13 on line casino licences. Authorities might concern these licences in grouped packages somewhat than as particular person concessions. When deciding tips on how to award licences, regulators must think about market competitors in addition to geographical distribution.
Industry Figures Raise Questions About the Plan
Some trade observers have expressed issues in regards to the proposed licensing construction.
Niklas Sattler, a former Casinos Austria worker, stated issuing licences individually would create a fairer aggressive setting than distributing them by packages. Casinos Austria, which at present operates beneath the country’s monopoly, has argued in favour of holding the package-based method.
Sattler believes the long run licensing course of might divide the obtainable concessions into two teams, with one bundle containing six licences and one other containing seven. He stated that association might make it simpler for a serious firm akin to Merkur to enter the market whereas creating higher boundaries for smaller companies.
“We believe it’s quite unfair,” Sattler added.
Political analyst Felix Geyer additionally expressed doubts about whether or not the proposed timetable will be achieved.
“Given how slow political processes in Austria can be, I’m sceptical about whether they will be able to hand out licences within 12 months,” he stated. “Especially since I don’t expect them to begin before the law actually comes into force.”
The European Commission’s overview now marks the subsequent stage of the legislative course of. If the proposal stays on schedule by the remaining approvals, Austria’s revised playing framework might take impact with a newly opened market in October 2027.
Source:
Austria Moves Gambling Reform Into EU Review, realmoneyaction.com, August 5, 2026.
