Austria Expects 20 Online Gambling Applicants and 75% Channelisation

Austria.- 21 October 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com The Austrian Ministry of Finance expects approximately 20 companies to apply for online gambling licences under the country’s proposed regulatory framework, scheduled to open the market in October 2027.

The estimate forms part of the regulatory impact assessment accompanying Austria’s gambling reform bill, which aims to introduce a multi-operator licensing system while strengthening consumer protection.

The Government also projects that 75% of online gambling activity will take place through licensed operators by 2030, compared with an estimated 45% during the first year.

Revenue and Channelisation Projections

The proposed framework anticipates progressive growth in the regulated market’s share of online gambling activity.

Official projections include:

• 2027: 45% channelisation and €20.4 million in additional public revenue.
• 2028: 60% and €120.5 million.
• 2029: 70% and €155.5 million.
• 2030: 75% and €170.6 million.

In the medium term, the Ministry aims to achieve channelisation of at least 80%.

Austria currently collects approximately €40 million annually in gambling taxes from online operators without local licences. The Government expects this revenue to disappear from 2030 as companies either enter the regulated market or discontinue their Austrian operations.

Online Licence Requirements

The proposal places no numerical cap on online gambling licences, although it establishes a limit of 13 land-based casino licences.

Principal requirements for online operators include:

• Minimum paid-up capital of €10 million.
• Registered headquarters within the European Union or European Economic Area.
• Application fee of €70,000.
• An additional €300,000 payment upon licence approval.
• Initial licences lasting up to five years, renewable for periods of up to ten years.

Licences could be awarded from 1 January 2027, with operations scheduled to begin on 1 October.

Operators currently serving Austrian customers without authorisation would need to withdraw before January 2027 to avoid exclusion periods ranging from 18 to 24 months.

Player Protection and Regulatory Safeguards

The proposed legislation introduces several measures designed to address gambling-related harm.

Key provisions include:

• Weekly deposit limits of €250 for players under 26.
• Monthly limits of €1,680 for older players, subject to certain risk-assessed exceptions.
• A centralised self-exclusion register.
• Cross-operator deposit monitoring systems.
• Website and payment blocking targeting unauthorised gambling.
• A public blacklist of illegal operators.

The framework also introduces a 72-hour waiting period before increases to self-imposed deposit limits can take effect.

Next Steps and Impact

Government bill 594 d.B. reached Austria’s Parliament on 5 August and was referred to the Finance Committee on 14 September.

However, the committee had not begun debating the legislation as of 20 October 2026.

The proposal is also subject to a European Commission notification standstill period, expected to conclude in early November.

The reform has not yet been approved, meaning its timetable and conditions remain subject to the legislative process.

For the iGaming industry, the proposal represents a potential transformation of Austria’s gambling market, combining commercial liberalisation, stronger regulatory oversight and new investment opportunities.

Editó: @fonta