The Ministry of Finance of Austria presented a bill that allows more than one operator to legally operate under a new regulatory structure. That technically breaks up its online gambling monopoly. The change is huge, as it has locked the entire online casino sector to the one licensed operator for the whole country for decades.
According to this draft, under a regulated licensing system, several providers will be able to offer online gambling in Austria in the future. The reason for the change, the ministry claims, is attracting players from illegal platforms and increasing the level of player protection.
However, the price of admission may be quite high. Besides clearing up any existing court rulings, the operators may also be asked to comply with back tax payments for any unreported activity in Austria, which will be the push factor for smaller players to exit the market and leave the scene for bigger international companies, one of the experts said.
Simon Priglinger Simader, president of trade association ÖVWG, very cautiously summed up, “We are more hopeful than ever,” yet he also reminded that there are still many details that require some working out.
The proposed amendment also sets strong consumer protection standards. There would be a deposit limit of €250 per week for players aged under 26. Betting limits would be set at €2 per spin or game round, maximum winnings would be lowered, and there would be no jackpot games on offer. The package also includes mandatory breaks after extended gambling.
For now, the country’s gambling sector appears to be entering a long and carefully controlled transition phase, balancing market opening with some of the strictest consumer protection rules in Europe.
Editor-in-chief and creator Cole Smith of casinocurrencies.com, has extensive experience with casino payment systems, The site was created to provide an honest and trustworthy resource for online gambling players.