Austria’s Ministry of Finance expects around 20 companies to apply for online gambling licences under the country’s proposed gambling market reform, according to the regulatory impact assessment accompanying the bill. The legislation would introduce an open licensing system for online gambling, with applications potentially beginning in 2027.
The proposal is still awaiting debate in parliament’s Finance Committee. Austria notified the draft legislation to the European Commission on 4 August 2026, triggering a three-month standstill period that is due to end in early November.
Austria Targets 75% Channelisation by 2030
The ministry’s projections assume that 45% of online gambling activity will take place with licensed operators when the new regime begins in October 2027. That share is expected to rise to 60% in 2028, 70% in 2029 and 75% by 2030.
Under these assumptions, the reform would generate an estimated net increase in public revenue of €20.4 million in the final quarter of 2027, rising to €120.5 million in 2028, €155.5 million in 2029 and €170.6 million in 2030.
The ministry is aiming for channelisation of at least 80% in the medium term. It also expects around €40 million in annual gambling tax currently collected from unlicensed online operators to disappear from 2030, as those businesses either leave Austria or enter the regulated market.
Licence Fees, Capital Requirements and Timelines
The proposed framework would not impose a cap on the number of online gambling licences, although the number of land-based casino licences would be limited to 13.
Licences could be awarded from 1 January 2027 and would take effect on 1 October 2027. Initial licences would run for up to five years, with renewals available for periods of up to 10 years.
Applicants would need to be companies established in the EU or European Economic Area, with a supervisory board and at least €10 million in paid-up capital. The application fee would be €70,000, followed by a further €300,000 when a licence is first granted.
The proposed rules also set conditions for operators that have previously served Austrian customers without authorisation. Businesses that stop their unlicensed activity by 1 January 2027 and remain out of the market until receiving a licence would not face a waiting period. Operators exiting later could face an 18-month exclusion, rising to 24 months for those that stop only after 31 December 2029.
Applicants would also have to settle outstanding gambling tax liabilities and final civil court judgments in favour of players. The requirements would extend across the relevant corporate group, including to beneficial owners and brands used for unlicensed operations in Austria.
Deposit Limits and Stronger Enforcement Measures
The draft legislation includes deposit limits and a range of enforcement tools intended to strengthen player protection and support the regulated market.
Online deposits would be capped at €250 per week for players under 26 and €1,680 per month for older players. For players aged 23 and above, operators could apply a different limit following an assessment indicating that the customer is not at risk, provided additional monitoring is in place. Increases to self-set limits would take effect only after 72 hours.
The legal basis for a cross-operator exclusion register, a deposit-limit register, website and payment blocking measures, and a public blacklist would come into force on 1 January 2027. The finance minister would determine by ordinance when operators must join the two registers.
The government would also be required to report to parliament on the online gambling regime by the end of 2031, including the effects of cross-operator deposit limits on player protection and channelisation.
With the parliamentary debate still pending, Austria’s proposed licensing framework remains subject to the legislative process. The ministry’s estimate of 20 applicants and its revenue projections provide an indication of the market it expects to develop, but the final outcome will depend on the legislation’s adoption and implementation.