Austria has taken another major step toward ending its long-standing online gambling monopoly after forwarding its draft Gambling Reform Act to the European Commission for review under the EU’s Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS). The notification begins a mandatory three-month standstill period during which Brussels and other EU member states can examine the proposal before it can be formally adopted.
If approved, the legislation would introduce a multi-licence regime for online casino gambling from 1 October 2027, replacing the current monopoly model that has governed the market for years. The existing exclusive licence, held by Austrian Lotteries’ Win2Day, expires on 30 September 2027, making the reform one of the country’s most significant gambling overhauls in decades.
The draft legislation is designed to open Austria’s online casino sector to any operator capable of meeting strict licensing and compliance requirements. Applicants would need to demonstrate strong anti-money laundering controls, comprehensive responsible gambling measures and minimum share capital of €10 million. Authorities also plan to establish a dedicated gambling regulator responsible for licensing, enforcement and market supervision.
Player protection remains at the centre of the proposed framework. The reforms include mandatory identity verification, deposit and loss limits, enhanced monitoring of gambling behaviour, tighter advertising restrictions and stronger enforcement tools against illegal operators. The government also intends to expand powers to block unlicensed gambling websites and restrict payment services linked to the black market.
The European Commission’s review will assess whether the proposed rules comply with EU law and do not create unnecessary barriers to the internal market. During the standstill period, the Commission and member states may submit comments or detailed opinions, which Austria must consider before finalising the legislation.
Industry observers view the reform as a landmark shift for one of Europe’s last remaining online gambling monopolies. While operators broadly welcome the transition to an open licensing system, discussions continue around eligibility rules for companies that have previously served Austrian customers through EU licences, with earlier drafts proposing temporary “cooling-off” restrictions for certain grey-market operators.
If the legislative timetable remains on track following the EU review and parliamentary approval, Austria will join a growing number of European jurisdictions operating regulated multi-licence online gambling markets while introducing significantly stricter compliance and consumer protection standards.