Austria’s long-awaited overhaul of its online gambling framework is entering its final stages, but a proposed restriction on grey-market operators has emerged as one of the most contentious issues in negotiations.
Lawmakers are reportedly debating whether companies that previously offered online gambling services to Austrian players without a local licence should face a mandatory “cooling-off” period before being allowed to enter the country’s future regulated market. The proposed exclusion could last between 24 and 36 months and would apply to operators found to have breached Austrian gambling laws during the previous five years.
The discussion comes as Austria moves closer to ending its longstanding online gambling monopoly. Current plans would replace the existing single-operator model with a licensing system once the present concession expires in 2027. Negotiations between the governing coalition parties are expected to determine the final shape of the reform.
Supporters of the cooling-off proposal argue that operators who previously served the market without proper authorization should not be granted immediate access to licences under the new regime. Patrick Minar, spokesperson for Casinos Austria, which currently benefits from the monopoly through its lottery subsidiary, has publicly backed the idea, arguing that moving directly from illegal operations to a licensed status would undermine the credibility of the regulatory framework.
Novomatic’s Admiral Casinos & Entertainment has also expressed support for a transitional approach, maintaining that companies that have complied with Austrian regulations for years should not be placed on equal footing with operators that ignored local rules.
The proposal, however, faces strong opposition from the Austrian Betting and Gaming Association (OVWG). The trade group warns that excluding established operators could damage the reform’s primary objective of channeling players into the legal market. According to the association, a lengthy waiting period could reduce competition, weaken tax revenues and leave more room for black-market providers to continue attracting Austrian customers.
Industry observers note that Austria is attempting to balance two competing goals: enforcing compliance with past gambling laws while creating an attractive regulated market capable of drawing both operators and players away from unlicensed offerings. Critics argue that using a cooling-off period as a tool to achieve both objectives may prove difficult.
Alongside the debate over market access, policymakers are still discussing other aspects of the reform package, including potential stake limits, payout caps, the number of land-based casino licences and future lottery concession fees. A final agreement is expected before Austria’s summer parliamentary recess.