Austria moves to liberalise the online gambling market in 2026
Bill proposes unlimited licences plus strict player protections and sanctions
Key Takeaways
- The bill introduces an unlimited-licence system for online gambling and was notified to TRIS on 4 August 2026.
- The single lotteries licence is extended until 31 December 2028 and six of twelve casino licences will expire on 31 December 2028.
- Operators continuing unauthorised online gambling after 31 December 2026 face an 18‑month cooling-off period that bars licence awards.
- The Austrian Tax Office is the interim supervisory authority while the creation of a Gambling Supervisory Authority is deferred to later legislation.
Austria will approve significant amendments to its Gambling Act at the end of 2026 that will open the online market. The bill proposes a uncapped licensing system for online gambling providers, establishes player-protection requirements and sets sanctions for unauthorised operators, with concrete deadlines taking effect from 31 December 2026. The text was notified to the European Commission on 4 August 2026 for a three-month TRIS review period.
By Miguel Sandoval, Corresponsal de regulación.
## What the bill introduces on the liberalization of the online gambling market in Austria
The core of the reform is the introduction of an unlimited-licence regime for online gambling operators, replacing the current model where the right to offer online gambling is tied to the lotteries licence. At present that exclusivity belongs to Österreichische Lotterien GmbH, the sole authorised operator under the previous scheme. Under the new text, an unlimited number of operators may apply for and receive a licence on an ongoing basis.
The bill also extends the single lotteries licence until 31 December 2028. The timetable for land‑based casino licences is amended: six of the twelve current casino licences will expire on 31 December 2028, instead of 2027 as previously scheduled.
## Licensing requirements and obligations for applicants (liberalization of the online gambling market in Austria)
Applicants for a new online licence must meet capital requirements, undergo suitability and reliability checks, and follow detailed grant procedures. The bill requires candidates to regularise pending convictions in Austria and settle any outstanding tax obligations if they have been operating without a licence. Providers offering unauthorised gambling must cease operations before 31 December 2026 to avoid penalties.
The text sets a specific sanction for those who continue to operate without a licence: a cooling-off period of 18 months that suspends the possibility of receiving a licence during that term, delaying their market entry.
## Player-protection measures and supervision tools
The bill includes concrete player‑protection requirements, including age limits and betting limits, a central exclusion register shared among operators, mandatory self‑exclusion and self‑limitation tools and cooling‑off periods. It also contains stronger enforcement powers: payment and IP blocking, test play checks and public warnings.
The protection package places clear operational obligations on new and existing providers, with provisions affecting both user experience and payment flows.
## The proposed supervisory authority and the interim role of the Austrian Tax Office
The bill contains numerous references to a Gambling Supervisory Authority, whose effective constitution is deferred to later legislation. In the meantime, the bill designates the Austrian Tax Office as the interim supervisory authority. The competences and organisational details of the new authority must be defined in subsequent regulation: the current text leaves those references as conceptual frameworks pending development.
## Timeline, TRIS and considerations for interested operators
The bill was notified to the European Union Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS) on 4 August 2026, opening a three‑month period for observations from other Member States. While Member States such as Malta could raise comments that extend the process, the bill has already been submitted to Austria’s National Council and final amendments and a vote are expected in December 2026.
Interested operators should note the end of the TRIS period in November 2026 and the national timetable. 31 December 2026 is the key date to cease unauthorised operations or face the 18‑month suspension; the administrative and commercial consequence of failing to meet that date is concrete.
Operators and platform providers must plan to meet capital obligations, suitability checks and the new technical requirements to implement the exclusion register, self‑limitation tools and payment and IP blocking measures. Possible advertising rules and the specific conditions for land‑based casinos, which are being drafted by the Austrian Ministry of Finance, will affect the final commercial offering. See the section on [casinos](/casino) for related considerations.
## What remains to be decided: advertising, the new authority and casino conditions
The draft refers to provisions still to be developed: advertising rules and the details of the new supervisory authority are not finalised. The licensing conditions for land‑based casinos have not been published; the Austrian Ministry of Finance continues to draft those requirements.
Those regulatory gaps — advertising, supervisory structure and casino conditions — will influence market attractiveness for new entrants, but for now they remain matters for secondary regulation.
"The draft allows the entry of multiple operators into a market until now monopolised by the lotteries licence," the draft text included in the TRIS notification states.
Providers that have previously operated without a licence in Austria will need to document the closure of their operations and regularise convictions and tax obligations to be eligible for a licence under the new framework.
## Practical recommendations for operators and providers
Companies planning to apply for a licence should:
1. Audit their legal and tax position in Austria and close unauthorised operations before 31 December 2026.
2. Prepare the capital and suitability documentation required by the licensing process.
3. Design and integrate technical tools for the exclusion register, self‑limitation and payment/IP blocking mechanisms.
Providers of compliance services, platforms or payment solutions can expect demand for technical adaptations to meet the new operational and player‑protection requirements.
The end of the TRIS period and the expected vote in December 2026 set the practical calendar; the final decisions and wording of the bill will reshape the regulatory map for those who wish to operate in Austria.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can operators apply for licences under the new regime in Austria?
Operators will be able to apply for licences on a continuous basis once the bill is approved and comes into force; the text was submitted to the National Council and a vote is expected in December 2026. The bill was notified to TRIS on 4 August 2026 and the EU review period ends in November 2026.
What are the consequences of operating without a licence after 31 December 2026?
Operators who continue to offer online gambling without a licence after 31 December 2026 will be subject to an 18‑month suspension period that prevents them from receiving a licence during that time. They must also regularise pending convictions and tax obligations to be eligible.
Who will supervise the market while the new gambling authority is not established?
The bill designates the Austrian Tax Office as the interim supervisory authority. The effective establishment and competences of a Gambling Supervisory Authority are planned for subsequent regulation and remain to be defined.
What player‑protection obligations does the bill impose?
The bill introduces age limits, betting limits, a common exclusion register, mandatory self‑limitation tools and cooling‑off periods, together with powers to block payments and IP addresses and issue public warnings. These measures accompany the licensing requirements and will be binding for authorised operators.
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About the author
Miguel Sandoval
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Miguel Sandoval tracks gambling legislation, licensing, and regulator enforcement — from Spain's DGOJ and the Latin American authorities to the UKGC, the MGA, and the state-by-state map in North America. The reports answer three questions precisely — what changed, where, and who it affects — with jurisdictions, dates, and penalties cited exactly as published. Operators and compliance officers read Miguel Sandoval to know which rulebook moved before their next meeting.
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