Although most EU member states have adopted modern online casino gaming licensing frameworks, Austria remains one of the only two countries still adhering to an outdated monopoly system. This poses risks to Austrian players and results in billions of uncollected taxes.
In Brussels, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) believes that ongoing government negotiations in Austria provide a crucial opportunity to change its gaming regulation according to European best practices. The country's outdated gambling monopoly framework not only lags behind contemporary European standards but also actively undermines consumer protection, regulatory oversight, and taxation.
Despite 21 EU member states having fully modernized their online gambling frameworks through a multi-license system for online casino games, Austria, like Poland, still clings to the past, maintaining a monopoly system. The consequences are evident: a thriving black market, with thousands of Austrian players gambling on unregulated sites, beyond the reach of local consumer protection measures or government oversight.
Against this backdrop, EGBA calls on Austrian government negotiators—Chancellor Nehammer (ÖVP), Chairwoman Babbler (SPÖ), and Chairman Mein-Leisinger (NEOS)—to seize the moment for reform. By prioritizing the introduction of a multi-license system for online casino games in the new government's plans, they can build on the reforms initiated by former Finance Minister Brenner and bring Austrian gambling regulation into the 21st century.
All of Europe is vigorously pushing for modern gambling reforms. Finland recently decided to end its monopoly, opening up its online gambling market including casino games by 2026 to foster competition, following the successful examples of Denmark and Sweden. Denmark's experience is particularly instructive: after introducing a multi-license system in 2012, by 2023, the channelization rate of the regulated online gambling market soared from 72% to 90%, improving consumer protection and generating significant new tax revenues.
Reform Case: Three Major Advantages of Multi-License Online Casinos
Better player protection: By bringing online casino games under a regulatory framework, Austria can protect its citizens with mandatory safeguards, safer gambling tools, and comprehensive consumer protection measures. Currently, thousands of Austrian players gamble on unregulated sites without any basic guarantees, such as self-exclusion.
Enhanced regulatory oversight: A multi-license system would allow Austrian authorities to better monitor their online gambling market, replacing the current situation where most gambling activities occur in the shadows. This means better monitoring, more effective control, and the ability to truly enforce safer gambling measures.
Greater economic benefits: Analysis shows that by bringing currently unregulated online casino activities into the tax system, a multi-license system for online casino games could generate an additional 1 billion euros in tax revenue by 2030.
Austria is at a crossroads: it can draw on twenty years of European regulatory experience to design a top-tier framework that both protects participants and maximizes economic benefits.
The Path to Reform: Four Basic Steps
Create a competitive licensing framework: Replace the national monopoly with a robust multi-license system that combines strong consumer protection with open market competition. This will align Austria with European best practices while creating a vibrant, well-regulated market.
Establish an independent regulatory body: Set up a specialized gambling authority with real enforcement power and clear independence. This new regulatory body will oversee operators, enforce compliance, and maintain market integrity through data-driven regulatory oversight.
Strengthen consumer protection: Align Austria's gambling laws with Europe's proven best practices in player protection regulation, including mandatory safe gambling tools, requirements for safe gambling promotion, self-exclusion systems, and responsible advertising. As shown in EGBA's latest sustainability report, our members have made significant progress in these areas.
Design wise tax policies: Establish a competitive GGR-based tax rate for online casino games, optimizing tax revenue by balancing two key objectives: generating sustainable tax revenue and ensuring licensed operators can offer products that effectively compete with offshore sites.
EGBA Secretary-General Maarten Haijer emphasizes the urgency of reform: "The evidence across Europe is clear and compelling: a multi-license system works. It brings gambling activities into a regulated market, protects consumers, and generates substantial tax revenue. As government negotiations proceed, Austria has an excellent opportunity to modernize its online casino regulatory approach and benefit from other proven regulatory methods elsewhere. Now is the time to act."
About EGBA
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is a Brussels-based trade association representing leading online gambling operators licensed and regulated within the EU, including bet365, Betsson, Entain, Evoke, Flutter, Kindred Group, LeoVegas, and Superbet, with Aircash and Sumsub as associate members. EGBA works with national and EU authorities and other stakeholders to establish a well-regulated, channelized online gambling market that offers a high level of consumer protection and considers the realities of the internet and online consumer demands.
EGBA members comply with the highest regulatory standards, holding 267 online gambling licenses serving 32.5 million customers across 22 different European countries. They account for about one-third of Europe's total online gambling gross gaming revenue (GGR).
