New amendments to Austria's Gambling Act (GSpG) are set to modernize Austria's iGaming sector, abolishing Austria's long-standing monopoly on online gambling and replacing it with an uncapped licensing model. Unlicensed providers have until December 31st to switch off their services in Austria or risk facing an 18-month cooling-off period before they are eligible for a license. Providers that comply with the deadline and shut off operations before January 1st will be able to apply for a license as normal, with the first licenses taking effect October 1st, 2027.
Operators who continue with business as usual will also find themselves the target of new payment and IP blocking measures, which aim to block black market operators from reaching Austrian customers. The Bill also introduces standardised player protection measures, including a centralized player registry, self-exclusion options, weekly and monthly stake limits, and more, ensuring that legal market is safe and sustainable.
These changes and more are expected to be passed before the end of the year. The Bill is currently before the EU Commission for the Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS) standstill period, which will end on November 5th, barring an extension. After that, voting can begin, and a swift passage is expected.
In light of the rapidly changing landscape in Austria's gambling sector, we've updated our contribution to Lexology In-Depth: Gambling Law, ensuring that the chapter on Austria's legal framework reflects the latest developments. The updated text can be found here.
