The delay leaves less time before the law is due to take effect on January 1, 2027, but stakeholders don’t expect it to change the parliamentary schedule, with lawmakers already planning to debate the bill between December 9 and 11.
Arthur Stadler, gaming lawyer at Stadler Partner, said:
“In principle, the timeline remains the same: the passage of the amendments is still expected before Christmas 2026. However, for operators weighing an application for one of Austria’s new iGaming licences, the time gap between ratification and entry-into-force on 1 January 2027 will be much tighter.”
Win2Day, a subsidiary of Austrian Lotteries, currently holds the only online casino and lotteries license in Austria, which expires in October 2027, although many brands licensed elsewhere in the EU, including Malta, also serve Austrian players. Under the new open licensing system, those operators must stop offering online casino to Austrians by the end of 2026 to qualify for a license, or face an 18-month ban that rises to 24 months from 2030, and they will also need to settle player claims and back taxes.
Simon Priglinger-Simader, President of the Austrian Association of Betting and Gaming (OVWG), said:
“We had anticipated a detailed opinion, as we also have concerns about certain provisions of the current Austrian draft law.”
The reform also brings in payment and network blocking, deposit limits with lower thresholds for players aged 18 to 26, and a national self-exclusion register, while up to 13 land-based casino licenses will be awarded in packages.
