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Austria’s long-awaited overhaul of its gambling framework has entered a decisive phase, with the Ministry of Finance confirming that a new draft for the upcoming casino monopoly tender is actively being prepared. The announcement signals the government’s intention to move ahead with the 2027 licensing cycle — but it also reignites a broader dispute over whether Austria should continue relying on a single-operator monopoly system in an era of growing grey-market activity and EU scrutiny.
Officials say the draft, due to form the basis for the tender process in the coming months, will outline uniform standards for both land-based and online gambling. Core elements include age-based loss limits, expanded player protection requirements and the establishment of an independent gambling authority. It also anticipates a stronger crackdown on unlicensed foreign operators through payment blocking, domain blocks and hefty penalties.
But behind that clean headline lies a much more complicated landscape: Austria is preparing the next monopoly tender at the same time the rest of Europe is moving away from such models, and domestic operators are loudly calling for liberalisation rather than reinforcement of the status quo.
Why This Tender Draft Matters Now
Austria’s current framework hinges on a single exclusive licence for lotteries and online casino gaming, held by Austrian Lotteries’ Win2day platform. All 12 land-based casinos operate under Casinos Austria, in which the state retains a major share through ÖBAG.
Key licences begin expiring in 2027 — including Win2day’s online permit and six of the country’s casino licences — triggering the legal requirement for a comprehensive tender process. Because national tenders in Austria can take more than three years to complete, the Finance Ministry has no option but to start now.
This makes the draft not just a technical step, but a blueprint for the future structure of the market.
The Draft Confirms Movement — But Not Direction
The Finance Ministry has been deliberately opaque about whether its new draft will maintain the monopoly model, expand it into a limited multi-licence framework or open the market entirely.
A leaked version from December seemed to double down on monopoly protection, emphasising strict enforcement measures against so-called illegal operators and tighter rules for foreign brands. Following widespread criticism, the ministry quietly distanced itself from that version, promising revisions.
The confirmed draft now being prepared still contains robust enforcement language, but industry sources caution that it does not yet reveal whether the government intends to preserve exclusivity or pivot toward a competitive licensing model.
What is clear is that player protection will be used as the central justification for whichever direction the final proposal takes.
Industry Pressure Builds Against a Renewed Monopoly
The confirmation of a new monopoly tender draft has revived criticism from both domestic and international operators who argue that the current system is no longer fit for purpose.
Industry groups point out that Win2day’s online market share sits far below what a functioning monopoly should command — leaving Austria heavily exposed to grey-market operators licensed elsewhere in Europe. These companies have been serving Austrian customers for years, and some now face costly refund claims under Supreme Court rulings that void contracts with unlicensed providers.
Operators warn that reinforcing the monopoly while escalating enforcement could backfire by pushing more players toward unregulated platforms and reducing tax revenues, especially as Austria recently increased its online gambling tax rate to 45%.
The OVWG, Austria’s main industry association, continues to advocate for an open or at least expanded licensing system, arguing that the 2027 tender cycle offers the country a rare chance to modernise its regime.
A Monopoly Tender in a Market That Isn’t Behaving Like One
Austria’s dilemma is unusually stark: the government is preparing a new monopoly tender in a market where the monopoly is no longer functioning in practice.
Player refund rulings, cross-border EU licensing, and Austria’s poor channelisation rates have transformed the landscape. Even senior government officials acknowledge privately that enforcement tools alone — payment blocking, IP blocks, tighter advertising controls — cannot address the structural weaknesses.
Political tensions add further uncertainty. Previous attempts to reform the Gambling Act collapsed over disagreements about player safety measures, and even now the coalition remains split on how restrictive limits should be. The upcoming draft will have to pass through negotiations between the ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS, all of whom have different views on how far Austria should depart from the traditional monopoly model.
A Crucial Turning Point Ahead of the 2027 Tender
With licence expiries approaching and tender procedures requiring years to complete, Austria has little time left to define a system for the next decade.
The confirmed monopoly tender draft shows that the government is moving — but whether it is moving backward, sideways or forward remains uncertain.
If Austria simply renews the monopoly, it faces the prospect of another 15 years locked into a model that already struggles to guide players toward regulated channels. If it embraces a multi-licence framework, it joins the majority of Europe in accepting competition as the basis for consumer protection. And if political negotiations break down again, Austria could stumble into 2027 with neither clarity nor control — allowing the grey market to continue shaping the reality of online gambling.
For now, all eyes are on the Ministry of Finance’s draft. Once published, it will reveal whether Austria is prepared to rethink its long-held monopoly — or reinforce it just as its limitations become impossible to ignore.
