Law on Games of Chance in Austria( GSpG )
For an international gambling or betting business, the first market-entry question is straightforward but legally complex: which Austrian licence, concession or authorisation is actually required? We advise B2C operators, B2B suppliers, platforms and investors on product classification, licensing strategy, applications and ongoing regulatory compliance.
Online casino, poker, lotteries, sports betting, prize draws, B2B technology, white-label models and prediction markets can fall under different legal regimes. The product’s technical and commercial reality is more important than its marketing label.
Legal status – August 2026: The proposed multi-operator regime, EUR 10 million capital requirement and legacy criteria are contained in Ministerial Draft 125/ME and are not final law.
Key areas of advice
- Online Gambling Regulation and Austrian Concessions
- Sports Betting Licensing at Provincial Level
- Foreign Operators, EU Companies and MGA Licences
- Austria Gambling Reform 2026 and Proposed Online Licensing
- Capital, Suitability and Historic Austrian Activity
- AML, KYC and Responsible Gambling
Online Gambling Regulation and Austrian Concessions
Austrian federal gambling law governs core areas of the gambling market. Before an online product is offered to Austrian users, the product mechanics, target market and applicable concession regime should be analysed. The location of the operator alone does not determine whether Austrian rules are relevant.
Sports Betting Licensing at Provincial Level
Sports betting is not licensed under the same single framework as online casino gambling. Provincial betting laws apply. We assess which provinces, authorities and requirements are relevant for online, mobile and retail betting models.
Foreign Operators, EU Companies and MGA Licences
One of the most common questions in operator forums is whether an MGA or other European licence can simply be “used” in Austria. It cannot be assumed to replace Austrian authorisation. We assess market access, corporate or branch structures and the regulatory position of foreign owners and management.
Austria Gambling Reform 2026 and Proposed Online Licensing
The ministerial draft published in June 2026 proposes a comprehensive reform of the online market, including a tightly regulated system with multiple online concession holders, enhanced player protection and network/payment blocking against illegal offers.
International operators should monitor the legislative process and prepare strategically, while keeping draft requirements separate from current law.
Capital, Suitability and Historic Austrian Activity
The current draft proposes minimum capital of EUR 10 million for online concession holders. It also contains criteria concerning historic Austrian market activity, gambling taxes and final Austrian civil judgments that may affect eligibility.
For operators with prior Austrian exposure, a legacy review should establish what was offered, when, under which structure, and whether tax, litigation or enforcement issues remain outstanding.
AML, KYC and Responsible Gambling
Licensing readiness requires operational compliance. We advise on AML/KYC, internal policies, responsibility matrices, player limits and exclusion processes, monitoring, outsourcing, data governance and documentation.
Regulatory Proceedings and Enforcement
We assist with authority communications, submissions, investigations, administrative proceedings and regulatory information requests. Cross-border operators benefit from aligning Austrian responses with their wider licence, group and compliance framework.
Regulatory Readiness for the Austrian Market
We combine licensing with Corporate, AML/KYC, data protection, payments, technology and litigation analysis, allowing regulatory requirements to be built into the market-entry strategy rather than addressed in isolation.