The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is urging Austria to abandon its existing gambling monopoly and transition to a system with multiple licensing options.
In a recent statement available on their website, the EGBA has appealed to Austrian government leaders to use the current opportunity in ongoing negotiations to reform the national gambling regulations.
According to the association, Austria’s current gambling monopoly is outdated, lagging behind modern European standards and negatively impacting consumer protection, regulatory effectiveness, and tax revenue.
“While 21 EU nations have fully updated their online gambling frameworks to include multi-licensing for online casino gaming, Austria and Poland remain among the few maintaining monopoly systems,” the association elaborated. “The result is a robust black market where numerous Austrian citizens gamble on unregulated websites that lack local consumer protection or government oversight.”
The EGBA is calling on Chancellor Nehammer, Chairman Babler, and Chairwoman Meinl-Reisinger to implement a multi-licensing approach for online casino gaming. This move aims to expand on the initial reforms by former Finance Minister Brunner and bring Austria’s gambling regulations into modernity.
The organisation highlighted three major advantages of multi-licensing for online casinos: enhanced player protection tools, improved regulatory oversight, and increased economic benefits from additional tax revenue generated through licensed operations.
Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of the EGBA, remarked, “The evidence from across Europe is irrefutable: multi-licensing is effective. It integrates gambling into the regulated market, safeguards consumers, and significantly boosts tax income.”
Furthermore, the EGBA stated that Austria is at a pivotal point and has the chance to “learn from two decades of European regulatory experiences to create a top-notch framework that protects players while maximising economic benefits.”
The association proposed four key steps for reform: develop a competitive licensing system with robust safeguards, establish a dedicated gambling authority for market compliance and integrity, enhance consumer protection, and implement a strategic tax policy.
Haijer added, “With government negotiations in progress, Austria has a prime opportunity to modernise its strategy for online casino regulation and benefit from successful regulatory models elsewhere. The moment to act is now.”
The association pointed out multi-licensing progress in other European nations, noting Finland’s plans to adopt a licensing system by January 2026.