Austria's gambling reform nears TRIS standstill deadline on 5 November as licensing plans take shape

Austria's proposed overhaul of its gambling laws is approaching a key European milestone. The standstill period under the European Commission's Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS) is due to expire on 5 November 2026, according to the Commission's notification record. During that period EU member states and the Commission can submit comments or detailed opinions on draft technical regulations.

The Finance Ministry has said parliamentary proceedings can continue during the standstill, but the legislation cannot be adopted until it ends. The bill would replace the country's online gambling monopoly with an open licensing system backed by stronger player protection and enforcement powers. Österreichische Lotterien currently holds the online concession through its win2day brand, with authorisation running until 30 September 2027.

Under the proposed timetable, new online concessions could be awarded from 1 January 2027, and operations authorised from 1 October 2027. Applicants would have to settle outstanding tax liabilities and comply with final judgments relating to player protection claims. Operators that previously served Austrian consumers without national authorisation could also be eligible if they withdraw their unauthorised offering by the end of December 2026. Non-compliance would lead to an 18-month exclusion from a concession, or 24 months if the withdrawal happens after 2029. Finance Ministry officials have linked these requirements to restitution of €20,000 for Austrian players.

The package also includes a central register covering self-exclusion and operator-imposed exclusions across casinos, gaming machines and online gambling. A digital supervisory system would support cross-operator deposit limits, with lower thresholds for young adults. Players would set personal time and spending limits, and any increase to a self-selected limit would take effect only after a 72-hour wait. Payment blocking, website blocking and blacklisting would strengthen action against illegal suppliers. Parliamentary documents show the exclusion register and blocking tools would take effect from January 2027, ahead of the October market start.

The market was discussed on Entain's investor call after its Q3 results. Entain expects to be a significant player in a multi-licence Austrian system through its bwin brand, though it, like other operators, has reservations about the proposed cooling-off period. If the reform proceeds, Austria would follow the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland in ending a gambling monopoly, while operators continue to watch Norway and Poland for similar shifts.