Austrian gambling sector stunned by enduring controversial monopoly under the new administration
Let's talk about the new Austrian government's approach to gambling 🃏
By Timm Schaffner, Edited by Angela Burke, Published on: 05.03.2025, Last updated: 30.04.2025.
It seems the new Austrian government ain't budging on the gambling monopoly issue. 📝
Experts have been beating the drum for a long time about the need for reform in the Austrian gambling market, as many European countries have managed to open their markets, letting private providers in. But in Austria, it's different. The government has exclusive licenses for stationary casinos and online gambling, held by the partially state-owned Casinos Austria AG until at least 2027.
But with the recent coalition agreement of the new three-party coalition in Austria, it looks like the gambling monopoly will stay. That's according to Der Standard. 🎰
The government's plan also involves reviewing the status of sports betting, currently classified as a game of skill in Austria. Regardless of a possible reclassification as a game of chance, the betting tax will be cranked up from two to five percent.
The general gambling tax, levied on revenues from stationary gambling, will also get a ten percent boost, which has already caused a stir among licensed gambling providers in the past week. 💰
Tax increase got Casinos Austria sweating
The planned tax increase in the stationary sector has made the industry wet its pants. Casinos Austria AG and the Austrian Lotteries Group have warned about significant financial burdens that could result in annual additional costs of over 100 million euros.
- In contrast to many European countries, the Austrian gambling market has been resistant to reform, with the government maintaining a gambling monopoly through exclusive licenses held by Casinos Austria AG until at least 2027.
- Experts have consistently urged for a change in the Austrian gambling market, but the recent coalition agreement in Austria suggests that the gambling monopoly will remain intact.
- The Austrian government is planning a reclassification of sports betting from a game of skill to a game of chance, which could lead to a significant increase in the betting tax from two to five percent.
- The proposed increase in the general gambling tax on revenues from stationary gambling has already caused a stir among licensed gambling providers, as it could result in additional costs of over 100 million euros annually.
