Austria's Legislation on Regulating Online Casinos
Austria has clear laws concerning gambling, covering not only traditional casinos but also online games. The main legal document that covers this area is the "Gambling Act" (Glücksspielgesetz or GSpG), which came into effect in 1989. Since then, it has been updated several times to keep up with the development of online technologies.
Just to flag up that the only licence for offering online gambling services in Austria is issued to the state-owned company Casinos Austria. This means that online casinos are effectively a monopoly for this operator, which allows the government to control casino operations and generate significant revenue for the national budget. For instance, in 2020, Austria's gambling industry, including the online sector, exceeded €2.2 billion in revenue, which goes to show how important this market is for the country's economy.
Licenses for Online Casinos in Austria
If you want to provide online gambling services in Austria, you need to get a licence. It's not that easy though, as only the state can get one. This means that private companies can't access the Austrian online gambling market.
There are three key types of gambling licenses in Austria:
- License for Slot Machines (Automatensalonlizenz) – relates to physical slot machines.
- License for Land-Based Casinos (Casino-Konzession) – for traditional casinos.
- License for Online Casinos (Glücksspiel-Lizenz für Online-Casinos) – exclusively granted to the state-owned company.
As a result, private online operators typically either target foreign markets or use licenses from other countries, such as Malta, Gibraltar, or Curaçao, to serve Austrian players through international websites. However, Austrian authorities may block such sites within the country if they do not comply with local laws.
Which Austrian Online Casinos Can Attract Players?
Despite the strict regulations, a lot of international online casinos are still available to Austrian users. This is due to several legal "loopholes" as well as the peculiarities of European legislation. In principle, online casinos licensed in one EU country can easily offer their services to residents of other EU member states, including Austria.
Take Bet365, PokerStars and other big operators, for example. They often attract Austrian players because they're well-known, secure and offer a wide range of games. But Austrian law aims to limit their activity to protect the monopoly status of state casinos.
Player Safety and Responsible Gambling
Austrian gambling legislation not only focuses on market regulation but also on protecting players' rights. One of the priorities is ensuring safe and responsible gambling. This includes the following measures:
- Players can set limits on their bets and deposits, helping to prevent gambling addiction.
- Online casinos are required to verify the age of all players (the minimum age for gambling is 18).
- Special programs are in place for players showing signs of gambling addiction. For example, players can self-exclude from gaming for a set period.
Additionally, Austrian online casinos are required to provide transparent gaming conditions and refund policies, as well as undergo regular independent audits to confirm the fairness of their gaming systems.
Online Casino Player Statistics in Austria
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of Austrian online casino players: as of October 2024, around 60% of Austrian adults gambled at least once a year, of which around 30% were active participants in online casinos. This corresponds to approximately 2 million people. Online gambling became widespread during the pandemic.
Interestingly, the most active group of players in Austrian online casinos is men aged 25 to 45. However, the share of women is also growing - today, they make up around 35% of all participants in online gambling. Austrians play not only on local platforms but also actively use international sites such as Betway and PokerStars, contributing to the overall number of users.
Big Wins and Jackpot Hits
One of the main reasons Austrian online casinos continue to attract attention is the big wins and impressive jackpots. Who doesn't dream of hitting a massive sum with one lucky spin?
One of the most famous cases happened in 2024 when an Austrian player hit the jackpot at Golden Star Casino on an online slot and won €7.5 million. This was one of the largest wins in the history of Austrian online casinos, and it got a lot of media attention. It inspired other players to try their luck.
But that's not the only time this has happened. In early 2024, another player won a progressive jackpot on the Dublinbet Casino platform, taking home more than €4.2 million. Progressive jackpots, which increase with every bet placed, can reach huge amounts if no one wins for a long time. The most popular jackpot games in Austria include slots like Mega Moolah and Hall of Gods, which are known for their multi-million payouts.
Jackpots in Austrian Online Casinos
Progressive jackpots have become a phenomenon in the world of online gambling, and Austria is no exception. Here's how progressive jackpots work: Every time you bet on a slot or other game with a progressive jackpot, a portion of that bet is added to the total jackpot. Although the chances of winning the maximum prize are slim, the huge amounts that can be won continue to attract players.
As of 2024, several jackpots at Austrian online casinos and international platforms have exceeded €10 million. This trend seems to be gaining momentum, as more players participate in such games, increasing the potential prize pool.
Forecast for 2025
So, what's next for the Austrian online casino market in the coming years? Considering the growing interest in gambling and technological progress, the market is expected to continue its development.
It's so great to see that more and more people in Austria are enjoying the thrill of online casinos! By 2025, it's estimated that over 2.5 million people will be playing online casinos, which is fantastic! The industry is expected to generate over €3 billion a year, which is down to more people playing, new technology and more games being offered.
Jackpot amounts are also expected to grow. It's predicted that in 2025, several large progressive jackpots with payouts exceeding €10 million will be hit, encouraging even more interest from players.
Austria's leading online casinos are already actively adopting new technologies such as virtual reality and advanced mobile applications, which will undoubtedly make the gaming experience even more exciting and accessible. This, in turn, will attract new users and increase the overall sales in the industry.
Conclusion
Austrian online casinos are very well regulated, with the state-owned company Casinos Austria remaining the only officially licensed platform. While international operators are trying to bring their services to the Austrian market, the Austrian government continues to actively fight against unlicensed platforms. But don't worry! Thanks to platforms licensed in other EU countries, you can still access a wide range of online casinos. Austria remains one of the leaders in Europe for strict control and player protection in the online gambling sector, which is great news for the safety and transparency of gambling in the country.
