Austria's iGaming law may force 24-month cooling-off for grey operators

Austria's coalition government is finalizing a new iGaming law that includes a proposed cooling-off period that could bar grey-market operators from the regulated market for 24 to 36 months, according to Felix Geyer, an Austrian public affairs consultant.

The proposal, backed by the SPÖ-led Ministry of Finance, would prohibit companies found to have broken Austrian gambling laws within the past five years from entering the new licensing system. The government aims to finalize the draft before parliament's summer recess in July 2026, with the law targeted to take effect in autumn 2026.

Proposed cooling-off period and stakeholder positions

The cooling-off period is the most contentious element of the draft law. Geyer told iGB the ban could span 24 to 36 months and would primarily affect EU-licensed operators active in Austria's current grey market. Casino operators Casinos Austria and Admiral support the measure, according to Krone newspaper. The Austrian Association for Gambling (OWVG) opposes it.

"A cooling-off period would be the reform killer," OWVG president Simon Priglinger-Simader said.

Under Austria's current system, the state monopoly on online gambling expires in 2027. The proposed law would end that monopoly and create a multi-licence framework for online casino operators. The cooling-off provision is designed to penalize operators that profited from the grey market while the monopoly was in place.

Stake limit debate adds friction

A separate proposal to cap stakes at €2 and maximum winnings at €2,000 per game is also under negotiation, Geyer said. Industry groups strongly oppose the limits, arguing they would push players toward unregulated offshore sites. Whether the stake cap will survive into the final draft remains unclear.

Player access and market competition

If enacted, the cooling-off period could reduce player choice in Austria. EU-licensed operators that currently serve Austrian players would be locked out of the regulated market for up to three years, potentially limiting game libraries, bonus availability, and loyalty program access for players who use those platforms.

The stake limits, if included, would further restrict options for higher-stakes players. Operators running sweepstakes-style models, which operate under sweepstakes law rather than gaming licences, would need to assess whether their offerings fit within the new regulatory framework. Their status under Austria's forthcoming regime has not been determined.

What remains unclear

The exact number of online licences to be offered has not been made public. The final duration of the cooling-off period has not been decided, nor has the €2 stake limit been confirmed. The specific list of operators that would be blocked is unknown.

The SPÖ's coalition partners, including NEOS, have not publicly stated their final positions on the cooling-off period or stake limits. Geyer said NEOS wants to double the lottery licence fee to €40 million. that claim has not been independently verified.

What happens next

The government plans to release a final draft before the last plenary sitting before the July 2026 summer recess. If the coalition approves the bill, it would proceed through parliamentary debate and committee review, with enactment targeted for autumn 2026. All details remain proposals subject to change until the draft is published.