Malta Intervention Delays Austria’s Gambling Reform at EU Level.
Austria’s planned gambling law reforms have been delayed after Malta raised concerns at the European Union (EU) level, extending the notification period until December 2026.
The proposed amendments to Austria’s Gambling Act aim to end the country’s online gambling monopoly. They will also introduce an open licensing system.
The EU notification process was initially due to end on 5 November. However, Malta submitted a detailed opinion on Wednesday. This triggered an automatic extension, moving the deadline to 7 December.
The delay gives Austria’s government less time to secure parliamentary approval before the new law takes effect next year. However, industry stakeholders do not expect major changes to the parliamentary timetable.
Arthur Stadler, a Vienna-based gaming lawyer at Stadler Partner, told iGB that lawmakers still expect to pass the amendments before Christmas 2026.
“In principle, the timeline remains the same: the passage of the amendments is still expected before Christmas 2026,” Stadler said.
However, Stadler warned that operators could face tighter deadlines when preparing their Austrian iGaming licence applications. The period between parliamentary approval and the planned implementation date of 1 January 2027 will be shorter.
Cross-Border Operators Raise Concerns
The Austrian Association of Betting and Gaming (OVWG) said it had anticipated Malta’s intervention. The association also shares concerns about several provisions in the proposed legislation.
Speaking to iGB, OVWG president Simon Priglinger-Simader confirmed that the organisation expected Malta to submit a detailed opinion.
“We had anticipated a detailed opinion, as we also have concerns about certain provisions of the current Austrian draft law,” he said.
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Priglinger-Simader said the association continues to engage Austrian policymakers and regulatory authorities. These discussions aim to address the outstanding concerns.
He added that the OVWG wants Austria to establish a competitive and effective regulatory framework under the proposed open licensing system.
Currently, Win2Day holds Austria’s only online casino and lotteries licence. The company operates as a subsidiary of Austrian Lotteries.
However, several international gambling brands also serve Austrian customers. These operators rely on licences from other EU jurisdictions, particularly Malta.
New Licensing Rules Raise Compliance Challenges
The proposed Gambling Act introduces additional requirements for international operators seeking Austrian iGaming licences.
One key requirement involves a nine-month cooling-off period. Operators must stop offering online casino services to Austrian customers by 31 December 2026.
Companies that fail to meet this deadline could face an extended 18-month market exclusion period. They must also settle outstanding player claims and backdated tax obligations.
Meanwhile, Austrian public affairs consultant Felix Geyer questioned whether Malta’s intervention would benefit operators in the grey market.
Speaking to iGB, Geyer questioned who would ultimately gain from the move.
He argued that Malta’s intervention would probably not disrupt the legislative process. Parliament had already scheduled discussions for 9–11 December.
Geyer also questioned whether the move could damage relations between Malta-based operators and Austria’s future gambling regulator.
He warned that creating tensions before the new licensing framework takes effect might not serve the operators’ interests.
