Malta lodges formal objection to Austria’s gambling overhaul
Austria’s plans to overhaul its online gambling market have been delayed after Malta lodged a formal objection with the European Commission, extending the review period for the proposed legislation until December 7.
The intervention, recorded in the European Commission’s Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS), extends the original November 5 deadline by more than a month, preventing Austria from formally adopting the legislation during that period.
Austria submitted its proposed amendments to the Gambling Act and Telecommunications Act on August 4, outlining plans to end the country’s online gambling monopoly and introduce a regulated licensing system allowing multiple operators to enter the market.
According to Austria’s Finance Ministry, the reforms are designed to strengthen player protection while directing consumers away from unlicensed gambling websites.
The proposed legislation includes a centralised gambling exclusion register, mandatory deposit limits and additional protections for players aged 18 to 26.
Authorities would also receive new enforcement powers, including website blocking, payment restrictions and a blacklist of unauthorised gambling operators.
Under the proposed licensing arrangements, operators currently serving Austrian customers without a domestic licence must withdraw by December 31, 2026, to remain eligible for a new concession. Those failing to comply face an 18-month exclusion period, with stricter restrictions applying from 2030.
New online gambling concessions could be awarded from January 2027, with licences taking effect from October 1, 2027.
Austria’s existing online gambling monopoly is held by Austrian Lotteries through its win2day platform, with its current concession running until September 30, 2027.
Malta’s intervention does not prevent Austria from continuing parliamentary consideration of the reforms, but the legislation cannot be formally adopted until the extended EU notification period expires.
Malta has not publicly detailed its objections, although the proposed legislation includes restrictions affecting gambling operators currently serving Austrian customers under licences issued elsewhere in the European Union. These include a mandatory cooling-off period before operators can qualify for an Austrian licence, alongside requirements to settle outstanding player claims and taxes.
