Austria may end its state iGaming monopoly as early as next year

Austria is now floating a move that would replace its current monopoly model with multiple online gambling licences. For PSPs and operators, the detail that matters is not the political theatre — it’s that a market currently tied to Win2Day could open up to more than one licensed online casino and sportsbook.

1. The draft gambling bill from the Ministry of Finance, which has leaked into the media, would introduce multiple licences for online gambling rather than keeping the current state monopoly structure.
2. The stated goal is to create an attractive online gambling offering, push more activity into the legal market, and provide the highest possible level of player protection. In practice, that usually means a heavier compliance load for operators and their payment stack, not a lighter one.
3. Win2Day’s lottery monopoly licence for iGaming expires in 2027, and the authorities would be able to issue an unlimited number of permits for online casinos and online sportsbooks. Applications would be accepted from existing EU licensees, as well as licensees from Malta and Curaçao.
4. One key requirement for entry into the Austrian market would be settling current disputes with players. The proposed tax rate for licensees would be 45% of GGR (gross gaming revenue).
5. The draft also includes operational restrictions: no jackpots, deposit limits, limits on stakes per spin and game speed, a problem gambler register, and continuous monitoring of player status.

For high-risk payments, this is the kind of package that matters because it combines market opening with very specific control points: player dispute history, high tax pressure, and transaction-level restrictions. That is usually where onboarding, monitoring, and long-term merchant viability get decided.