Malta’s opinion extends Austria gambling reform standstill to 7 December

A detailed opinion from Malta has extended the European standstill period for Austria's planned online gambling reform until 7 December 2026. The period previously ended on 5 November, according to the European Commission's TRIS entry. During the standstill, Austria may not finally adopt the notified draft. Parliamentary deliberations can continue in the meantime. The extension moves back the earliest possible adoption date but does not necessarily alter the whole parliamentary timetable.

The reform is intended to replace the existing online casino monopoly with a system of several licensed providers. Österreichische Lotterien currently operates Austria's licensed online gambling through its win2day platform. According to Austria's finance ministry, the market opening is to come with stricter player protection rules, including a central exclusion register and deposit limits. Against unlicensed offers, the plans provide for network blocking, payment blocks and a public list of illegal providers.

The requirements for companies operating in the market without an Austrian licence are described as particularly disputed. Under the draft, they must end the relevant offer by the end of 2026 at the latest and keep it suspended until an Austrian licence is granted. A company that stops only after 31 December 2026 would be barred from receiving a licence for 18 months from the date it stops. For a withdrawal after the end of 2029, that period would increase to 24 months. Financial conditions also apply: outstanding gambling duties that have not lapsed must be paid, and final Austrian civil judgments in favour of players must be satisfied. New online licences are to take effect from 1 October 2027 at the earliest.

Vienna gambling law expert Arthur Stadler still expects the reform to be passed before Christmas 2026. Stadler also said the gap between the passing of the law and key requirements at the start of 2027 will become considerably shorter. The industry association OVWG had expected a detailed opinion from Malta. OVWG president Simon Priglinger-Simader pointed to the association's own concerns about individual provisions. According to the report, the association is in contact with politicians and authorities on the matter and advocates a competitive, functioning online market. Political adviser Felix Geyer doubts that Malta's intervention will substantially delay the parliamentary process. In his account, parliament was already due to take up the matter from 9 to 11 December. The extended standstill would therefore end before those dates.