Vienna Commercial Court referred questions about Malta’s Bill 55 to the Court of Justice of the European Union, reportedly in case C-683/24. The dispute concerns whether Malta can prevent enforcement of judgments from other countries against Malta-licensed online casinos, including claims involving Austrian players.
The referral could affect whether Austrian players can enforce claims against Malta-licensed operators.
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Austria’s government submitted a draft gambling law to parliament, proposing a regulated multi-operator online market, according to the report. The draft would require active operators to leave the market by January 2027 or face an 18-month ban; the existing online gaming and lottery licence is due to expire on 1 October 2027. The draft still requires parliamentary approval, and the report notes uncertainty over the licensing timetable.
Austria’s Finance Ministry has proposed ending the online gambling monopoly in a draft law that became public on Wednesday, reportedly. The current online licence, held by Win2Day, is due to expire in 2027; the draft envisages multiple online gaming licences while keeping the lottery concession a monopoly. Applicants would need to settle outstanding, non-time-barred tax liabilities and player claims rulings.
A leaked draft from Austria’s Finance Ministry proposes replacing the online casino monopoly with a multi-operator licensing system. The draft suggests weekly deposit limits of €250 for players under 26 and €1,680 for older users, alongside a €2 cap per spin or round. The existing monopoly licence runs until 2027; the report says a multi-licensed market may not be operational until around 2030.
Austria's Finance Ministry has finalised a draft law that would allow several providers to offer online gambling under a licensing system. Lotteries would remain a monopoly, while online casino licences would initially run five years with a possible 10-year extension. The draft, which is subject to coalition negotiations, would require licensees to hold EUR10m in share capital and settle past tax and court claims.
Austria’s Supreme Court has ruled that company directors may be personally liable in disputes over player losses linked to gambling activity in Austria, according to the report. The report says the court applied the Austrian Gambling Act of 1989; it does not identify the case or provide the ruling date.