Sports betting

The right to offer sports betting is not subject to any numerical restriction in Austria. The federal states are responsible for regulating, supervising and issuing licences. This means that nine different legal norms must be observed within the federal territory.

Online betting is regulated only in a few federal states, which do not address the needs of the online market properly. Taxation is set at 2% of the stakes. In addition, the question in which federal states social betting (i.e. betting on events other than sport events) is permissible is not conclusively regulated, which also leads to considerable legal uncertainty .

The new regulation of the online sports betting sector is therefore urgently needed. Read below what the OVWG wants to achieve in terms of the new regulation of online gambling and online sports betting.

Our goals..

Re-regulation

Creation of a nationwide uniform legal framework for online gambling and betting on a regulatory and tax level, in line with EU law and market requirements. It is necessary to maintain the existing distinction between gambling and sports betting.

License System

Under this new legal framework, licences will be issued without quantitative restrictions, a high level of player protection will be ensured and money laundering will be actively prevented. The aim is to give serious providers willing to regulate fair access to the Austrian gambling and betting market.

Fair Tax Model

Licensees should be taxed uniformly on the basis of gross profits for all products and this should not exceed 15%. Beyond this percentage, this positive channelling effect is lost as suppliers increasingly withdraw from the market and this in turn leads to customers playing in the unregulated market.

High Player Protection Standards

The OVWG is convinced that by creating an attractive, differentiated offering, players will increasingly use the licensed platforms and be less inclined to turn to offers from other providers. Successful regulation steers players towards licensed gambling and betting providers.

Independent Supervisory Authority

Gambling and sports betting providers are to be supervised in future by an independent, nationwide competent authority. In addition to supervision, it will also be responsible for licensing. The existing system, in which the Federal Ministry of Finance plays a triple role (owner, supervisory authority, licensing authority), is no longer tenable.

Digitisation requires action: new regulation necessary

“Progressing digitisation requires action in the form of new regulation. A future-oriented legal regulation strengthens the digital competence of Austria as a location for business and innovation. Online providers invest over 50 million euros annually in Austrian sport. In addition, with more than 1000 jobs and taxes in the three-digit million range, you make a significant contribution to value creation in Austria. OVWG is committed to ensuring that these investments in Austria are maintained and increased through new regulation.”

MICHAEL WONDRA   •   BOARD MEMBER

Gambling

Model countries in the EU show how the sustainable regulation of the online sector can succeed. In these countries it has already been possible to create a modern legal framework for the online sector and thus take account of advancing digitalisation: Denmark has taken on a pioneering European role in this…

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Player Protection

OVWG is aware of the fact that betting and gambling involve a high sense of responsibility. The new regulation of the online sector against the background of player protection is therefore a central concern of the OVWG.  In addition to the monopolist, private providers have also been investing in the successful (further) development of player protection for years…

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