Austria’s proposed gambling reform has been delayed at EU level after Malta submitted a detailed opinion on 4 November. The intervention extended the European Union notification period from 5 November to 7 December, leaving less time for the Austrian government to complete the legislative process before the planned 1 January 2027 rollout.
Proposed transition conditions
The reform would end the current online gambling monopoly and introduce a new licensing framework. Under the proposal, operators serving Austrian customers with licences issued elsewhere in the EU would face a nine-month cooling-off period before becoming eligible for an Austrian licence. Businesses would need to stop online casino services for Austrian customers by 31 December 2026 or risk an 18-month exclusion period, and settle outstanding player claims and backdated taxes.
Planning implications
The notification extension does not itself cancel the reform or determine the final parliamentary outcome. Operators should monitor the revised legislative timetable and avoid assuming that the proposed 2027 framework will begin unchanged. The shorter implementation window may create practical pressure for licensing, product and customer-transition plans.