Austria Nears 5 November TRIS Deadline for Overhaul Replacing Online Gambling Monopoly

Austria’s plan to replace its online gambling monopoly with an open licensing system faces a key EU milestone as the TRIS standstill period expires on 5 November 2026. The Ministry of Finance submitted the bill proposing tougher player protection rules and stronger enforcement powers. Parliamentary proceedings may continue, but adoption cannot occur until the standstill ends, according to reporting by SBC News.

The current concession held by Österreichische Lotterien through its win2day brand runs until 30 September 2027. Under the proposal, new online gambling concessions could be awarded from 1 January 2027, with operations authorised from 1 October 2027. Applicants must settle outstanding tax liabilities and comply with final judgments on player protection claims.

Licensing Eligibility and Transition Rules

Operators that previously offered services to Austrian consumers without authorisation would become eligible by withdrawing those offerings by the end of December 2026. Failure to meet the rules triggers an 18-month exclusion from concessions, extending to 24 months if withdrawal occurs after 2029. Finance Ministry officials linked these requirements to restitution of €20,000 for Austrian players.

Entain addressed the market in its investor call following Q3 results. The company expects to become a major player in the multi-license system through its bwin brand but dislikes the proposed cooling-off period.

New Protections and Enforcement Tools

The reforms establish a central register for self-exclusions and operator-imposed exclusions across casinos, gaming machines and online gambling. A digital supervisory system would enforce cross-operator deposit limits, with lower thresholds for young adults. Players must set personal time and spending limits, and any increase to those limits faces a 72-hour waiting period.

Payment blocking, website blocking and blacklisting gain expanded powers against illegal suppliers. The exclusion register and blocking instruments take effect from January 2027, ahead of the October operational start. If enacted, the changes would continue a European trend seen in the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland. Operators continue monitoring potential shifts toward multi-license models in markets such as Norway and Poland.

Reporting: SBC News

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