Austria plots sports betting shake-up with new draft law
Online and retail sports betting to be legalised under new law submitted to European Commission
Austria’s largest state has sent draft legislation to the European Commission that if approved would see the regulation of both online and retail sports betting in the central European country.
Under the draft act, betting on sports would be permitted and regulated, while gaming remain prohibited.
The rules would cap bets at €350, while live betting will be limited to half-time, final score or next point or goalscorer bets only. Bets on virtual sports are allowed, if the events offered are not replicating any live event.
If approved, the operator would receive a so-called ‘master’ licence which states the type of licenced activity they are permitted to offer, the sites they can use and the duration of the licence.
New entrants to the Austrian market would be limited to two-year licences, while those already in the market would be allowed to apply for licences of up to 10 years. Retail sports betting licences will run for a term of 10 years, while their online counterparts will be restricted to a two-year term, subject to renewal.
Under the new proposals, operators will be required to introduce measures to combat gambling-related harm including the provision of problem gambling treatment related service links and the operation of self-exclusion functionality for customers.
Operators will be taxed on an annual turnover basis, although the percentage payable by online operators has not been officially finalised. However the legislation confirms that retail operators will be taxed on their betting terminals at a rate of €175 per machine.
Current EU law requires all member states to submit new legislation to the European Commission for review and final approval. However, the EC’s initial assessment stated there was “no significant impact on international trade” occurring as a result of the draft legislation, increasing the likelihood that it will pass to the next stage.
If passed, the legislation would replace existing Austrian gambling laws, making them compliant with the EU’s 4th Anti-money laundering directive.