Allwyn Questions the Timeline for Online Betting in Austria from a Supervision Standpoint

Allwyn said the draft timeline, which provides for opening Austria's online betting market to several concession holders, may not leave enough time to establish an effective supervision system. The company submitted its opinion, dated 27 October, to the European Commission. The opinion stressed that there is roughly nine months between the legal basis for supervision tools and the start of the first new concessions.

Allwyn reportedly listed the systems that require preparation as operator-wide exclusion and deposit limit registers, a secure server and payment setup, and website blocking. The company also said implementing rules, technical specifications, tests and connections with licence holders must be completed. Allwyn proposed an implementation plan, minimum operating requirements and a trial run of the proposed controls. It argued that the first concessions should take effect only once the relevant systems are working, and that if readiness cannot be guaranteed, the launch should be postponed.

Allwyn holds shares in Austria's existing concession holders, Casinos Austria and Österreichische Lotterien. The company said it supports the reform's player protection goals and, in principle, a controlled market opening.

The industry association OVWG, however, argues that the launch date of 1 October 2027 is realistic. OVWG Secretary General Thomas Forstner told NEXT.io that Austria could draw on existing European systems. Forstner said the Austrian tax office has experienced staff who could supervise the sector until a new independent authority is established.

The draft introduces an open concession system for online betting, along with cross-operator safeguards. Austria notified its proposal to the EU in August. According to Commission records, Malta's detailed opinion extended the waiting period to 7 December 2026. Because the proposal is still in the legislative process, the opening date is not yet a settled starting point.