| Updated: September 26, 2025Austria is an affluent country known for its liberal approach to gambling. The first piece of gambling legislation was introduced in 1696 by Leopold I to combat illegal gambling activities throughout the country. Although gambling was initially considered a pastime for common people, it quickly became a popular form of entertainment for the nobility as well.
In Austria, sports betting is defined as a game of skill. The primary piece of legislation governing casino gambling is the Glücksspielgesetz (GSpG). However, sports betting is regulated at the state level. Austria consists of nine federal states, each of which has the right to set its own rules regarding sports betting. Several online sportsbooks have obtained licenses from Austrian provinces, and Austrian sports fans can also use offshore betting sites without risking prosecution.
Best Sports Betting Sites in Austria
Austria is a gambling-friendly country that permits most forms of gambling, including sports betting. There are many betting shops across the country where bettors can wager on their favorite sporting events. Online sports betting is also legal in Austria. Several licensed betting sites offer competitive odds and generous promotions. Below you will find a list of some of the best betting sites tailored to the Austrian market.
Best Sports Betting Bonuses in Austria
Sportsbooks that accept Austrian bettors offer a variety of promotions for both new and existing customers. Before claiming any sports betting bonus, be sure to review the bonus terms and conditions.
Match Deposit Bonuses Free Bets Risk-free Bets Acca InsuranceMatch Deposit Bonuses
Many Austria-friendly betting sites reward new registrants with Welcome Bonuses. Bettors must make a qualifying deposit to claim the promotion. These Welcome Bonuses usually come in the form of a match-deposit bonus, which typically has a maximum limit. In other words, the sportsbook will match your deposit by a specific percentage, up to a predetermined amount. Match-deposit bonuses also carry playthrough requirements and minimum-odds restrictions. Bettors must meet all bonus terms and conditions before they can cash out any profits.
Free Bets
Austrian sports fans can take advantage of free bets and place a wager on a sporting event without risking their own funds. Although bettors cannot withdraw the stake from a free bet, they will earn a profit if the bet settles as a win. Most online sportsbooks require users to fund their accounts before they can claim a free-bet bonus.
Risk-free Bets
Some sportsbooks allow Austrian bettors to receive a refund if their wager loses. The refund is typically credited as free bets. Bettors can then use the free bet on another sporting event; if that wager wins, they collect the profit. If the free bet loses, they will not earn any profit, but their original bankroll remains intact.
Acca Insurance
An accumulator bet combines multiple selections into a single wager and wins only if all selections are successful. If even one leg loses, the entire wager is lost. However, some betting sites offer a refund in the form of a free bet if one leg loses. This promotion is called Acca Insurance. To qualify, your accumulator must include the minimum number of selections specified by the operator.
Betting Regulation in Austria
Austria was one of the first countries to pass gambling regulations, seeking to crack down on illegal gambling activities. In 1751, the Genova Lottery was established by a private company, but the state later acquired the operator and directed the proceeds to various good causes.
In 1934, the first modern land-based casino opened its doors in Austria. Only four years later, the country banned all gambling establishments, although brick-and-mortar casinos already in operation were allowed to continue offering their services. Fortunately, the ban was lifted in 1950.
Casino Gambling Subject to Monopoly Small Gambling and Sports Betting Austria Proposes Gambling ReformsCasino Gambling Subject to Monopoly
In 1967, Casinos Austria was founded, and by 1990 it held 12 of the 15 issued licenses. The only other operator licensed to serve Austrian players is the Austrian Lottery, in which Casinos Austria also owns a stake. Therefore, casino gambling and lotteries are subject to a monopoly, and Casinos Austria is the sole operator authorized to run an online casino.
Austria’s gambling regulations are so stringent that no foreign operator has been able to meet all requirements to date. Companies seeking an Austrian license must relocate their headquarters to Austria. Additionally, the country imposes steep gambling taxes: bookmakers pay a 2% tax on all stakes, and a 40% tax is levied on gross gambling revenue generated from online gambling and electronic lotteries.
Passed in 1989, the primary piece of legislation governing Austria’s gambling industry, Glücksspielgesetz (GSpG), distinguishes between two categories of gambling: regular gambling and small gambling (kleines Glücksspiel). The law also empowers individual provinces to set their own rules regarding small gambling and sports betting.
Small Gambling and Sports Betting
Small gambling is provided by specialized gambling salons licensed by the province in which they operate, and several restrictions apply to this type of low-stake gambling. Such salons may host up to 50 gaming machines and cannot accept wagers exceeding €10 (or €1 in certain provinces). Gaming machines automatically shut down after two hours of play to give customers a cooling-off period. Small gambling is prohibited in Vorarlberg, Salzburg, Tyrol, and Vienna.
Austrian law classifies sports betting as a game of skill, making it legal in every province, though each province imposes its own rules. For example, sports betting is permitted only between 6 am and midnight in Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and Vienna.
Salzburg and Upper Austria cap wagers at €500. Most states ban bets related to criminal activity, deaths, or injuries during sporting events. In Styria and Vienna, bookmakers may accept in-play bets only on half-time scores, end-game scores, and who will score the next goal. Betting on animal events is forbidden in Salzburg and Vienna.
Austria Proposes Gambling Reforms
Austria’s gambling laws are designed to protect casino enthusiasts and bettors from problem gambling, which is why all online sportsbooks must promote responsible gambling practices. As in most European countries, the minimum age for gambling and sports betting in Austria is 18; however, individuals may purchase lottery tickets at 16. While many countries tax bettors’ winnings, Austria does not.
Online sportsbooks are required to obtain a local license to operate in Austria, yet numerous offshore betting sites still accept Austrian customers. In 2017, the government announced plans to allow Internet service providers to block unlicensed sports betting and gambling sites. In 2021, Austria’s finance minister, Gernot Blümel, revealed that a sweeping reform is underway and a new regulatory body will be established. The regulator will create a national self-exclusion system and compile a blacklist of unlicensed domains.