Online Casinos in Austria

Future of Online Casinos in Austria

When it comes to the online casino industry in Austria, its future is looking bright. Here’s why – internet operators are currently legal, allowing them to hold proper licenses and offer their services to residents.

After the public criticized authorities for its lack of security measures related to online casinos, the government announced in 2021 that it plans to reform the industry. One of the biggest priorities is creating a new regulator. This independent agency will be in charge of enforcing gambling laws and making sure that players remain protected online.

Regulated online casinos are of huge benefit to both players and authorities. The country is able to collect tax money and use the funds for good purposes. On the other hand, players will enjoy massive security as they will only play at licensed casinos.

Combined with the fact that online casinos will continue expanding, it is easy to see that these platforms will grow in popularity in the upcoming years.

Top 5 Austrian Casinos

1. Lucky Elektra Casino
2. Tsars Casino
3. Yolo Casino
4. Stakes Casino
5. Fairspin Casino

Are Online Casinos Legal in Austria?

By now, we’ve determined that land-based casinos in Austria are legal. You are more than welcome to enter these establishments and play poker or other casino games. But what are the specifics related to online casinos in Austria?

Online gambling in this country is legal. That’s the good news. The not-so-good news is the fact that the industry has plenty of restrictions. First off, only online casinos that hold a license from the Ministry of Finance are able to offer their services to players.

Not only that, but these smartphone operators must be based in Austria and cannot allow international players to play their casino games and claim bonus offers. That is the reason why Casinos Austria has an international branch called Casinos Austria International.

Finally, the revenue of online and live casinos in the country is subject to tax laws, and operators have maximum limits related to time and stakes.

Deposit & Withdrawal Limits at Austrian Casinos

The deposit and withdrawal limits at Austrian online casinos Austria vary. Each site has its own limits. Laws, however, state that there are other limits in terms of stakes. According to GSpG’s Section 5, the maximum stake at slots outside of casinos is €10. Winnings are capped at €10,000, and players cannot play several casino games simultaneously. Additionally, there’s a time limit – games are required to shut off after 2 hours.

Online Casino Licenses in Austria

According to Austrian laws, if an online casino wants to offer its services to residents, it must possess a license. Licenses are issued by the Austrian Tax Office. Those that want to apply for a license must be in tune with the law and pay a licensing fee of €10,000, as well as €100,000 after the license is received. The validity period for lottery and casino game licenses is 15 years.

Responsible Gambling in Austria

All licensed online casinos must partner with domestic and/or international responsible gambling agencies. Additionally, they must feature self-exclusion programs. That is how they protect registered players and make sure that they do not develop a gambling addiction. One of the most popular RG agencies in Austria is Responsible Gaming Academy. It represents a joint effort between Casinos Austria and the Austrian Lotteries Group.

Helpline for Problem Gamblers in Austria

There are tons of centres in Austria that players can contact if they notice that they are developing a gambling addiction. Some of them are:

• Ambulante Behandlungseinrichtung Spielsuchthilfe (+43(0)1/544 13 57)
• Anton Proksch Institute (+43(0)1/880 10-0)
• Anton Proksch Institute – Addiction Counseling Center Baden (+43(0)1/880 10-1370)
• SHG Anonyme Spieler – W. Gizicki (+43(0)660/123 66 74)
• Schuldnerhilfe Oberösterreich (+43(0)732/77 77 34)
• Ambulanz für Spielsucht der pro mente OÖ (+43(0)5/76 80 87-39571)
• Spielsuchtberatung Landeshauptstadt Klagenfurt (+43(0)664/961 51 86)

Taxation on Austrian Online Casino Winnings

Austrian laws are among the most strict in the world when it comes to online casino taxes. As the law itself suggests, the gross gaming revenue of every operator comes with a 40% tax. That’s quite a big number, and that’s why it is a massive challenge for operators to be profitable.

Austrian Casino Bonuses

One of the biggest advantages of registering at casinos online in Austria is the fact that you can claim tons of bonuses and promotions. Many of them apply to your favourite slot games or poker games and can help you boost your potential rewards. Below, we listed some of the most common promotions that you will come across at these operators.

Welcome Bonus

The first and most popular casino bonus that you will come across at a casino site is the welcome bonus. This is a one-time reward for newly registered players. To claim it, you must deposit funds for the first time into your account.

Immediately after you do so, the casino will transfer extra money to your account. Not only that, but in many cases, free spins accompany this match reward. When claiming the welcome bonus, you must pay attention to the terms and conditions. These may include wagering requirements, minimum deposit, eligible games, validity period, maximum bet limit, etc.

Free Spins

Next up, we have free spins – the most popular bonus for slots online. In most cases, free spins are no deposit bonuses. That means that you don’t have to top-up your account to claim them.

Free spins are only usable on slots. They can boost your rewards but keep in mind that they often come with several T&Cs. Some of the most common ones are maximum bet and maximum win limits, eligible slots, and validity period. The validity period of free spins is often 24 hours, so make sure you act fast when you claim them.

Match/Reload Bonuses

Both match and reload bonuses and deposit bonuses. The only difference between them is the fact that a match bonus will provide you with extra cash on your first deposit of the day. On the other hand, to claim a reload bonus, you must make at least 2 deposits on a specified day. Wagering requirements, minimum deposit, and eligible games are the most common T&Cs for these rewards.

Cashbacks

The biggest advantage of a cashback promotion is that it is easy to claim. All you have to do is log in on a specific day. In order to become eligible for a cashback, you must play the eligible games for real money.

The casino will redeem a percentage of the amount that you lose within a certain timeframe. Often, the cashback percentage can increase depending on your loyalty status. Their simplicity is what makes them stand out.

Loyalty Programs

Finally, we have loyalty programs, also known as VIP clubs. They provide the most loyal players with exclusive rewards. That includes birthday gifts, higher cashbacks, access to VIP tournaments, higher withdrawal limits, more free spins, etc.

Each loyalty program has a certain amount of levels. To reach a new level, you must collect points. You do that by playing the featured games for real money. The more real money you stake, the more points you receive. At times, you may even need to receive an invite from the operator itself before you can climb one level up.

Bonus Wagering Requirements

Wagering requirements are the most complicated part of every casino bonus. They tell you how much money you must stake at the casino before you can withdraw winnings with the promotion itself. To calculate them, you must multiply the deposit that you make by the requirements themselves. Allow us to explain them by using an example.

Let’s say that you want to claim a welcome offer, whose minimum deposit is €15, and wagering requirements are set at x35. That means that if you wish to withdraw wins that you make with the welcome offer, you must stake €525 (€15 deposit multiplied by 35).

Moreover, you must stake this amount within the bonus validity period. The general rule regarding wagering requirements is that the lower they are, the better. It is important to note that not every game contributes equally towards wagering requirements. In most cases, slots contribute 100% towards wagering. Table games usually contribute around 50%. Sometimes, the percentage can go as low as 10%.

Available Casino Games in Austria

One of the biggest advantages of the aforementioned casinos is the fact that they have plenty of available games. They are created by the greatest game providers in the world. As a result, you can expect tons of in-game bonuses, great graphics and fantastic payouts.

Not only that, but you can enjoy them on both mobile and desktop devices. After all, they utilise the latest HTML5 technology or feature a mobile app. The gaming experience does not differ, regardless of the chosen device. Some of the available titles that you can play at Austrian casinos online are:

• Online slots
• Live casino games
• Poker
• Blackjack
• Baccarat
• Online roulette
• Jackpot games
• Lotto games
• Instant Play Games (Keno, Bingo, Scratch Cards)

Checklist for Signing up With a Casino in Austria

Before you even think of registering at Austrian casino sites and playing slots or other games, you must make that the casino lives up to its expectations. Some of the things that you should pay extra attention to include:

• Rewarding bonuses and promotions
• Diverse game library
• Numerous available payment methods
• No fees on deposits and withdrawals
• Valid license
• Mobile compatibility
• Responsive customer support

Meeting these standards is a must for every operator. After all, you should have high expectations of every online casino. The goal here is to have fun, and the casino can provide you with that only if it fulfils these conditions.

Safety & Security

Safety and security is the biggest priority for every Austrian player. Logically, the casino needs to protect its users while they enjoy its services. There are two ways through which they do that. First, we have the SSL encryption protocol.

To check whether the operator has this measure, just take a look at its website. A lock should be present right next to the URL. Click on it to see the details regarding the certificate. Alternatively, you can look directly at the URL. If the letter “S” is present next to “HTTP,” then the casino is secure.

As for the license, the platform must possess it if it wants to offer legal and fair games, as well as conduct online transactions. Checking for the license is very simple, you can even do it on a mobile casino. All you have to do is access the official website of the operator and scroll to the bottom of the home page. The footer is where the license information is displayed.

Customer Support Available in Austrian

Whenever you stumble across a certain problem at Austrian gambling sites, the customer support team will assist you in finding a solution. First, the operator must make sure that it provides you with several channels through which you can contact them (live chat, email, contact form, phone number).

However, there’s one additional important feature – available language. Since we are talking about a gambling site from Austria, it must offer its assistance in the native language.

Payment Providers at Online Casinos in Austria

Earlier, we talked about how Austrian online gambling operators will allow you to deposit and withdraw funds with a variety of methods. There are both fiat and crypto methods that you can use on these platforms. Below, we listed those that are used most often.

PayPal

PayPal is one of the most popular online payment methods not just in Austria but in Europe. It provides players with massive security and fast transactions. Yes, fees apply to a majority of transactions, but that’s a low cost compared to its advantages.

You can top up your PayPal account with credit and debit cards and then use PayPal to claim bonuses and promotions and play the featured games for real money.

Klarna

Klarna works in a similar fashion to PayPal. Just like all other e-wallets, its biggest advantage is the fact that you can stop payment if you change your mind. Additionally, the processing time for withdrawals with this option is very short. In most cases, you will enjoy same-day payouts.

One thing to keep in mind when using Klarna is to check whether you can use this method to claim bonuses and promotions. Sometimes, casinos restrict methods such as Klarna, Skrill, and Neteller, and you cannot use them to claim promotions.

Bitcoin

Cryptocurrencies are a rising trend in the global online gambling industry. Not only do they provide you with instant deposits and withdrawals, but you will not face any fees. After all, the blockchain network allows them to be highly decentralized. No one has the authority to charge you a fee.

Bitcoin is the most popular and most commonly accepted cryptocurrency at gambling sites in Austria. You can also use it to claim bonuses and gain access to special games.

Visa and Mastercard

Finally, we have Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards. They are the most commonly used payment method at gambling platforms in Austria. After all, research states that there are around 3.6 million credit cards and 10 million debit cards in the country.

Banks such as UniCredit Bank Austria AG, Erste Group Bank, Raiffeisen Zentralbank, and Osterreichische Kontrollbank AG issue these cards. Although Visa and Mastercard casinos are not as popular amongst gamblers as casino sites that accept Google Pay, they are still prominent options.

Conclusion

Although the laws in Austria make the industry hard to access, there are still plenty of reputable operators that offer their services. Players from this country can easily register at these sites and reap their benefits. Once you create an account, you can play various games and claim bonuses on your desktop or mobile devices. Registering at these sites is very fast and simple. All you need to do is access the official website of the platform, click on the register button and fill in the details. Keep in mind that you will also have to verify your account before you can make your first withdrawal.