Austria’s online gambling market is one of the most tightly regulated — and most misunderstood — in Europe. On paper, online casino gambling in Austria is reserved exclusively for the state-licensed platform Win2Day, operated by Casinos Austria AG under the Glücksspielgesetz (GSpG). In practice, hundreds of thousands of Austrian players regularly use international offshore casinos licensed in Malta, Gibraltar, and Curaçao, operating in a legal grey zone that carries no criminal risk for individual players.
At Hopcott, we focus on the platforms that actually work for Austrian players: offshore casinos that accept registrations from Austria, offer the payment methods Austrians use — including EPS/E-Überweisung — and provide interfaces in German. Our evaluations cover every factor that matters: licensing credibility, bonus fairness, game selection, mobile quality, withdrawal speed, and responsible gambling tools.
We rate every casino across 10 criteria before recommending it to Austrian players. Only platforms that meet our minimum standards for security, fairness, and player protection make the list.
Best Casinos in Austria
1Win Casino
1Win is an international sportsbook and casino founded in 2016, serving over 30 million players worldwide. The platform's standout feature for new bettors is its industry-leading welcome offer: a 500% bonus on the first deposit up to $1,000. With a minimum deposit of just $1, 1Win is one of the most accessible platforms for any budget. The sportsbook covers 40+ sports with a focus on football, hockey, tennis, basketball, and esports. Odds on top events are competitive, with a margin of 5–7%. Both pre-match and live betting are available, including Cash Out. Payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, USDT, LTC), Skrill, Neteller, Perfect Money, PIX. Withdrawals are processed within 1–72 hours depending on the method. KYC verification is required on the first withdrawal. Beyond sports betting, 1Win offers a casino with 15,000+ games from 100+ providers and crash games (Aviator, JetX). A mobile app is available for Android. Licensed under Curaçao eGaming. Best suited for: beginners and players looking for a maximum bonus with a low minimum deposit and broad payment method coverage.
How We Rate Online Casinos for Austrian Players
Online Gambling in Austria — GSpG, Win2Day & Legal Status
Understanding the legal landscape in Austria is essential before choosing a casino platform. The situation is genuinely complex — Austria has strict laws that most Austrian casino players routinely navigate around.
The GSpG — Austria’s Gambling Act
The Glücksspielgesetz (GSpG), Austria’s Federal Gambling Act, establishes a near-complete state monopoly on gambling in Austria. Land-based casinos are exclusively operated by Casinos Austria AG, a company 33.24% owned by the Austrian state. Online casino gambling is legally reserved for Win2Day, the state-licensed online platform jointly operated by Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries.
Win2Day — the state-licensed online casino
Win2Day (win2day.at) is the only fully GSpG-compliant online casino in Austria. It offers slots, poker, sports betting, and lottery products. While it is the legally “safe” choice, Austrian players widely regard its game selection and bonus offers as inferior to international alternatives.
Offshore casinos — the grey zone
International casinos licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), or Curaçao eGaming do not hold an Austrian GSpG licence. This means they technically operate outside Austrian law. However, individual Austrian players face no criminal penalties for using these platforms — the GSpG targets unlicensed operators, not their customers. Austrian courts and the Ministry of Finance have pursued enforcement actions against international operators (fines reached €2.8 million in 2023), but enforcement against individual players is non-existent in practice.
Taxes on casino winnings in Austria
For recreational players, casino winnings in Austria are not subject to income tax. Austria’s tax code does not classify gambling winnings as taxable income for individual players, whether from Win2Day or from offshore platforms. Professional gamblers — for whom gambling represents a primary income — may face different treatment and should seek specialist tax advice. Operators themselves pay significant gaming taxes in their respective licensing jurisdictions.
What this means in practice
Most Austrian players choose offshore casinos for their superior game libraries, generous welcome bonuses, and broader payment options. The legal risk to the individual player is minimal. Choosing a reputable offshore casino with a strong MGA or UKGC licence provides meaningful player protection even without a local GSpG licence.
Payment Methods for Austrian Casino Players
Austria has a distinctive payment landscape for online gambling. EPS (E-Überweisung) is Austria’s local online bank transfer standard — widely available through all major Austrian banks (Erste Bank, Bank Austria, Raiffeisen) and accepted by an increasing number of offshore casino operators. For casinos that don’t offer EPS, Skrill and Neteller remain the most reliable alternatives. Credit cards work at many platforms but may be blocked by Austrian banks for gambling transactions.
| Method | Type | Min. Deposit | Withdrawal | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPS / E-Überweisung | Bank Transfer | €10 | 1–3 business days | Austria's native online banking payment standard. Supported by Erste Bank, Bank Austria, Raiffeisen, BAWAG, Sparkasse, and most other Austrian banks. Fast, familiar, no additional account required. Acceptance at offshore casinos is growing — check the cashier section. Preferred withdrawal method for Austrian players. |
| Visa / Mastercard | Bank Card | €10 | 3–5 business days | Widely accepted. Debit cards (Visa Debit, Maestro) are more reliable than credit cards — Austrian banks occasionally block credit card transactions to gambling merchants. Withdrawals to cards take 3–5 business days. Maestro (Debit Mastercard) is the most common card in Austria. |
| Skrill | E-wallet | €10 | Within 24 hours | The most widely accepted e-wallet at offshore casinos serving Austrian players. Instant deposits, fast withdrawals. Fund your Skrill account via bank transfer, EPS, or card. Note: Skrill and Neteller accounts used for gambling are often excluded from welcome bonuses — check T&Cs. |
| Neteller | E-wallet | €10 | Within 24 hours | Globally accepted e-wallet, universally available at reputable offshore casinos. Instant deposits and fast withdrawals. Fund your account via bank transfer. Like Skrill, may be excluded from some promotional bonus offers. Good alternative to EPS when direct bank transfer isn't available. |
| Paysafecard | prepaid | €10 | N/A (deposit only) | Prepaid vouchers available at Austrian convenience stores, petrol stations, Trafik shops, and online. Ideal for anonymous deposits with no bank account or card required. Cannot be used for withdrawals — plan your cashout method separately (Skrill, bank transfer). |
| Bitcoin / Cryptocurrency | Crypto | €20 | Under 1 hour | The fastest available withdrawal method. Bypasses all bank-level gambling restrictions. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and USDT are most widely accepted. Crypto-native casinos (BitStarz, Stake) operate fully in this space. Exchange rate volatility applies. Austrian crypto regulation falls under EU MiCA framework. |
Casino Games Popular with Austrian Players
Austrian casino players have access to the full range of modern online casino games at offshore platforms, with no meaningful restrictions on game types compared to other European markets.
Slots
Online slots dominate the Austrian market. Leading providers include NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Play’n GO, Microgaming, Novomatic (an Austrian company), and Big Time Gaming. Austrian players particularly favour classic fruit machine mechanics alongside modern video slots and Megaways titles. Top-performing titles include Book of Dead, Gonzo’s Quest, and Sugar Rush.
Live Casino
Live dealer games are hugely popular with Austrian players seeking an authentic casino experience. Evolution Gaming is the industry-leading provider, offering live roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and game show titles (Crazy Time, Dream Catcher, Monopoly Live). Most top offshore casinos offer Evolution-powered live tables, many with German-speaking dealers or German-language interfaces.
Table Games
Roulette (European and French variants preferred), blackjack, poker (Casino Hold’em, Three Card Poker), and baccarat are widely available. Austrian players tend to favour European Roulette for its single zero and lower house edge compared to American variants.
Novomatic — Austria’s own casino giant
Novomatic AG, headquartered in Gumpoldskirchen, Austria, is one of Europe’s largest gaming technology companies. Novomatic games are available on many international platforms alongside locally iconic titles. Playing Novomatic slots online gives Austrian players a familiar experience in a fully international context.
Responsible Gambling in Austria
Responsible gambling is a priority in Austria, with both state resources and international NGOs available to players who need support. If gambling is affecting your finances, relationships, or mental health, free confidential help is available.
Austrian resources
- Spielsuchthilfe — spielsuchthilfe.at — Austria’s dedicated gambling addiction support organisation. Free counselling, self-assessment tools, and referrals to local therapists across all Austrian states.
- Telefonseelsorge — 0800 202 304 (free, 24/7) — confidential crisis support line covering gambling and other addiction concerns. Anonymous, no registration required.
- OASIS — the Austrian self-exclusion system for land-based casinos operated by Casinos Austria AG. Allows permanent or temporary self-exclusion from all Austrian Casinos Austria venues.
- Gamblers Anonymous Austria — anonym-spieler.at — peer support groups in Vienna and across Austria. Regular meetings in person and online.
Responsible gambling tools at online casinos
- Deposit, loss, and wagering limits (daily, weekly, monthly)
- Session time reminders and cooling-off periods
- Self-exclusion (temporary or permanent) — available at all MGA-licensed casinos
- Reality checks — pop-up notifications showing time played and net win/loss
All MGA-licensed offshore casinos must offer mandatory responsible gambling tools, including deposit limits and self-exclusion, to players in all markets including Austria. If you are concerned about your gambling behaviour, call 0800 202 304 or visit spielsuchthilfe.at.
FAQ: Austria
Technically, online casino gambling in Austria is legally reserved for Win2Day, the state-licensed platform. However, hundreds of thousands of Austrian players use international offshore casinos licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) or other regulators. These operate in a legal grey zone, but individual Austrian players face no criminal penalties under the GSpG — enforcement targets unlicensed operators, not players.
Win2Day (win2day.at) is Austria’s only fully GSpG-licensed online casino, jointly operated by Casinos Austria AG and Austrian Lotteries. It offers slots, poker, sports betting, and lottery products. While legally “safe,” most Austrian players prefer international offshore casinos for their larger game libraries, better bonuses, and more competitive terms.
No — for recreational players. Austrian tax law does not classify gambling winnings as taxable income for individual players, whether from Win2Day or from offshore casinos. You are not required to declare casino winnings on your Austrian tax return. Professional gamblers for whom gambling is a primary income source may face different treatment — consult a tax adviser if this applies to you.
EPS (Electronic Payment Standard / E-Überweisung) is Austria’s domestic online bank transfer system, supported by all major Austrian banks including Erste Bank, Bank Austria, Raiffeisen, and Sparkasse. It works like iDEAL (Netherlands) or Sofort (Germany). An increasing number of offshore casino operators accept EPS for deposits and withdrawals — check the casino cashier for availability. If EPS isn’t available, Skrill or Neteller are the best alternatives.
The minimum legal gambling age in Austria is 18 years old, both for land-based casinos and online platforms. All reputable offshore casinos require age verification (KYC) as part of the withdrawal process — typically a government-issued ID (Reisepass or Personalausweis) and proof of address. Some casinos require verification before any play is allowed.
Austria’s OASIS self-exclusion system covers land-based Casinos Austria venues. For online gambling, each offshore casino provides its own self-exclusion mechanism in the account settings — MGA-licensed casinos are required to offer this. For additional support, contact Spielsuchthilfe at spielsuchthilfe.at or call the free helpline 0800 202 304.
The most recommended options for Austrian players are: EPS/E-Überweisung (native bank transfer, widely trusted), Skrill and Neteller (e-wallets, instant processing), Visa/Maestro debit cards, Paysafecard (prepaid, available at Trafik shops), and Bitcoin/crypto for the fastest withdrawals. Credit card gambling transactions are sometimes blocked by Austrian banks — using an e-wallet or EPS is more reliable.
Yes — if you choose a casino licensed by a reputable regulator. MGA-licensed (Malta) and UKGC-licensed casinos are required to maintain segregated player funds, use independently audited RNG software, and provide formal dispute resolution. These protections are meaningful even without an Austrian GSpG licence. Avoid casinos with only a Curaçao licence and no verifiable track record.