SHOMEDIAMalta submitted a detailed opinion on Austria's gambling reform proposal on November 4, extending the EU standstill period from November 5 to December 7, 2026. The procedural delay does not repeal the bill or establish that its provisions are unlawful. It gives the Austrian government less room in its legislative schedule.
The European Commission's TRIS notification 2026/0415/AT records both the original and revised standstill dates. Austria first filed the draft on August 4. It proposes a multi-concession system for online gambling, with site blocking, payment blocking and a blacklist targeting unauthorized operators.
For existing international iGaming businesses, the implications are more substantial than a later vote. iGaming Business reports that the draft contains a nine-month cooling-off period for companies currently serving Austrian customers from other EU jurisdictions. Ending Austrian online casino services by December 31, 2026 could be a condition of the shorter interval; otherwise an 18-month break may apply. These remain proposals, not enacted requirements.
Vienna-based lawyer Arthur Stadler told iGaming Business that passage before Christmas 2026 was still expected, although the time between adoption and the planned January 1, 2027 effective date would be tighter. Licensing approvals and marketing permissions would depend on the final legal framework and regulator decisions.
Operators, affiliates and payment providers should assess market access, advertising eligibility and transaction processing as separate compliance questions. Proposed payment blocks could ultimately affect deposits, withdrawals and affiliate settlements, but the scope cannot be treated as final before the law is adopted.
The confirmed development is the Maltese opinion and the revised EU review deadline. There is no basis to describe Austria as having issued new online gaming licenses already.
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