Casinos Austria AG monopoly on casinos and lotteries

Casinos Austria AG is the central player in the Austrian gambling industry and the de facto monopolist in the land-based casino and lottery segments. Under the strict control of the Ministry of Finance (BMF) and in accordance with the federal law Glücksspielgesetz (GSpG), the company manages the entire legal gambling infrastructure in the country: from elite casinos to national lotteries and the online win2day platform.

The monopoly of Casinos Austria is not a market accident - it is enshrined in law and serves as a state tool for regulation, social protection and control of capital flows in the field of gambling.

1. Origins and role of the state

Casinos Austria AG (CASAG) was founded in 1967 when Austria decided to legalize and centralize the gambling business. Instead of many private operators, a structure was created with the participation of the state and large financial institutions, which was instructed to manage gambling in the interests of the economy and social stability.

Main principles:

a limited number of licenses (12 casinos);
government oversight through BMF;
integration with the country's tourism and cultural strategy.

The state viewed gambling as a regulated public service rather than commercial freedom.

2. Licenses and legal status

Casinos Austria AG holds exclusive concessions granted to BMF under GSpG law. These concessions cover:

12 land-based casinos located in the largest tourist regions (Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Baden, Bregenz, etc.);
the national lottery Österreichische Lotterien GmbH - a subsidiary of CASAG;
online win2day platform. at, acting as the official digital operator of "electronic lotteries" and online casinos.

Such a structure allows the state to control the entire cycle: from licensing to taxation and responsible play.

3. Holding structure and subsidiary brands

Casinos Austria AG is a multi-level group comprising:

Casinos Austria International Holding GmbH (CAI) - a division that manages foreign casinos (including in Switzerland, Macedonia and Australia);
Österreichische Lotterien GmbH is a national lottery and win2day operator;
Casinos Austria Service AG - service and IT infrastructure;
Austrian Gaming Industries - technical solutions and gaming systems.

CASAG is majority-owned by state entities (through ÖBAG - Österreichische Beteiligungs AG) and Austrian banks, guaranteeing public oversight of financial flows.

4. Economic and fiscal role

The monopoly of Casinos Austria performs an important fiscal function.

Operators pay gaming tax (Spielabgabe) and income tax, as well as fixed fees for licenses.

CASAG and Lotterien's revenues form a significant portion of BMF's budget each year.

The company funds social and cultural projects, including Responsible Gaming programs and sponsorship of cultural events.

In the 2020s, the total turnover of Casinos Austria Group exceeds €4 billion, which makes it one of the largest regulated gaming structures in Europe.

5. Monopoly on online gambling

According to § 12a GSpG, online games, including casinos and lotteries, are only allowed as "electronic lotteries," managed by a concessionaire appointed by the BMF.

win2day has this right. at - Österreichische Lotterien GmbH platform.

Win2day unites:

online slots, roulette, poker and blackjack;
lottery products (EuroMillions, Toto, Rubbellose);
sports betting in an integrated lobby format.

All data passes through servers in Austria, and players undergo strict online identification (KYC).

6. Social Responsibility and RG

Casinos Austria was the first in Central Europe to implement the comprehensive Responsible Gaming strategy, which today is part of the corporate philosophy.

The main mechanisms are:

automatic deposit and loss limits;
voluntary and compulsory self-exclusion;
advice for players with risk behaviour;
Responsible Gaming EGBA and G4 certification;
regular audit by independent experts.

This model made CASAG an example of an "ethical monopoly," where profits are combined with the protection of the interests of society.

7. Fighting illegal operators

BMF and Casinos Austria act jointly against the unlicensed. com sites.

Main measures:

awareness campaigns about the risks of unlicensed play;
legal claims against foreign operators;
blocking domains and restricting financial transfers;
enforcement based on § 52 GSpG.

These efforts are not aimed at eliminating competition, but at maintaining social security and market transparency.

8. International presence

Through a division of Casinos Austria International (CAI), the group manages and participates in projects in dozens of countries, including:

Switzerland, North Macedonia, Egypt, Australia, Liechtenstein;
development of franchise formats in partnership with local governments;
Responsible Gaming model consulting and licensing.

Thus, the Austrian monopoly model became the exported standard of gambling management.

9. Criticism and litigation

The monopoly structure causes periodic debate in the context of EU freedom of service legislation.

Some European courts have considered complaints from foreign operators about restricting access to the Austrian market.

However, the EU Court of Justice recognized: a monopoly is permissible if it serves the public interest and guarantees the protection of players.

Thus, the legal sustainability of the CASAG model is confirmed by European jurisprudence.

The monopoly of Casinos Austria AG is not a relic of the past, but a conscious state-corporate regulatory model that combines:

fiscal stability, citizen protection, control over gambling supply, support for culture and tourism.

Austria demonstrates that monopoly in gambling may not be an obstacle, but a guarantor of transparency and social responsibility. Casinos Austria is not just an operator, but a national trust institution that unites economics, traditions and modern compliance standards.