Which bookmakers are trusted and where to place bets in Austria?
Where to bet safely in Austria? Take a look at our chart that includes the most reputable online betting website on the market. Compare them and choose the right one for your play.
TOP Bookmakers in Austria
Section 14 of the Austrian licencing law considers all online games of chance to form part of the right to offer electronic lotteries (this encompasses all online gambling products). This law also provides for only one such licence within country borders with the state-controlled Österreichische Lotterien G.m.b.H. already holding that licence.
However, bizarrely, the law places virtually no restrictions or imposes no enforced licensing requirements on offshore gambling brands marketing, advertising, and presenting its services within this tightly regulated region. Due to a vociferous public outcry, the state repealed a previous law responsible for enforcing highly restrictive controls over offshore based online gambling operators.
This sees local bettors favouring several of the best bookmakers in Austria, all internationally licenced and acclaimed for their excellence of service and elevated product quality, inclusive are Pinnacle, Bwin, Betway, Bet365, 1XBet, and 22Bet.
Bwin
One of the most popular betting platforms in the world is Bwin – an Austria-based bookmaker, known for its superb betting environment. It belongs to Entain Group and is one of the favourite brands of all Austrian players. The sportsbook offers a wide range of disciplines and great betting features. In addition, this bookmaker develops an excellent bonus program not only for its new players but for its loyal customers as well.
- Advantages:
- Vast variety of markets
- Attractive odds
- Big Bwin community worldwide
- Superb reputation
- Disadvantages:
- Just a few ongoing promos
- No events calendar
Bet365
Six million punters from across the globe consider Bet365, this Malta-based online bookmaker, as one of the best in the industry, having built a reputation for providing a massive range of sports and an equally impressive array of betting markets and options. The sportsbook features just about all the betting products a punter could wish for on a recently refreshed website interface that provides a host of easy navigational links and menus, making online sportsbetting an uncomplicated, straightforward affair.
- Advantages:
- Great live streaming picture
- High wagering limits
- Fast payment
- Superb betting features
- Disadvantages:
- Possible limitations
- Not that great odds on eSports
Pinnacle
Licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the government of Curacao, Pinnacle spoils punters internationally via a newly remodelled website. The brand established itself in the international market bearing testimonials of offering a safe, trustworthy, and fair gambling platform holding an impressively varied collection of sports types aimed at keeping its worldwide audience betting happily.
- Advantages:
- Excellent Horse Racing Section
- Vast variety of sports
- Arbitrage betting tolerant
- High odds
- Disadvantages:
- No cash out option
Betway
This operator, licenced in no less than six international jurisdictions and accredited by eCOGRA the world’s foremost independent international testing and certification accreditation agency, Betway serves as an active member of the European Sports Security Association, the Remote Gambling Association, and the Independent Betting Adjudication Service. Its huge range of available sports, betting markets, and products list just some of the major factors driving its tremendous success rate amongst punters across all experience levels.
- Advantages:
- Fast and secure transactions
- Superb reputation
- Excellent odds
- Many free bet bonuses
- Disadvantages:
- Low withdrawal limits
1xBet
This young online sportsbook founded in Russia not only offers a truly vast array of sports comparable to any of the industry leading brands, but 1XBet also sports a flabbergasting 217 different deposit, and in excess of 110 methods to withdraw funds. To further boost its already massive international appeal, the website interface is available in several internationally preferred layouts and formats as if this is not impressive enough the site caters to its world audience in 43 different languages.
- Advantages:
- High odds
- Excellent betting features
- Generous welcome bonuses
- ACCA Boosters
- Disadvantages:
- Mirror link needed
- No license for Austria
22bet
The bookmaker, another brilliant young sportsbook product dating to 2017 with its origins in the Baltic countries, sports an equally impressive variety of finance options offering hundreds of deposit and withdrawal methods and accepts funding in just about all world currencies, including cryptos. The brand 22bet also well-known for its all-inclusive sportsbook product range offers everything, from all the internationally popular sports while catering equally to niche markets via its fully comprehensive website and mobile access methods.
- Advantages:
- Superb in-play section
- Fast-working platform
- Many disciplines in the sportsbook
- Competitive odds
- Excellent casino
- Disadvantages:
- Lower betting limits
Why Many Prefer Online Betting in Austria
Sportsbetting established itself as a firm favourite amongst Austrians, locals have easy access to betting shops in numerous cafes spread throughout the nation. Over the years this easy access to an abundance of betting shops caused sportsbetting to very much become part of the Austrian culture which saw to high levels of competition amongst gambling operators in the market. A tightly regulated environment, the intense Austrian love of sportsbetting, and healthy levels of vendor competition benefitted the sportsbetting industry, bringing about a wide variety of sports with excellent odds offered on most markets.
Is Online Betting Legal in Austria?
Austrian law makes a definite distinction between sportsbetting and gambling, with the Toto considered part of gambling because of its collective betting nature. Generally, regulations governing sportsbetting in the region vary significantly since it is controlled by each individual state (Bundesländer) level. State law makes no provision for regulating online gambling which leaves Austrian bettors free to legally access foreign online sportsbooks.
Are there restrictions on Austrian players by some bookmakers?
Overall, there are not any restrictions Austrians have to contend with. This is due to the recent scrapping of the law-set banning foreign online gambling operators marketing and advertising their services in Austria. It is combined with rather lax laws governing the online gambling activities of its citizens which has resulted in very few online operators placing any restrictions on approving memberships for Austrian online players.
Gambling Facts at a Glance
Due to strict controls regulating the country’s online market Austrian locals mostly access one of the many great European, Malta, and Gibraltar based sites focused on serving the international market, with Pinnacle, Betway, Bet365, 1XBet, and 22Bet being the most favoured online operators amongst locals. As such, Austrian sports bettors have the option to place bets in any internationally traded currency, however, Austria in 2002 wholly embracing the euro (EU) as its sole form of fiat currency.
The 8.8 million residents that call Austria home rank it as the 97th most populous country in the world. Austria is a landlocked European country bordered by eight other nations and also considered as one of the wealthiest nations on earth.
The high per-capita income of Austrian residents, in combination with factors such as the relative online freedoms afforded by local laws, cultural acceptance of gambling, and access to numerous of online gambling products resulted in a recent study. It classified over 72% of the country’s citizens as active gamblers, and that calculates the country’s total number of active gamblers to an estimated figure of around 6.3 million people.
The Federal Constitutional Act of Austria, specifically the Austrian Gambling Act remains the section of Austrian law dedicated to deal with, and regulate, gambling as a whole. The Glücksspielgesetz (GSpG) represents the law-set responsible for regulating all aspects of gambling within country borders and its splits jurisdictional controls between the country’s federal state and its nine Austrian provinces.
The GSpG recognises and makes provision for all forms and aspects of gambling entertainment, requiring gambling firms operating both land-based and online venues and facilities based within its regulated jurisdiction to hold a variety of licenses legalising all sportsbetting, casino games, slot machines, and lottery services.
Each operator must apply for the appropriate licenses from the Federal Minister of Finance. The law ensures a monopoly in the lottery market with only one licence available – issued to the state-controlled Österreichische Lotterien G.m.b.H. and 15 privately held casino operator’s licences with all licences valid for a period of no more than 15 years.
As previously stated, the GSpG recognises, provides for, and strictly controls all gambling type activities, sportsbetting, casino, and lottery. Curiously the legal system also creates a highly controversial regulatory control that does not in any way recognise, provide for, or restrict the in-country activities of operators of off-shore online gambling facilities. I.e. the GSpG does not obligate gambling firms that operate online sportsbetting and casino venues based in countries other than Austria to hold any locally issued licenses.
How to Choose the Right Online Betting Site
Sportsbetting enthusiasts wanting to enjoy the benefits afforded by Austria’s online freedoms may consider expanding their current scope of sportsbetting entertainment by looking for additional online entertainment destinations. Before reacting with too much spontaneity on this idea and signing-up irresponsibly with the first likely candidate, you may want to give some weight to the following factors prior to choosing your next new online betting partner.
- Ensure the operator/s hold a legally valid license authorising it to present and operate its services within your country!
- Ensure they have an established record of accomplishment testifying to fairness in aspects such as games, policies, trustworthiness, safety & security of customer data and communications!
- What level of customer service can you expect as far as 24/7 support agent availability, response & resolution time, contact methods i.e. telephone, email, and an on-site live chat function?
- Does your prospective new betting partner/s feature a comprehensive array of online betting products such as bet stop, bet edit, Cash out, video streaming, Live In-Play betting markets, and exceptional mobile sportsbetting access?
- Do they feature a wide range of regularly revised promotional products such as bonuses and special offers that offers true value?
- How does their prices and offered odds fare when compared to those in identical competitor markets?
Bonuses for Austrian Players
All the internationally most popular bookmakers discussed above attract the Austrian player via a range of promotional bonuses and special offers catering to meet the wants and requirements of its Austrian audience. Austrian punters can enjoy the benefits offered by free bonus attractions that includes 100% deposit matching signup offers ranging up to several hundred euros and paid in the form of credits and free bets depending on their chosen brand.
Similarly, Austrians already a member at any of these popular brands can freely choose any of the vast range of offers aimed specifically at keeping an existing punter base happy and feeling appreciated. These varying between the brands include a range reload bonuses, enhanced accas, free bet covering your losses, day of the week special offers, and many other value adding offers.
Most Popular Sports to Bet on in Austria
A report considering the collective spend on sportsbetting amongst Austrians revealed local punters to have a singular thought on their minds when thinking of betting on sports both within the country and internationally and that thought is; What was the latest football score between….(fill in the name/s of their favourite football team). The figures show that the country’s betting citizens focus almost singularly around football, the world’s most followed sport, with up 76% of the annual sportsbetting revenue generated from wagers made on football.
Listed in order of Austrian popularity:
- Football 76%
- Motorsport 10%
- Ice Hockey 6.3%
- Tennis 3.7%
- Basketball 1.6%
- All other sports combined 2.4%
Are Online Casinos Popular in Austria?
Only Austria’s online betting activities overshadow their love of casino gaming, to the extent where its distractive effects have caused some cities to ban gambling machines from premises other than licenced land-based casinos. In addition, due to the online freedoms made available by local lawmakers, Austrian citizens have substantially become regular guests of offshore-based online casino venues and spend over €3,6 million annually on casino entertainment.
Trivia/Did you know that…
- During his third year of studies at the Austrian Polytechnic in Graz Nikola Tesla lost his scholarship and took up gambling only to lose his allowance and tuition fees
- In July 2019 the SuperEnalotto broke its own record, after having rolled over 160 times without a winner the jackpot pool reached an astounding €181 million in value.
- Austria has only one locally licenced online casino gaming operator, the local state-controlled lottery operator
- In Austria, an applicant will only qualify for a casino licence if it is a stock corporation operating from offices in the EEA or Austria
Available Mobile Apps
The mobile online gaming sector, despite having established new record-breaking figures each year since its inception, still continues to prove itself as the fastest year-on-year growing sector in the global gambling industry. All the brands discussed above have established themselves as industry leaders and budding forerunners in the market. Each, in keeping with their focus on delivering the best possible product to attract and satisfy the wants of a greater number of members, fields a noteworthy mobile product worth the consideration of any discerning punter.
Collectively, several of these licensed betting sites offer a range of dedicated apps respectively suited to both the Android and iOS mobile platforms, with all choosing to follow the latest trend by offering a first-rate mobile portal or virtual version of their full-sized website. The branded mobile portals all offer the complete range of available sports, betting markets, betting options, products, and banking methods as experienced via their full websites.
Supported Payment Methods
Due to the international nature of Austria facing bookmakers, they avail local sports betting patrons to a truly unbelievable number of reliable banking methods and options. The range of featured banking options made available by each of these industry-leading brands runs into several hundred meets both deposit and withdrawal requirements demanded by not only its Austrian members but of its global player base.
This assures Austrian punters they will always have several convenient banking options available to them at all times, the list of banking choices covers popular credit cards such as Visa & Mastercard, e-Wallets Skrill & Neteller, and indirect payment processing services from POLi and PayPal.
The Austrian state imposes no tax penalties on winnings of individual persons derived from gambling activities. Instead, the governing body levies an operator tax varying from 35 to 80% on all stakes placed within its borders.
FAQs
What will an Austria facing online bookmaker require from me if when I sign-up?
Generally online bookmakers across the globe will, in addition to your personal data submitted during the registration process (name, address, country of residence, preferred currency) also need to verify the validity of your account ownership. To verify your details, they will require you submit scanned clear copies of your ID/Passport/Driving Licence, Utility Bill/Bank statement and front face of Credit Card.
Will they verify my details only once?
No, by law, they are required to regularly verify the details on receiving a withdrawal request? Meaning they do so at random, but fairly often.
I’m considering taking up online sportsbetting. What is the best way to find a reputable online sportsbook that will meet all my possible future requirements?
In addition to all the considerations we listed near the beginning of our article, it is always best for punters of all experience levels to consult with one of the premier online affiliates. These sites offer a massive array of vetted online sportsbooks and casinos, while also providing thousands of sportsbetting advice pages to the benefit of visitors.
How much deposit will an online sportsbook require from me when I sign-up?
Other than your personal details, they require no financial commitment from you for simply signing up. Instead, they encourage and take the risky first steps with you, by offering you free money that allows you to play for longer while remaining relatively light on your budget should you gamble responsibly.
How do I request a withdrawal from an online sportsbook?
The procedure will vary slightly between brands, but all will provide a withdrawal request option listed somewhere in your personal account. In all instances, you must first log into your personal sportsbook account and then navigate to the cashier section. If you cannot find it the cashier, contact customer support for assistance.
What kind of fees do online sportsbook charge for credit card deposit transactions?
If your chosen brand is reputable and legally available in your locale, nothing, not a cent!
What are the hours during which online sportsbooks operate?
All leading, reputable online sportsbooks remain fully functional 24/7/365, and so does their customer support agents.
Will they sell my personal information to any third parties?
Final Comments
Austria’s online sportsbetting scene matches the levels of excitement and entertainment offered by its world-famous ski-resorts in winter. Similarly, its law allows for a near unmatched level of freedom for residents to choose any online sportsbook they find most appealing. This, however, creates a situation that leaves the brave who trustingly venture into unknown territories open to online exploitation and scams. So, Austrians must remain vigilant and ask the correct questions in order to make correct decisions when choosing their online sportsbook betting partner. The brands discussed in our article above will never leave you wanting for more by providing you with more betting markets and choices than you will ever need.
