G3 MARKET INSIGHT AUSTRIA


since the Ibiza Affair, can now be described as tangentially opposite. Gambling advocacy is political suicide in Austria at this time and the stated goals of the Ministry of Finance is to ‘combat illegal gambling and expand player protection,’ according to its latest public statement on the matter.


The position of sports betting operators to simply ignore the issue and carry on regardless has become untenable. If the long-term goal was to break-up the Austrian online monopoly through persistent illegal market penetration, tax compliance and stalwart reliance on the European Court of Justice to uphold a tenuous Freedom of Services Act claim, such help from government to assist that cause has evaporated. Not only has the Austrian government turned its back on the issue, but the European Court of Justice has made clear that the restriction of gambling


“Dear X. Unfortunately, we were unable to contact you by phone. As we can see from your account, you have


not visited our casino in some time. Since we value you greatly as a loyal customer, we have just credited your account with a 400 euro Cash Bonus (with no spending conditions).”


licences is not included in the Act. Member countries are legally entitled to restrict licences in regards to gambling and the continued reliance upon the misinterpretation of this fundamental principle, as it relates to the Austrian case, is both misguided and potentially self-injurious behaviour.


Settling claims out-of-court won’t stop cut the fuel to the publicity fire that’s raging in Austria right now. Advofin has won every claim it’s made and law firms across Austria have woken to the idea that vast sums are recoverable both for those working within the court system, and those settling outside of it. Text messages to problem gamblers in Austria from sports betting suppliers have become part of daily news headlines, adding to the toxicity –


“Dear X. Unfortunately, we were unable to contact you by phone. As we can see from your account, you have not visited our casino in some time. Since we value you greatly as a loyal customer, we have just credited your account with a 400 euro Cash Bonus (with no spending conditions.”


P24 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS


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