Austrian Betting and Gaming Association (OWVG)

Role and Structure

The Österreichische Wett- und Glücksspielvereinigung is a registered association rather than a commercial gambling company. It was created by Austrian betting and gaming operators to give the licensed sector a single, organised voice in dealings with the federal government, ministries and the public. The association is commonly referred to by its German abbreviation OWVG or translated as the Austrian Betting and Gaming Association. Its secretariat is based in Vienna, and its activities are financed through membership contributions rather than through gambling revenue.

Advocacy and Public Position

A central part of OWVG's work is monitoring Austrian gambling law and commenting on draft legislation. On issues such as online casino regulation, sports betting licensing, gambling advertising and addiction prevention, the association has consistently argued that a tightly controlled licensed offer is the best way to suppress unlicensed providers. It has therefore been a vocal supporter of strict enforcement against offshore operators that target Austrian players without a local concession, while also pushing for legal certainty for operators that comply with Austrian rules.

Player Protection and Services

One of the OWVG's most visible practical activities is the nationwide Austrian player self-exclusion scheme, offered through spielersperre.at. The scheme allows individuals to block themselves from participating in gambling at participating licensed providers, and the association presents it as a central element of responsible gambling in Austria. The OWVG also publishes statements, position papers and industry-related information aimed at players, politicians and the media.

Market Standing

The association's member base spans the main licensed forms of gambling in Austria: lotteries, casinos, sports betting and, to a more limited extent, online gaming. Its members include large Austrian institutional operators as well as bookmaker groups active in several European markets. Because OWVG brings together companies that otherwise compete with one another, it functions as the main industry forum for the licensed segment. In Austrian gambling-policy debates its statements are regularly picked up by national media and by international iGaming trade publications.

Recent Direction

In recent years, the OWVG has focused on the modernisation of the Austrian Gambling Act, the growth of online gaming and the need to keep player-protection tools aligned with digital channels. It has also defended the licensed sector's interests as European Union institutions have examined national gambling monopolies and licensing systems. The association's public line is that regulation should combine strong consumer safeguards with a sustainable, taxable offering, and that unlicensed competition undermines both objectives.