Bookmakers in Austria: what to check before you open an account

Check the licence: state licence or EU licence

In Austria, sports betting does not count as gambling under the federal Gambling Act; the Supreme Court (OGH) has confirmed this, for example in 1 Ob 176/22x and 8 Ob 112/23p. Betting is regulated instead by the betting acts of the nine federal states, such as the Vienna Betting Act (Wiener Wettengesetz). There is no national online sports betting licence and no public list of all bookmakers.

In practice you will see two kinds of bookmaker:

• Bookmakers with a state licence. They hold a licence (Bewilligung) from a state government that, according to their imprint, also covers online betting. You will find it in the imprint or footer, usually with the state and the licence decision.
• Bookmakers with an EU licence. Many large brands offer betting in Austria under a licence from Malta (MGA) or Gibraltar. Whether that alone is sufficient is legally disputed. For you it mainly decides which authority is responsible if there is a dispute.

How to check a licence in two minutes:

1. Scroll to the bottom of the bookmaker's website and open the imprint (often labelled "Impressum").
2. Look for the authority, such as "Landesregierung" (state government) or "Malta Gaming Authority", and a licence or decision number.
3. Check that the company in the imprint is the one you contract with (first paragraph of the terms).
4. If none of this is there, or the company sits outside the EU, leave it.

ArbVantage hides no bookmaker. If we haven't confirmed a licence in Austria, the app shows a neutral note so you can decide for yourself. More on the legal side in tax and legality and how to check a bookmaker licence.

Does the bookmaker pass on the 5% betting fee?

Austria charges a betting fee (Wettgebühr) under the Fees Act, § 33 TP 17 Gebührengesetz. Since 1 April 2025 it is 5% of the stake; before that it was 2%. The bookmaker owes it, not you. Most bookmakers absorb it. Some pass it on by reducing the stake or the payout.

For sure bets this is decisive, because a typical sure bet has a margin of only 1 to 2%. An example with assumptions: two bets at 2.04 each give S = 1/2.04 + 1/2.04 = 0.98039, a margin of about 2%. If one bookmaker cuts the payout by 5%, its odds are effectively only 2.04 × 0.95 = 1.938. Then S = 1/1.938 + 1/2.04 = 1.00620, and the sure bet loses about 0.6% however you split the stakes.

How to spot it:

• Put a small stake on a bet slip and compare the possible payout shown with stake × odds.
• Search the terms for "Wettgebühr" or "fee".
• Where we know a bookmaker passes on the fee, ArbVantage builds it into the odds. Always check the bet slip anyway.

All the variants, with a table, are in Austria betting tax.

Bookmakers in Austria: our data at a glance

This table shows what ArbVantage holds on the bookmakers that sure bettors in Austria use most. It is sorted alphabetically and is not a recommendation. "Note in the app" is the neutral note you see next to the bookmaker in ArbVantage.

As of 22 October 2026. Sources: the bookmakers' imprints and footers, public information from the states, our own research. Check the licence details with the bookmaker.

"Not confirmed by us" means we found no state licence; many of these bookmakers hold a licence from Malta or Gibraltar. "Unknown" for the fee means we found no reliable source. It says nothing about whether the bookmaker passes the fee on; look at the bet slip. Unibet, long a common name in Austrian forums, is no longer in the list: it has left the Austrian market (unibet.at shows a market closure notice, checked 22 October 2026).

Moving to Austria: what happens to your existing accounts

If you moved here from the UK, Germany or elsewhere, a few things work differently from what you are used to:

• Accounts follow your residence, not your passport. Bookmaker accounts are opened for a country of residence. Many bookmakers don't let you keep using, say, a UK account after you move abroad, and some close it when they notice. Update your address, read the terms on moving countries, and withdraw your balance if the account cannot be moved.
• Don't bet through a VPN. Logging in to a foreign account from Austria via a VPN usually breaks the terms, and the bookmaker can void bets or hold your balance. See betting with a VPN.
• Proof of address. For verification, bookmakers usually ask for an ID and a recent proof of address. Many accept a recent utility bill or bank statement; your registration confirmation (Meldezettel) can help. Check what each bookmaker accepts.
• Language. Several state-licensed Austrian brands are built mainly for German speakers. Check whether the site, the terms and customer support are available in a language you read comfortably before you deposit: you need to understand the voiding rules.
• Tax. Austrian residents generally pay no income tax on private betting winnings, but your tax position depends on your residence and circumstances. See Austria betting tax; this is not tax advice.

Withdrawals and verification

With sure bets you move money between several accounts, so it matters how quickly and reliably a bookmaker pays out.

• Verify first. Upload your ID and proof of address right after signing up, not at your first withdrawal. Otherwise your balance is stuck when you need it elsewhere. More in bookmaker ID verification.
• Payment methods. Check whether deposits and withdrawals must use the same method and whether there are fees or minimums.
• Processing time. It is in the terms or the help section. Make a small test withdrawal before depositing larger amounts. See bookmaker withdrawals.
• One account per person. Several accounts at the same bookmaker are almost always forbidden and lead to closure. What applies to partners and family in the same home is in betting accounts in the same household.

How much to spread across how many accounts is covered in distributing your bankroll across bookmakers and how many bookmaker accounts you need.

Limits and voiding rules in the terms

Under their terms, bookmakers may decide how much they accept from you. Accounts that win regularly are often limited sooner or later. It has happened to some of our own accounts too. No tool prevents it.

Before your first deposit, read these points in the terms:

• Obvious errors. When may the bookmaker void a bet afterwards, for example at clearly wrong odds? See voided bets and palpable errors.
• Maximum winnings. Is there a cap per bet, per day or per week? See bookmaker maximum payout.
• Bonus terms. Accepting a bonus often means accepting wagering rules that restrict withdrawals. Always check the conditions.
• Groups. Some brands belong to the same group; in 2025, for example, Tipico took over Admiral Austria. Their odds can then be similar, and a limit may affect several brands.

The full list of clauses is in bookmaker terms to check. If an account has been limited: ask in writing for the reason, withdraw your balance and keep bet slips and emails. Never bet through someone else's account (see betting on someone else's account). If friends or family want to take part, they should bet with their own accounts; that is what our Invite friends programme is for. More in bookmaker limits.

Why exchanges and some bookmakers are missing for Austria

Many English-language sure-bet guides assume a betting exchange and a "sharp" bookmaker. For customers resident in Austria that is mostly not the case:

• Betting exchanges. According to Betfair, Betfair Exchange does not accept customers from Austria, and Matchbook restricts Austria too. So classic back/lay matched betting from UK guides doesn't work here. Sure bets run between two ordinary bookmakers; see betting exchanges.
• Pinnacle reportedly closed Austrian customer accounts on 5 September 2021 and lists Austria among excluded countries in its terms.
• Blocked websites. Some international bookmakers, such as Betsson, Vbet and BetVictor, block visitors from Austria (October 2026). The app then shows "Blocks visitors from Austria".
• Agents and brokers. Some offer accounts at such bookmakers through third parties. Stay away: you have no contract with the bookmaker, no authority is responsible for you, and your money sits with a stranger.

ArbVantage uses the odds of some of these bookmakers only as a price reference. We never suggest you open an account there.

How to add your accounts in ArbVantage

1. Open Tracking in the app and tap Add bookmaker. With Austria as your country, the bookmakers above are pre-selected; untick the ones you don't use.
2. Only choose bookmakers where you already have an account or may open one. If you have a choice, prefer bookmakers with a confirmed licence in Austria.
3. Enter your balance and, if needed, a maximum stake. The app works out stakes to match.
4. Under Opportunities you see sure bets and middles at your bookmakers. Where we know a bookmaker passes on the betting fee, it is already included. Value bets are coming soon.

To be honest: many bookmakers popular in Austria are not in the opportunities feed yet. More will follow with a second odds source. During the 14 free days you see what turns up for your accounts. You can track accounts and balances for every bookmaker.

We do the maths; you decide every bet. Odds change, bets can be voided and results can be negative. How a sure bet works from Austria in practice is shown in arbitrage betting in Austria. Bookmaker-specific guides: Tipico, bet365 and bwin.

Frequently asked questions

Which bookmakers are legal in Austria?

Sports betting in Austria is regulated by the nine federal states. Some bookmakers hold a state (Land) licence, many offer betting under a licence from Malta or Gibraltar. Whether an EU licence alone is enough is legally disputed. Check the bookmaker's imprint. This is not legal advice.

Is there a register of bookmakers in Austria?

There is no national public register, because each federal state issues its own licences. Bookmakers with a state licence usually name the state and the decision in their imprint. If in doubt, ask the relevant state government.

Who pays Austria's 5% betting fee?

The bookmaker owes it, and most absorb it. If one passes it on, it reduces your stake or your payout. You can see this on the bet slip by comparing the possible payout with stake times odds.

Can I keep my UK or German bookmaker accounts after moving to Austria?

Usually not without telling the bookmaker. Accounts are tied to your country of residence, and many bookmakers do not let you keep using an account opened for another country after you move. Check the terms, update your address and withdraw your balance if the account cannot be moved.

Can I use a betting exchange from Austria?

The well-known betting exchanges do not currently accept customers resident in Austria. Sure bets in Austria are therefore placed between ordinary bookmakers.

Sources

• RIS: Gebührengesetz 1957 (Fees Act), § 33 TP 17 (bets)
• Unternehmensserviceportal (USP): Wettgebührenabrechnung (betting fee)
• RIS: Wiener Wettengesetz (Vienna Betting Act)
• WKO Vorarlberg: Supreme Court ruling, sports betting is not gambling (1 Ob 176/22x)
• State of Lower Austria: licence for betting operators
• State of Salzburg: sports betting and betting companies
• The named bookmakers' imprints and footers (licence details), unibet.at (market closure notice), Pinnacle's terms (excluded countries) and Betfair's help pages on availability, checked in October 2026; deliberately not linked

As of October 2026, checked against the sources named. Not legal or tax advice. No recommendation of any particular bookmaker.

Not betting, legal or tax advice. 18+. Betting involves risk, sure bets included: odds change, bets get voided and accounts get limited. Only bet money you can afford to lose. Free help in Austria: Spielsuchthilfe, 01 544 13 57, more on our responsible gambling page and in self-exclusion in Austria. The disclaimer applies.