Austria: player ordered to return winnings to unlicensed operator
SiGMA World
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Austria’s Supreme Court has ordered a woman to return a portion of her winnings to an unlicensed online gambling operator. According to Austria’s strict gambling regulations, both players and operators can be held accountable for participating in unauthorised gambling activities.
Austria’s gambling monopoly and legal framework
Austria operates a highly regulated and monopolised gambling market. Any other gambling platforms targeting Austrian players are deemed illegal.
In 2021, a Supreme Court ruling?declared that contracts with foreign, unlicensed operators were invalid, allowing players to seek refunds for their losses.
This decision led to numerous lawsuits against foreign operators such as 888 (now Evoke) and William Hill, with players seeking to recover money lost while gambling on these platforms.
However, the latest ruling introduces a new dimension to these legal battles, allowing operators to counterclaim against players.