Niklas Sattler, a former Casinos Austria executive, has spent five years assembling a team to bid for Austria's land-based casino licences through his company Alea Trust. He has recruited around 40 former managers from Casinos Austria and international operators, covering AML, responsible gaming, finance and casino operations.
In June, the Austrian government published a draft gambling reform bill. Alongside opening the online market, the legislation provides for 13 land-based casino licences instead of the current 12. The Ministry of Finance allows licences to be bundled into packages if 'objectively justified'. Casinos Austria currently holds two packages of six licences each: the urban (Stadtpaket) and the tourist (Landpaket).
Sattler argues that issuing 13 separate licences would be fair. Casinos Austria, however, supports keeping the package system, claiming it ensures nationwide coverage and limits aggressive marketing. Sattler fears the market will be split between two giants — Casinos Austria and Merkur — shutting out new entrants.
Nicole Daniel, a lawyer at DLA Piper, notes that the law now explicitly permits packages, but the wording leaves room for interpretation. If a profitable casino is bundled with a loss-making one in another region, newcomers will need to build a national network — a competitive advantage for the incumbent.
The draft also extends urban licences until the end of 2028, with the possibility of a further 24-month delay. Casinos Austria could effectively operate until 2030 without a new tender. Sattler will enter the bidding only if the criteria are fair; otherwise, his five-year project will remain unrealised.
