Salzburg legalizes gambling machines: one step into the unknown!

Salzburg legalizes gambling machines: one step into the unknown!

Salzburg, Österreich - In Salzburg, a significant change in the area of ​​the machine gambling recently carried out. On July 3, 2025, Deputy Governor Marlene Svazek (FPÖ) announced that the new gambling machine law was adopted in the last committee meeting of the Salzburg state parliament. This law provides for the introduction of 472 gambling machines that are intended to serve to withdraw illegal gambling companies the business basis. In a political context, the ÖVP voted for the law together with the FPÖ, while the opposition from the SPÖ, Greens and KPÖ plus was strong. Simon Heilig-Hofbauer from the Greens described the day of adoption as a "black day for Salzburg".

A central concern of the new regulations is player protection. For example, all applicants have to present a comprehensive concept to protect the players for a concession. Especially when players are classified as endangered, trained personnel and creditworthiness are required. In addition, distances to sensitive facilities such as schools, playgrounds and kindergartens have to be observed: individual installations must be at least 100 meters away, while a distance of 15 kilometers is required for complex installations from 15 machines.

player protection and criticism

The FPÖ has positioned itself as a strong voice for player protection, which particularly underlines the need for such measures. But the opposition sees the new regulations a "addiction turbo", which does not adequately address the risk of gambling addiction and its consequences. The SPÖ also brought an application to raise awareness of the risks of gambling and sports betting.

But not only in Austria, there are also challenges for gambling internation. The Gambling State Treaty (GlüstV) , which came into force on July 1, 2021, also aims to offer players a legal and safe environment. The regulation includes online casinos and sporty bets, and pursues similar goals as the new measures in Salzburg: players should better be protected against manipulation and excessive game behavior. But the implementation is complex, and despite the regulation, there is a large black market.

regulatory need in Germany

The glowing provides, among other things, that players are allowed to set the highest 1 euro per game round, and there is a blocking file for cross -platform players. The law was introduced to provide a legal alternative to unauthorized gambling and to protect the integrity of sporting competition. Nevertheless, the regulation only reaches slowly, which leads to a persistently high use of illegal platforms. An evaluation of the glowing for 2026 should check the effectiveness of the measures.

In Salzburg, the debate about gambling will continue. The new regulations take a first step towards legalization and regulation, but the discussions about the player protection and the social effects of gambling are not ended for a long time.