Austrian Tax Hikes Weigh Heavily on bet-at-home H1 2026 Results

The financial health of the long-standing gambling provider bet-at-home has noticeably dimmed during the first six months of the 2026 fiscal year. While the company has historically benefited from major sporting events, the momentum from this summer's World Cup was insufficient to offset the massive impact of fiscal changes in Austria. The decision to pass increased tax burdens directly to end consumers has apparently diminished the attractiveness of the offer to the point where many players reduced their stakes or stayed away entirely.

This trend is particularly significant as bet-at-home is considered an established player in the German-speaking region. The choice to involve customers in the cost of the tax increase since June 2025 was a commercial necessity but is now proving to be a double-edged sword. The market reacts sensitively to any price adjustment, especially when alternative, often less regulated offers are just a click away. The current half-year figures reflect this fierce competition and the regulatory hurdles that are increasingly complicating operations.

Numbers and facts

A look at the balance sheet for the first half of 2026 reveals the severity of the losses. Gross revenue fell by four percent compared to the same period last year, dropping from €25.3 million to €24.3 million. The downward pressure is even more evident in net betting and gaming revenue, which decreased by 3.6 percent from €19.7 million to €18.96 million. Total operating income fell by 5.7 percent to €19.2 million. The development of EBITDA is particularly alarming, crashing from a profit of €2.3 million to an operating loss of €1.8 million.

The company attributes this slump almost exclusively to the new legal regulations in Austria. There, the betting tax on total stakes was raised from two percent to five percent in April last year. This represents a 150 percent increase in the tax burden. To strengthen player retention despite these adversities, bet-at-home entered a partnership with iGaming CRM provider Fast Track in July 2026, aiming to improve customer communication and user engagement through technological solutions.

Background

The fiscal realignment in Austria was justified by the government as a way to increase public revenue while generating additional funds to combat illegal gambling. For providers like bet-at-home operating in regulated markets, however, this means a significant reduction in margins. The strategy of passing these costs to customers led to a chain reaction of lower activity and declining stakes starting in June 2025.

„The decline in revenue is mainly attributed to the increase in Austria’s betting tax on total stakes from two per cent to five per cent, which came into force in April last year.“ - bet-at-home Corporate Spokesperson, H1 2026 Report

Interestingly, the company did see positive effects from the World Cup in the second quarter of 2026, which temporarily supported revenue. However, these seasonal gains were not enough to compensate for the structural disadvantages caused by the tax burden and the weaker customer base during the rest of the half-year. The operating loss emphasizes that profitability in the current market environment has become extremely fragile.

Why it matters for German players

For German customers of bet-at-home, the situation in Austria has no direct impact on their local tax burden but illustrates the general climate in regulated markets. In Germany, players and operators are already subject to strict rules under the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). These include the monthly deposit limit of €1,000 via the LUGAS system and the stake limit of a maximum of €1 per round for virtual slot games. Additionally, Germany levies a five percent tax on sports betting and gaming stakes, which has led many providers in the past to adjust odds or deduct the tax directly from the stake.

German players should ensure they only play with providers listed on the official whitelist of the Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL). While these licenses guarantee a high level of protection, the tax burden often results in mathematically lower payout ratios compared to black market providers without a license. The development at bet-at-home shows that legal providers have little room for generous bonus offers when the state increases the tax screw.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

GGL-licensed providers are under immense economic scrutiny. When major brands like bet-at-home are already struggling with massive losses in neighboring markets like Austria, concerns grow that further regulatory tightening in Germany could also jeopardize profitability. Strict compliance with player protection and connection to systems like OASIS and LUGAS cause ongoing costs that are harder to cover when revenues decline. Providers must therefore increasingly invest in technology to boost efficiency, as demonstrated by bet-at-home's cooperation with Fast Track. Those who do not adhere to GGL requirements risk not only the revocation of their license but also lose the trust of safety-conscious customers in an increasingly transparent market.