Most Popular eSports Bookies in Austria

Esports gaming in Austria began during the 1970s. That was when early video games were released, such as Invaders and Asteroids. However, gaming was mainly for entertainment purposes. As time went by, the electronic gaming market became too competitive. More and more games were introduced into the market annually, with newer ones being more advanced.

Computers and gaming consoles became a lot more accessible during the 90s, which marked the start of a different era of electronic sports gaming. Punters began playing on local area networks. Soon after, players could connect their computers and consoles to the internet to enjoy multiplayer games without geographical restrictions.

However, it was not until the 2000s that betting on electronic games began getting traction. At the time, no recognized organizations regulated the eSports gaming industry, which made betting providers shy away from offering betting markets. That gradually changed as streaming became popular and more reliable organizations sprang up to organize reputable events and tournaments. Austrian punters became among the first to embrace eSports betting as eSports was already popular in the country.

Future of esports in Austria

Many experts predict that eSports gambling will continue soaring in popularity in the future, probably at a higher rate than is currently. That is because the laws are generally supportive of eSports betting. Advances in technology will also see the eSports industry welcome advanced and more entertaining electronic games. That will attract more interest in the gambling world.

However, the increasing popularity of eSports betting in Austria will more than likely welcome new regulations to protect Austrian punters from the effects of gambling corruption and addiction. The government will also look for ways to increase revenue from the industry as it continues to grow.

The 20th century had the most innovations and changes in the Austrian gambling industry. The first lottery was introduced in 1913. And in 1934, the first casino in Austria was opened. At the turn of the millennium, online gambling also became established. Online gambling increased the number of online punters by making gambling services available to more people.

Key historical changes

The first historical change happened in 1696 when gambling regulations were introduced, making most gambling forms legal. However, the laws kept changing from time to time, prohibiting all forms of gambling at times. The introduction of online gambling also marked another key historical change. That was when the popularity of gambling exploded in Austria. Thanks to that, statistics indicate that more than a quarter of the Austrian population has tried gambling.

The latest National Gambling Bill in Austria was passed in June 2010. The bill was designed to improve Austria's licensing standards and procedures to ensure only legitimate gambling operators get licenses. The bill included hefty punishments for casino operators providing their services without licenses or flaunting the rules of operation. A unique thing about it is that it allowed slot machines to be installed throughout the country, contrary to the efforts of protecting punters against gambling addiction.

The Austrian gambling laws clearly distinguish 'proper' gambling and 'small' gambling. Proper gambling involves significant amounts of money, and small gambling involves gambling with 50 cents or less. Some of the rules and regulations vary between the two types of gambling.

For example, proper gambling can be done only in a casino, while small gambling can be done anywhere within the country. However, a few states do not permit small gambling and have separate gambling laws. In such states, punters must adhere to the state gambling laws despite the national law allowing gambling.

Austrian Gambling Act

Gambling and gaming activities are currently controlled as per the regulations stipulated in the Austrian Gaming Act. This Act ensures that the security standards set for gambling operators are not violated. The Act also focuses on minimizing all the risks to which punters are exposed and ensuring gambling operations are not used for criminal purposes such as money laundering.

CS: GO

The most popular eSports game in Austria is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Some punters have even gone pro and feature in numerous international competitions. The popularity of the game makes it a favorite among punters as well. Most Austrian eSports punters prefer betting on the game because they understand it better and can do better analysis to make sound betting decisions.

Dota 2

Dota 2 is another favorite among Austrian punters. The multiplayer game features two teams on an online battle arena, each with five players. Dota 2 is known for constantly breaking records for tournament prize pools, a factor that attracts most Austrian punters to it.

FIFA

Betting on FIFA eSports tournaments has many similarities to betting on actual soccer. That is because FIFA is ideally a simulation of the real game. Punters who are already accustomed to sports betting prefer using FIFA as an entry point to eSports betting, as it makes everything feel familiar. Other games that fall into its category are Madden NFL and NBA 2K.

Valorant

Valorant is rather new in the online eSports betting world, but most punters have an eye on it because of the many e-gaming players it attracts. It is a first-person shooter game, released in June 2020.

Is betting on eSports legal in Austria?

Betting on eSports is legal in Austria. Punters can bet on any of their preferred games from any casino or betting site. The only conditions are that punters must be above 18 years and gamble only on licensed betting sites.

Is it safe to bet on eSports in Austria?

Betting on eSports in Austria is generally safe. The regulatory authorities have taken measures to effectively protect punters against all possible threats. However, punters must still take all the necessary steps to ensure that their funds and information remain safe, especially when betting with Austria's best eSports betting sites.

Do Austrian eSports casinos offer bonuses?

Yes. Most Austrian online eSports betting sites offer a variety of attractive bonuses. Such include welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, and loyalty bonuses. It is up to the punters to find casinos that offer their preferred bonus types.

Is it possible to bet on Live eSports matches?

Punters can bet on any live eSports matches. However, they have to find an eSports betting site that offers live betting as some of the bookies currently do not have live markets. Most Austrian bookies also provide live betting only on major events.