Best poker sites for Austrian players
Despite the fact that only state-owned companies can legally offer gambling services in Austria, players have no problem accessing offshore sites. The websites below come with dense MTT schedules and millions in weekly prizes, a wide range of stakes, flexible rakeback, and sweet bonuses.
| Rank | Poker Site | Deposit Bonus |
| 1 | GGpoker | up to $600 |
| 2 | Redstar poker | up to $2000 |
| 3 | Pokerking | up to $2000 |
| 5 | Betonline poker | up to $1000 |
How did we pick the top platforms for our list of Austrian-friendly rooms? We take the following factors into account:
- Quick and easy access. Simply get an app to start playing. No mirror links or VPN required.
- Real money games. Cash in and out via convenient payment methods, from bank cards to crypto and e-wallets.
- Nice rakeback and bonuses with player-friendly wagering requirements.
GGPoker
GGPoker has come a long way since its launch in 2014, becoming not only the most popular GG Network skin but also one of the best online poker rooms in the world. The list of GGPoker benefits features numerous weekly events with the total prize pool reaching $2M, a 100% welcome promotion (up to $600), and a level-based Rakeback program (up to 60%).
PokerKing
PokerKing belongs to Winning Poker Network, a US-facing site, although curiously, they don’t take American players. New players get a 100% deposit bonus (up to $2,000). Apart from nearly $4M in tournaments every week, PokerKing offers a 6-level loyalty program, 65% rakeback for massive grinders, and a weekly rake race. Even though the site isn’t licensed in Austria, its almost impeccable reputation and occasional soft tables make PokerKing one of the top poker rooms for Austrian players.
RedStar
Part of the iPoker Network skins, RedStar poker has been around since 2005. The platform boasts one of the fairest reward systems with 35% fixed rakeback, and a nice 200% welcome bonus that goes up to $2,000. While the variety of cash games is rather average, you’ll easily find NLH tables 24/7. Omaha action lags behind, though. Be aware that RedStar Poker charges fees for using some payment processors, and it’s the only iPoker skin taking Bitcoins and cryptocurrencies.
Online poker in Austria
Austrians are no strangers to card games. There are a handful of land-based venues offering Texas Hold’em and Omaha action in the country, with some of them holding annual championships like Poker EM, also known as the “European Championship of Poker,” or Casinos Austria Poker Tour. And since the country is quite liberal towards gambling in general, its online community is one of the most active in the European Union, albeit not so sizable.
From the law perspective, a gambling company could obtain a government license and operate legally, but its services would be limited to the domestic market. And considering a small population of 8.9 million, it would be challenging to accumulate a large enough player base. This is one of the reasons why Austria has only one government-approved site that offers poker – win2day.at.
The country’s current state of online poker draws offshore networks that operate without much resistance from the Austrian authorities. Players are free to access the top platforms like PokerStars or GGPoker, even though they’re technically not allowed to provide services in Austria.
Legal background of online poker in Austria
The backbone of Austrian online poker is the Austrian Gambling Act of 1989 that was amended in 2010 to clarify the status of online gambling, permitting virtually all its forms. Poker is considered a game of chance in the country, and its regulation falls onto the Ministry of Finance, or Bundesministerium für Finanzen, a governing body responsible for licensing domestic operators.
Simply put, online poker is completely legal, and local companies can obtain a license to open a room. But they won’t be able to accept players from abroad. At the same time, the legislation isn’t too strict towards offshore sites, so you can play against gamblers worldwide without breaking the law.
While the ongoing situation barely affects players, it hampers the development of the niche, raising discussions about legalizing offshore online poker as Germany did in June 2021. The German government now allows operators from overseas to apply for a gambling license in the country as long as they follow the requirements. In comparison, Austria only hands out licenses to local operators located no farther than 15 kilometers from Vienna.
Online poker tax
One of the best things about Austrian online poker is that players aren’t required to cover any taxes. All gambling-related winnings aren’t taxable. Operators, on the other hand, are subject to a 40% tax on gross gaming revenue (stakes minus winnings).
Available deposit and withdrawal methods
Since Austria is a gambling-friendly country, the choice of banking options in online poker rooms is large. You’re free to choose various payment systems, playing with crypto or fiat currency:
- Credit/debit cards: Visa, MasterCard;
- E-wallets: Neteller, Skrill, EPS, ecoPayz, MuchBetter, and others;
- Pre-paid cards: PaySafeCard, Astropay;
- Crypto: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Ripple, and more.
Best Austrian poker players
The total amount of winnings amassed by Austrian poker players in live tournaments has reached $126M, which is a remarkable result, considering the country’s small population. At the moment, Austria ranks 16th among countries with the largest winnings.
The list of the top three live Austrian grinders has remained the same throughout the years. The first place belongs to Matthias Eibinger ($10.4M, EPT and WPT Montreal Online champion), followed by Thomas Mühlöcker ($7,5M, EPT and Aussie Millions Poker champion) and Ivo Donev ($2,3M, WSOP and the Vienna Spring Festival champion).
Online players show incredible performance as well, taking first places in international tournaments. In 2020, a player from Austria — "pinguinachica" — won The Venom PKO $5M GTD.
The total amount won by Austrian grinders reached $123M. The top five online players are:
- “SmilleThHero;”
- “Grozzorg;”
- “AnteSvante;”
- “DramaLama;”
- “Degen55.”
Responsible gambling
Like any gambling activity, poker can cause addiction. In case you or someone you know has begun to spend too much time gambling, don’t hesitate to take action. Head to one of the websites below for help:
- Visit Gambling With Responsibility if you want to delve deeper into the facts behind gambling addiction in Austria.
- Head to Gamble Aware to learn more about the problem itself.
Summary
Liberal laws and zero taxes create favorable conditions for grinders, making Austria a great choice for poker ex-pats like Fedor Holz. Join GGPoker, PokerKing, or RedStar and benefit from our exclusive deals.
GGPoker offers great traffic around the clock. PokerKing welcomes you to play online with American fans. RedStar, one of the oldest sites on the web, comes with a clear and transparent loyalty program.
FAQ
Take a look below if you still have questions regarding poker in Austria.
✅ What Is the best online poker room for Austrian players?
While the Austrian market lacks licensed poker rooms, the choice is still too wide to name the best platform. Want to be part of a fast-growing international community? Pick GGPoker. For the best selection of multi-table tournaments, go for PokerKing. Need a reliable operator with a long and perfect history? RedStar is your choice.
✅ Is online gambling legal in Austria?
Yes, you can legally gamble online in the country. However, there are no licensed Austrian poker sites to play on.
✅ Is PokerStars available in Austria?
Yes, Austrian players can easily access the global pool.
✅ What poker sites are legal in Austria?
Currently, only one site (win2day.at) offers poker legally in the country, and other platforms operate in a gray area.
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