From October 14 to 15, 2026, key representatives of the Austrian sports betting industry gathered in Anif, Salzburg, for the traditional OSWV 2026 Congress. Paul Kozelsky was unanimously elected as the new president by the General Assembly of the Austrian Sports Betting Association (OSWV) and introduced his new executive board. He thus succeeds Jürgen Irsigler, who, after 32 years on the board and two decades at the helm, leaves the OSWV as a powerful and professionally managed advocacy group. As the long-standing legal advisor to the Austrian Sports Betting Association, Dr. Andreas Huber will continue to provide comprehensive support to the board during this term of office.
During the conference, participants took stock of the current legal landscape and key case law, and engaged in stimulating discussions on planned regulatory initiatives. The impending end of the online monopoly in gambling cast a shadow over the proceedings and, as a matter directly related to sports betting law, will undoubtedly have an impact on the sports betting industry.
Following a diverse lineup of events the previous day, the conference concluded with a high-profile panel discussion. Special guest Mathias Dahms, Managing Director of Sports Betting at the MERKUR Group and President of the German Sports Betting Association since 2014, and Monika Racek, CEO of ADMIRAL Casinos & Entertainment AG and industry spokesperson for gaming and sports betting at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, provided in-depth insights into the next big thing in the industry.
