Vienna health officials warn of rising betting risks ahead of FIFA World Cup

As the FIFA World Cup approaches, Vienna’s city health authorities have issued a cautionary statement warning of the escalating risks linked to sports betting, particularly those from online wagering. 

On Tuesday, local officials urged enhanced legal protections and pushed for greater public awareness as the popularity of betting surges around the upcoming international football tournament.

Ewald Lochner, Vienna’s coordinator for psychiatry, addiction and drug issues, together with Lisa Brunner, chairwoman of the Austrian Association for Addiction Prevention (ARGE Suchtprävention), highlighted concerns over how the tournament’s global visibility and aggressive marketing strategies are contributing to the normalisation of betting. 

Lochner warned that this trend particularly jeopardises vulnerable groups, potentially fostering problematic gambling habits.

“Many people overestimate the influence of their expertise on their chances of winning, a so‑called illusion of control that can promote problematic gambling behaviour,” Lochner said.

Brunner added that advertising plays a significant role in influencing gambling behaviours, especially among youth and other vulnerable demographics. “The more prevalent sports betting is in the context of major sporting events, the more likely it is to become socially accepted,” she said.

‘A serious illness requiring professional support’

Lochner emphasised that gambling addiction is a serious public health issue with tangible impacts: “Pathological gambling addiction includes financial problems, family and social conflicts, disruptions to education and career, as well as significant psychological distress,” he noted. “It should be recognised as a serious mental illness requiring professional support.”

He reminded the public that Vienna offers a network of counselling and treatment services dedicated to affected individuals.

This is a thought shared with other European nations; UK MPs recently framed gambling advertisements specifically as a public health issue. This came following an all-party parliamentary group report that criticised the current safeguards for gambling advertisements in place across British media. 

Vienna’s authorities pointed to available local and national support mechanisms, including in-patient and out-patient treatment services within the city, as well as an anonymous online self-help programme accessible countrywide. 

Growth in illegal betting

ANJ, the French gambling regulator, also shared this concern of World Cup inflammation in recent weeks. The regulator recently launched a prevention campaign noting that “playing with excess means entering a risky zone” and directing viewers to the website Evalujeu, which offers personalised assessments and support resources to evaluate gambling habits. 

Additionally, the Dutch gambling authority (KSA), sent out its own warning to its operators last month around gambling advertisements during the World Cup. It emphasised swift enforcement action would be undertaken in the face of any breaches.

The coming World Cup has spurred many regulators to also issue warnings of a surge in illegal betting.

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) issued a directive last week to all licensed operators under its jurisdiction urging them to enhance their monitoring and reporting of suspicious betting activities throughout the upcoming World Cup. South Africa’s regulator issued a similar warning. 

New and missing legislations

Austria remains the only European Union member state that does not legally classify sports betting (with the exception of Toto) under federal gambling law – instead it is regulated by the state. Lochner and Brunner said this legal distinction undermined effective advertising restrictions, player protection measures and appropriate taxation.

“The classification as a game of skill does not reflect the current state of scientific knowledge,” Brunner stated. “Sports betting is highly dependent on chance and has a high potential for addiction. A comprehensive revision of the gambling law is therefore necessary to keep pace with the dynamics of the betting market and to ensure adequate player protection.”

Austria last month released a draft law proposing to liberalise its online gambling market, ending the current monopoly for iGaming. The finance ministry said that the monopoly had become “hard to enforce” in the digital age. 

“The aim of this change is to create an attractive online gambling offering that ensures a high level of channelisation into the legal market and the highest possible standards of player protection,” the draft law explained. 

The industry has responded positively to the change, if not with a fair share of caution. 

“It is great that the Austrian government plans to introduce an open online gambling licensing system with qualitative criteria,” said Simon Priglinger-Simader, president of Austrian betting and gaming association ÖVWG.

“Of course, it will be important to get a balanced law when it comes to product restrictions to make sure that Austrian players will be accepting what the future licensed market can offer them.”