Provider

bet-at-home

Online casino and sports betting under an MGA licence, no Austrian gambling concession. The operational base is in Linz; the EU contracting party is Bet-at-home.com Internet Limited based in Malta.

Online casino Sports betting No Austrian concession

Provider data

Registered office
Malta
Contracting party
Bet-at-home.com Internet Limited
Licence
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
Parent group
bet-at-home.com AG
Products
Online casino, Sports betting
Austrian concession
no

Anyone who has lost money with bet-at-home can reclaim that loss under Austrian law. The operating entity does not hold an Austrian gambling concession, the gambling contract is therefore void and the stakes are reclaimable on the rules of unjust enrichment. Recovery of the casino losses is backed by Supreme Court case law; the sports-betting product follows a separate line.

About the brand

bet-at-home is a fixture of Austrian gambling history. The company was founded in 1999 in Wels (Upper Austria) by Jochen Dickinger and Franz Ömer and quickly grew into one of the best-known betting operators in the German-speaking region, not least through humorous marketing and large-scale sports sponsoring. The operational service hub remains in Linz. In Austria, only online sports betting is currently offered.

The operator and its licence

bet-at-home is operated for the European market by Bet-at-home.com Internet Limited, based in Malta. The company holds a licence from the Malta Gaming Authority. It does not hold a concession under the Austrian Gambling Act for its casino product. Yet anyone offering gambling services to players resident in Austria needs exactly that concession.

How casino losses are recovered

Under settled case law of the Austrian Supreme Court, contracts between Bet-at-home.com Internet Limited and players resident in Austria over the casino product are void. The amounts paid in were transferred without a valid legal ground and are reclaimable on the rules of unjust enrichment (§ 1431 ff. of the Austrian Civil Code). The Supreme Court confirmed this line most recently in 6 Ob 31/24p. The limitation period is thirty years (§ 1478 of the Civil Code).

Sports betting kept separate

The sports-betting product is governed by the betting laws of the Austrian federal states, not by the Gambling Act. Unlike with casino claims, the licensing question is not the decisive lever here. Recovery of betting losses can be considered on the basis of partial incapacity to contract under § 865 ABGB at the time of the bets. The evidence is typically provided by a medical expert opinion. Concrete prospects are assessed in the individual case; further notes are in the FAQ section on sports betting.

The group behind the brand

Bet-at-home.com Internet Limited belongs to bet-at-home.com AG, a listed gambling holding with administrative seat in Düsseldorf and operational focus in Linz. The contracting party for claims brought from Austria is Bet-at-home.com Internet Limited as the EU operating entity.

Jurisdiction and enforcement

Claims are brought before the Austrian court of the player’s place of residence. The Brussels I Recast Regulation is formally applicable to the enforcement of an Austrian judgment against a Malta-based company. In practice, enforcement on Malta is delayed or obstructed by the Maltese “Bill 55”, which is why proceedings sometimes end in a settlement. The settlement amount is negotiable in the individual case and regularly falls below the full claim. Commercial enforceability is assessed before filing.

What you need to start

For a free initial assessment, the operators concerned and an approximate total loss are sufficient. You do not need to gather documents yourself, the firm does that. A response from Dr. Peschel arrives within a few business days. Send a request or read the recovery guide in detail.

Legal basis by product

Online casino
Austrian Gambling Act (GSpG)
Sports betting
Austrian federal Land betting statutes

Provider data verified and continuously maintained. Updates are tracked in the provider overview.

Frequently asked

What players ask most often

What does the initial consultation cost and how does it work?
Free of charge and without obligation. You send us your list of casinos and loss amounts, we assess prospects, clarify funding options and usually reply within a few working days. A phone call is possible but not mandatory. Only when we agree on the mandate and you sign the mandate agreement do we start the actual work. Before that, no costs arise for you.
Are crypto casinos also actionable?
Yes, for two reasons: first, gambling with crypto stakes is subject to the Austrian Gambling Act because the element of staking something of value is met. Second, none of the typical crypto casinos (Stake, Roobet, Bitstarz and the like) holds an Austrian concession. Recovery follows the same rules as for fiat casinos. The additional challenge lies in enforcement, because many crypto operators are based in third countries such as Curaçao. We assess economic enforceability on a per-case basis.
How far back can I sue for losses at online casinos?
Unjust-enrichment claims arising from void gambling contracts are subject to a 30-year limitation period in Austria (§ 1478 of the Civil Code, ABGB). Losses from the past three decades are therefore in principle actionable, provided the operator had no Austrian concession during the relevant period. Documentation becomes harder the older the losses, because casinos only provide playing histories for a limited time. Keep old bank statements and operator e-mails, both help with evidence.
How does communication with the law firm work?
The mandate process is fully digital. You send us your loss list by e-mail or via the contact form, we review, get back to you with an initial assessment and provide the mandate agreement and power of attorney for electronic signature. In-person meetings are not required but are available at any time. For follow-ups you reach Dr. Peschel or his team directly, no call centre and no automated queue.
Am I committing a crime if I played at an illegal online casino?
No. Under the Austrian Gambling Act only the operator faces criminal liability, not the player. You therefore need not fear criminal consequences if you consult a lawyer after a casino session. There is also no tax effect from the gambling itself, because for private individuals in Austria gambling is neither taxable nor subject to a reporting duty. Recovery remains a purely civil matter with no criminal risk for you.
Will my name or playing behaviour become public if I sue?
No, we treat all names and all gambling losses confidentially. We do not issue press releases with claimants' names and we do not use client data for marketing.