The iGaming DACH Summit 2025 concluded its second day of programming at Vienna’s Hilton Vienna Park on December 9, featuring detailed discussions on regulatory developments, enforcement strategies, and market integration across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Regulatory Frameworks Take Center Stage
Monika Racek of ADMIRAL Casinos & Entertainment AG opened the day’s sessions, introducing a program focused on regulatory evolution across the DACH region.
Lars Westhoff, Attorney at Law at Westhoff Van Namen, examined the ongoing tension between market liberalization and monopoly models in German-speaking territories, presenting cross-border regulatory lessons relevant to current policy discussions.
A panel featuring Nicholas Aquilina of BRANDL TALOS Attorneys at Law, Michaela Meilinger, and Simon Priglinger-Simader of the Austrian Betting and Gaming Association (OVWG) analyzed Austria’s regulatory environment. The discussion covered political changes, proposed tax adjustments, and regulatory modifications expected to affect market operations.
Digital Identity and Compliance Solutions
Konstantin Wollinger of A-Trust GmbH and Sebastian Scholda of Signteq demonstrated One-Tap Trust, an ID Austria verification system aimed at improving customer onboarding while maintaining compliance with Austrian identity verification requirements.
Michaela Meilinger of LeitnerLeitner Austria moderated a comparative regulatory panel featuring Arthur Stadler of STADLER PARTNER Rechtsanwälte, Dr. Christian Rapani of Rapani, and Florian Furger of PLANZER LAW AG. The session provided analysis of how German, Austrian, and Swiss regulatory frameworks differ and where cross-border operators face challenges.
Player Protection and Regtech
Dr. Andreas Ditsche of iGaming.com presented on responsible gaming implementation, calling for regulatory frameworks that integrate compliance requirements with effective player protection without creating operational barriers.
Myke Foster of Fortuna Entertainment Group discussed product innovation and shifting consumer preferences in DACH markets, while Daniel Grabher of ComplyGuard showcased regulatory technology platforms designed to manage compliance requirements across multiple jurisdictions.
Unlicensed Activity and Advertising Restrictions
The afternoon program opened with a panel moderated by Dr. Joerg Hofmann addressing unlicensed operator activity. Christian Heins of Tipico, Christian Gruber of MERKUR BETS, Dr. Christian Rapani, and Mark Dieckmann of WINFELLAS discussed enforcement coordination and policy measures to protect regulated markets.
Johannes Brecher led a session on advertising regulations featuring Christian Gruber of MERKUR BETS, Dr. Andreas Ditsche, Florian Furger of PLANZER LAW AG, Lars Westhoff, and Monika Racek. The panel examined marketing restrictions across DACH jurisdictions and strategies for maintaining brand visibility within regulatory constraints.
Dr. Joerg Hofmann moderated a roundtable on content creation for regulated markets. Jochen Biewer of Chevron Group, Robert Lenzofer of Hölle Games, Thomas Wendt of Apparat Gaming, and Tino Liebich of DIE SPIELBANK discussed developing content that appeals to DACH audiences while meeting regulatory requirements.
Retention Strategies and Digital Marketing
Antony Jordan of ODDSET Sportwetten GmbH, Emma-Elizabeth Byrne of Gentoo Media, and Thomas Aigner of Golden Whale Productions examined player retention approaches, including content-driven engagement and influencer marketing within regulated frameworks.
The summit’s final session featured SEO specialists Dani Leitner, Daniel Lux of Linxact, Julia Logan of IrishWonder’s SEO Consulting, and Konstantina Drakatou discussing search engine optimization strategies as artificial intelligence reshapes digital visibility.
Industry Perspectives
Closing the conference, Monika Racek emphasized collaboration:
“Events like this remind us that we don’t navigate these changes alone. We shape them together. And the connections built at this summit between operators, regulators, legal experts, innovators and thought leaders are exactly what will carry this industry forward.”
Robert Lenzofer of Hölle Games commented:
“Finally, a great iGaming event in Vienna and thanks to Yudi for getting it all together. As one famous Austrian once said: ‘I’ll be back’.”
Christian Heins of Tipico reflected on Austrian regulatory developments:
“Great conference. I learned a lot about the ‘Frankenstein’ draft of the Austrian regulation. Also, the ‘Late Follower Advantage’ was new to me. It means that Austria has the unique chance to learn from other regulations in order to avoid stupid mistakes. Let’s see if this works out. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.”
Simon Priglinger-Simader of OVWG stated:
“Attending the iGaming DACH Summit in Vienna was an enriching experience. I had the opportunity to engage in insightful discussions with industry peers and enjoyed networking with like-minded professionals. The OVWG is delighted to be a supporting partner.”
Opening Reception Launches Three-Summit Format
The summit opened with a welcome reception sponsored by Worldpay, bringing together participants from the concurrent iGaming DACH Summit, Lottery CX Summit, and Player Protection Summit.
Antony Jordan of ODDSET Sportwetten GmbH noted:
“This evening’s excellent welcome gathering, with many new and familiar faces, has absolutely set the tone for tomorrow’s main event. I am very much looking forward to hearing the insights from so many industry experts!”
Bo Flindt Jørgensen of Landbrugslotteriet commented:
“Thank you Eventus International for bringing Industry Peers and friends together. The Lottery CX Summit has already proven its value in reconfirming these network events as highly valuable. I truly look forward to the conference tomorrow and to listen to and learn from some of the most inspiring people in the lottery and gaming market.”
Yudi Soetjiptadi, CEO of Eventus International, said:
“Uniting the iGaming, lottery, and player protection communities here in Vienna marks another step forward for us, and the elegant tone of this evening was a thoughtful nod to both the season and our audience. The conversations beginning here tonight show just how far the industry can go when we move forward together.”
The three-summit format brought together stakeholders from gaming, lottery, and responsible gambling sectors for two days of programming at the Hilton Vienna Park.
Source: Eventus International
