Casinos Austria announced on Wednesday that Andreas Bierwirth has been appointed as the new CEO and chairman of the board for Austrian Lotteries (Österreichische Lotterien). Bierwirth will officially take over the leadership role on 14 March 2027, succeeding Erwin van Lambaart, whose five-year contract will conclude at that time.
This leadership change comes after an international search process conducted by a personnel consultancy, prompted by Van Lambaart’s decision last September not to pursue a contract extension. The outgoing CEO stated that the evolving operational landscape "will benefit from a new leadership team that will guide the company into a promising future."
Van Lambaart is set to leave his position at the end of his contract in March 2027, although he retains his role as chairman of the European Casino Association (ECA), a position he has held since 2023. With Bierwirth’s appointment, the executive board will consist of two members: himself and Martin Škopek. Bierwirth joined the board in 2025.
Edith Hlawati, a member of the board at ÖBAG, the state holding company with shares in Casinos Austria, praised Bierwirth’s appointment. She emphasized his awareness of the challenges ahead, stating, "Andreas Bierwirth is very aware of the challenges facing the group."
Supervisory board chairman Robert Zadrazil acknowledged Van Lambaart’s effective leadership in preparing the company for future challenges. Robert Chvatal, the CEO of Allwyn, which holds shares in Casinos Austria, expressed his support for Bierwirth, expressing confidence in their collaboration and a shared commitment to responsible gaming in Austria. Chvatal remarked, "I look forward to working with Bierwirth, an experienced manager whom I know will drive the next crucial steps for the group."
He also thanked Van Lambaart, stating that Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries are well positioned for the upcoming concession award.
In regard to his new role, Bierwirth underscored his focus on the impending launch of casino tender licenses. He noted, "The lottery and casino concessions are due to be re-awarded, which are the basis for our business in the future. We want to and will show that there is no better partner for this special business than our group of companies."
Currently, Casinos Austria maintains all 12 land-based casino licenses, while Austrian Lotteries’ brand Win2day holds the sole license for lotteries and online gaming in the country, valid for 15 years. A draft bill released in June plans to end Casinos Austria’s monopoly and pave the way for a more open online market, proposing 13 casino licenses instead of the current 12.
Bierwirth remarked, "We will accept the competition and give everything to convince the players with our quality. The transition from a monopoly market to a liberalised market is always a very special management task for the former monopolist."
