Casinos Austria has appointed Andreas Bierwirth as the new CEO and chairman of the board of Austrian Lotteries (Österreichische Lotterien), effective March 14, 2027. He succeeds Erwin van Lambaart, whose five-year contract concludes that month.
The decision follows an extensive international search initiated after Van Lambaart chose not to pursue a contract extension last September. In a statement, the outgoing CEO noted that the evolving operating landscape "will benefit from a new leadership team that will guide the company into a promising future."
Van Lambaart will officially leave his position at the end of his term in March 2027, although he will continue as chair of the European Casino Association (ECA), a role he took on in 2023. Following this transition, the executive board will comprise two members: Bierwirth and Martin Škopek, with Bierwirth having been part of the board since 2025.
Edith Hlawati, a board member of the state holding company ÖBAG, which holds shares in Casinos Austria, commended Bierwirth’s selection, emphasizing his awareness of the challenges the group faces. "Andreas Bierwirth is very aware of the challenges facing the group," she said.
Robert Zadrazil, chairman of the supervisory board, praised Van Lambaart for positioning the company well to tackle future challenges. In a show of support for Bierwirth, Robert Chvatal, CEO of Allwyn and a shareholder in Casinos Austria, expressed optimism about their future collaboration. He stated, "I look forward to working with Bierwirth, an experienced manager whom I know will drive the next crucial steps for the group."
Chvatal also expressed gratitude to Van Lambaart, highlighting that Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries "are well positioned for the upcoming concession award."
Addressing his new role, Bierwirth identified the upcoming launch of casino tender licenses as a primary objective for his leadership. "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," he declared.
Currently, Casinos Austria holds all 12 land-based casino licenses, while Austrian Lotteries’ Win2day brand possesses the only license in the nation for lotteries and online gaming, which is valid for 15 years.
A draft law published in June proposed the end of Casinos Austria's monopoly, paving the way for a more competitive online market. It also outlines plans for 13 casino licenses, increasing the number from the existing 12. "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," Bierwirth added.
