Casinos Austria has appointed Andreas Bierwirth as the new CEO and chairman of the board for Austrian Lotteries (Österreichische Lotterien), effective 14 March 2027. He will take over from Erwin van Lambaart, whose five-year contract concludes the same month.
Bierwirth’s selection follows an international search conducted by a personnel consultancy, prompted by Van Lambaart's decision not to pursue a contract extension last September. Van Lambaart stated that the evolving business landscape would benefit from fresh leadership to guide the company toward a promising future.
As scheduled, Van Lambaart will step down at the end of his term in March 2027, but he will continue to serve as chair of the European Casino Association (ECA), a position he assumed in 2023. The transition will streamline the executive board to two members: Bierwirth and Martin Škopek, with Bierwirth having joined the board in 2025.
Edith Hlawati, a board member of the state holding company ÖBAG, which holds stakes in Casinos Austria, commended Bierwirth’s appointment, emphasizing his understanding of the challenges ahead. "Andreas Bierwirth is very aware of the challenges facing the group," she noted.
The supervisory board chairman, Robert Zadrazil, praised Van Lambaart for effectively preparing the company to tackle future challenges.
Robert Chvatal, CEO of Allwyn, a shareholder in Casinos Austria, expressed his approval of Bierwirth's upcoming governance. He affirmed their commitment to responsible gaming in Austria and looked forward to working with Bierwirth, whom he believes will drive the company forward. Chvatal also expressed gratitude to Van Lambaart for ensuring that both Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries are positioned well for the imminent concession award.
Amidst his new responsibilities, Bierwirth pointed to the forthcoming casino tender licenses as a cornerstone of his agenda. "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 said.
Casinos Austria currently holds all 12 land-based casino licenses, while Austrian Lotteries operates the sole license available in the country for lotteries and online gaming, valid for 15 years. A draft bill released in June proposes to end the monopoly held by Casinos Austria in favor of an open online market, including plans to increase the number of casino licenses from 12 to 13.
Bierwirth added, "We will accept the competition and give everything to convince the players with our quality. The transition from a monopoly market to a liberalized market is always a very special management task for the former monopolist."
