Casinos Austria announced on Wednesday the appointment of Andreas Bierwirth as the new CEO and chairman of the board for Austrian Lotteries (Österreichische Lotterien), effective March 14, 2027. He will take over from Erwin van Lambaart, whose five-year contract expires at that time.
Bierwirth's appointment follows an international search led by a personnel consultancy, after Van Lambaart decided not to pursue a contract extension last September. "The changing operating environment will benefit from a new leadership team that will guide the company into a promising future,” Van Lambaart stated. He will formally step down at the end of his term, but will continue serving as the chair of the European Casino Association (ECA), a position he assumed in 2023.
The change will simplify the executive board structure to two members: Bierwirth and Martin Škopek. Bierwirth has been on the board since 2025.
Edith Hlawati, a board member of the state holding company ÖBAG, which holds shares in Casinos Austria, endorsed Bierwirth’s selection, citing his readiness to tackle the challenges ahead. "Andreas Bierwirth is very aware of the challenges facing the group,” she expressed.
Supervisory board chairman Robert Zadrazil praised Van Lambaart for positioning the company effectively for upcoming hurdles. Robert Chvatal, CEO of Allwyn and a shareholder in Casinos Austria, welcomed Bierwirth's appointment and reiterated their commitment to responsible gaming in Austria. "I look forward to working with Bierwirth, an experienced manager whom I know will drive the next crucial steps for the group,” he said, also thanking Van Lambaart for the company's strong positioning for the upcoming concession award.
In light of his new role, Bierwirth highlighted the impending launch of casino tender licenses as a crucial focus. "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 stated.
Currently, Casinos Austria holds all 12 land-based casino licenses, while Win2day, the brand for Austrian Lotteries, possesses the only license for lotteries and online gaming in the country, which is protected by a 15-year permit. A draft bill published in June indicated the end of Casinos Austria's monopoly in favor of a more open online market, proposing 13 casino licenses instead of the existing 12.
Bierwirth acknowledged the challenges posed by transitioning from a monopoly to a liberalized market. "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,” he remarked.
