Central Europe
Economica Report: NOVOMATIC Contributed About 2.1 Billion Euros to the Austrian Economy in Recent Years
NOVOMATIC’s Economic Footprint is significant at both macroeconomic and regional levels. The enterprise contributes substantially to economic output, value-added, employment and taxes in Austria.
Austria’s leading private economic research institute, Economica, has calculated the macroeconomic importance of the NOVOMATIC group for Austria using empirical economic research methodology to analyse economic relationships. The results show that NOVOMATIC continues to make a significant contribution to the local economy on a consistent and continual basis.
In 2022, the NOVOMATIC Group directly generated almost a half billion euros in gross value-added. The total aggregate value-added effect even adds to over 700 million euros. In the period from 2019 to 2022, NOVOMATIC’s domestic value-added including the domestic upstream supply chain network – in spite of challenges associated with the coronavirus pandemic – came to a total of approximately 2.1 billion euros.
One out of every 570 euros in Austria
This means that one out of every 570 euros of value-added generated in Austria in 2022 was directly or indirectly attributable to NOVOMATIC. The company’s location in Lower Austria means that this state benefits even more from the economic strength of this leading Austrian company.
“Our value creation analysis shows that one in every 150 euros in Lower Austria is generated in connection with NOVOMATIC,” explains study author DI Helmut Berrer.
High impact on employment
Also in 2022, NOVOMATIC had approximately 3100 employees in Austria. Due to the purchase of upstream services, almost 2700 additional jobs are secured or created in Austrian supplier companies along the value chain.
In addition, the wages and salaries paid by NOVOMATIC and its affiliated companies, which are well above the Austrian average for employees, make a significant contribution to the country’s prosperity, totaling about 260 million euros per year.
“This shows the great importance of NOVOMATIC as a national and regional employer, since the company secures a total of almost 6000 jobs in Austria,” said Mag. Stefan Krenn, authorised representative of NOVOMATIC AG.
Tax revenue higher than tourism tax
Due to its strong economic performance and large workforce, NOVOMATIC is one of the largest payers of taxes and social security contributions in Austria. The total government revenue generated by NOVOMATIC amounted to 266 million euros in 2022, exceeding for example the total volume of Austria’s tourism tax.
Forward-looking investments in research and development
Significant investments are made each year in research and development to ensure that this positive development continues in the future. This high level of investment is also reflected in the registration of numerous intellectual property rights. In total, the company holds more than 5000 patents and trademarks.
Central Europe
Poland to Classify Gambling Streaming as Serious Crime
The Polish Parliament is considering a landmark draft law to curb harmful digital content, specifically targeting the phenomenon known as “patostreaming.”
Patostreaming is recognised as a new term to categorise criminal offences related to the broadcasting of online violence, abuse and sexually degrading content.
The proposed legislation would criminalize the broadcasting of violence, abuse, and sexually degrading material. Additionally, the bill seeks to outlaw the promotion of online gambling by social media influencers. By amending the Penal Code, supporters aim to bridge the legal gap between digital behaviour and offline criminal acts, ensuring online offenders face the same accountability as those in the physical world.
The bill carries the backing of ministers of Poland’s new Civic Coalition (KO) government, formed in late 2025 by the union of the Citizens Platform (PO), Modern (Nowoczesna) and the Polish Initiative (iPL).
Supporters call for clearer enforcement powers to treat the online broadcasting of serious criminal acts as a punishable offence, aligning digital conduct with crimes already sanctioned offline.
If adopted, the legislation would introduce prison sentences ranging from three months to five years for individuals who publicly share real or staged content depicting serious criminal acts via online platforms.
The same penalty range would also apply to influencers found to be illegally promoting online gambling activity that remains heavily restricted under Poland’s state-controlled gambling regime.
KO ministers have framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to strengthen online protections for Polish youth, citing rising exposure to violent digital content and illegal gambling promotions across social media platforms.
The post Poland to Classify Gambling Streaming as Serious Crime appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Casino-Groups
Sebastian Jarosch Becomes Head of AI at Casinos Groups
Sebastian Jarosch is no longer solely the founder and managing director of Casino Groups as he is also taking on the role of Head of AI, at least on an interim basis. This personnel decision marks a conscious step towards closer integration of corporate management and technological responsibility.
In future, Jarosch will not only be responsible for the strategic direction of the company, but also for the further development of the AI systems that already form a central part of the product landscape. Casino Groups is one of the best-known platforms, which has been using and continuously developing an AI-supported rating system for online casinos for some time.
The decision to anchor the role of Head of AI directly at management level was a conscious one. Artificial intelligence now influences almost all areas of the affiliate business, from content structures and data analysis to regulatory documentation and product logic. Such a development requires decisions that bring together economic objectives, technological possibilities and legal frameworks.
Sebastian Jarosch brings this perspective from years of experience in the iGaming sector. As an entrepreneur, he is familiar with economic dependencies as well as the challenges of increasing regulation. The additional responsibility in the AI area makes it possible to set technological courses more quickly, define priorities more clearly and establish innovation as an integral part of corporate management.
The new role of Head of AI fits in perfectly with current developments in the iGaming market. Increasing regulatory requirements, rising acquisition and content costs, and the growing influence of AI-powered search systems are changing the economic fundamentals of the affiliate business. Visibility is no longer achieved solely through reach, but through authority, consistency and verifiable quality.
With this appointment, Casino Groups is sending a clear signal to the outside world. Affiliate companies are increasingly being valued like media or technology companies. Partners and investors are placing greater emphasis on compliance, data competence and sustainable product development. The bundling of management and AI responsibility strengthens the company’s credibility in these areas.
At the same time, Casinos Groups is positioning itself as a player that does not delegate innovation, but actively drives it forward. The interim nature of the role creates space for further development and adaptation without diluting the strategic ambition. For the industry as a whole, this step underlines that AI expertise has arrived at the management level.
The role of Head of AI forms the organisational foundation for this development. It ensures that technological innovation, editorial standards and economic objectives are interlinked. Casino Groups is thus pursuing a clear line: technology as a tool, people as an authority and quality as a connecting element.
The post Sebastian Jarosch Becomes Head of AI at Casinos Groups appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Birgit Wimmer
Birgit Wimmer Named Chairwoman as NOVOMATIC AG Reshapes Supervisory Board
“As Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board, I look forward to working together with my colleagues on both the Supervisory Board and the Executive Board as we help to successfully shape the Group’s strategic and sustainable development,” says Birgit Wimmer.
Dr. Haig Asenbauer, an internationally experienced lawyer with particular expertise in cross-border M&A transactions, company reorganization, and complex investment structures, was elected to serve as Deputy Chairman. Martina Flitsch retains her position as a Member of the Supervisory Board. She has many years of experience in international group structures and in providing strategic and legal support for corporate investments. Dr. Robert Hofians, a recognized finance and capital markets expert who also has extensive experience in the fields of governance and regulation in his roles as a professor and public accountant, also remains a Member of the Supervisory Board.
As of January 1, 2026, the Supervisory Board of NOVOMATIC AG is now composed as follows:
- Birgit Wimmer, MSc., MBA (Chairwoman)
- Dr. Haig Asenbauer (Deputy Chairman)
- Martina Flitsch (Member)
- Dr. Robert Hofians (Member)
The post Birgit Wimmer Named Chairwoman as NOVOMATIC AG Reshapes Supervisory Board appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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