Casinos Austria AG has announced a leadership change following the appointment of Andreas Bierwirth as CEO of the Austrian state-owned company that operates lottery and casino businesses.
Bierwirth will take up the position on 14 March 2027, succeeding Erwin van Lambaart. In addition to leading Casinos Austria, he will also head the board of directors of Austrian Lotteries.
In September, van Lambaart informed the supervisory board that he did not intend to renew his five-year contract, which expires in 2027. Casinos Austria subsequently launched a search for his successor.
Commenting on his forthcoming departure, van Lambaart said that, amid a changing market environment, a change in leadership would benefit the company and help secure its continued development and growth prospects.
Bierwirth joined the executive board of Casinos Austria in 2025. Throughout his career, he has gained considerable experience in implementing strategic transformations at major consumer-facing companies, including Telekom and easyJet.
One of the key challenges facing the new CEO will be a major reform of Austria’s gambling legislation. In 2026, the country’s government was compelled to begin developing and implementing a new licensing framework for online gambling.
As part of this process, the European Commission (EC) required Austria’s Ministry of Finance to submit a draft legislative act to the EU’s Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS).
The mandatory notification procedure allows the European Commission and other EU member states to examine proposed technical regulations before they are adopted. The standstill period is due to expire on 5 November, although parliamentary consideration of the document may continue during this period.
Allwyn Backs Bierwirth’s Appointment
Allwyn International CEO Robert Chvátal, representing Casinos Austria’s majority shareholder, welcomed Andreas Bierwirth’s appointment and thanked Erwin van Lambaart for his contribution to the company’s development.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Erwin van Lambaart for his exceptional commitment and dedication. During his leadership, Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries have demonstrated positive momentum and are now well prepared for the upcoming concession allocation process.
“I look forward to working with Andreas Bierwirth, an experienced executive who I am confident will help the Group successfully navigate the next key stages of its development, drawing on an entrepreneurial approach. At Allwyn, we share a belief in and commitment to responsible gaming, as well as a desire to contribute to Austria’s development.”
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