Austria: An unauthorised lottery promising luxury prizes
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19 May 2025 •
Reading time: 2 minutes An illegal lottery operation promising luxury cars and Rolex watches has been dismantled in Vienna, exposing a cross-border network of tax fraud and unauthorised gambling.
A lottery hidden behind promises of luxury
On 26 March 2025, the Austrian authorities raided a residential building in Vienna’s 21st district, putting an end to an illegal lottery that was luring participants with lavish prizes such as top-of-the-range cars and Rolex watches.
The organisers, mainly Serbian nationals with no legal status in Austria, sold tickets online via platforms such as Facebook, as well as in person. Participants from all over Europe paid up to €100 per ticket.
Meticulous investigation leads to surprising discoveries
The investigation, conducted jointly by the Vienna Criminal Police and the Financial Police, revealed undeclared income estimated at between 600,000 and 800,000 euros. During the search, a sniffer dog discovered two Rolex watches hidden in a linen cupboard, in addition to another watch voluntarily handed over by the suspects.
Detailed records of participants’ payments were seized, confirming the scale of the operation and the associated tax violations.
Reactions from the authorities and legal consequences
Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer and State Secretary Barbara Eibinger-Miedl hailed the success of the operation, highlighting the dangers of illegal gambling networks that escape regulation and deprive the State of tax revenues.
‘Thanks to the excellent cooperation of our investigative services, we have been able to put an end to this fraudulent system. This successful investigation shows once again how unscrupulous illegal gambling networks operate and how they divert large sums of money from the state.’ – Markus Marterbauer
The suspects face charges under Austrian gambling law, as well as financial penalties for tax evasion. Given their illegal immigration status, deportation proceedings are also being considered.Participants in the illegal lottery may consider civil action to recover their losses, although the complexity of the operation makes this uncertain.