Johann Graf

The WKStA prosecuted Johann Graf, former CEO Harald Neumann and Heinz-Christian Strache in the case concerning Peter Sidlo's appointment to the management board of Casinos Austria. Prosecutors allege that Novomatic used its influence to secure the appointment in exchange for an anticipated say over gambling licences and regulatory reforms.

State of the evidence

Investigation, searches and subsequent indictment documented

Legal status — source text

Johann Graf charged in 2026 with providing an improper advantage intended to influence decisions; trial ongoing, no conviction established

Attribution

Personally implicated as Novomatic's founder; presumption of innocence

In January 2025, the Gambling Commission sanctioned Greentube Alderney again, this time for £1 million, for weaknesses in anti-money-laundering and social responsibility controls. The regulator explicitly noted that this was the second enforcement action following the one in 2021.

State of the evidence

Official 2025 decision documented; regulator characterised the action as a repeat regulatory enforcement case

Legal status — source text

Regulatory sanction against the subsidiary; no personal sanction against Graf

Attribution

Indirect governance responsibility as Novomatic's owner; sanction applies to Greentube rather than Graf personally

Novomatic's sponsorship activities came under scrutiny following the Ibiza affair and Strache's phrase 'Novomatic pays everyone'. Lists and hearings showed support for numerous clubs, associations and organisations linked to politicians; questions were also raised about Johann Graf's influence.

State of the evidence

Seized documents, parliamentary hearings and payments to various organisations documented; political quid pro quo not established

Legal status — source text

Investigations and parliamentary scrutiny; no personal conviction of Graf established on the basis of this episode alone

Attribution

Responsibility arising from influence as Novomatic's founder and owner; no personal attribution of every payment or sponsorship by the group

Novomatic's Italian subsidiary was audited over royalty payments that reduced its taxable base, and the group subsequently paid more than €20 million. In Austria, an investigation examined a message from former CEO Harald Neumann requesting a political meeting 'for a donation' and 'the problem in Italy', as well as a meeting recorded in Graf's diary.

State of the evidence

Italian tax audit, payment exceeding €20 million and communications examined by the WKStA documented

Legal status — source text

Investigation into a suspected link between political support and assistance with a tax matter; allegations disputed, no personal conviction of Graf established

Attribution

Indirectly implicated in allegations of lobbying and a donation; personal responsibility not established

Greentube Alderney, an online operator belonging to the Novomatic group, was required to pay £685,000 after a Gambling Commission investigation identified failings in anti-money-laundering and social responsibility controls.

State of the evidence

Official Gambling Commission decision and £685,000 payment documented

Legal status — source text

Regulatory sanction against a Novomatic subsidiary, not against Graf personally

Attribution

Indirect governance responsibility as Novomatic's owner; sanction applies to Greentube rather than Graf personally

Person targeted by the proceedings

Greentube

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Novomatic entered into a cooperation agreement worth several hundred thousand euros with the Institut für Sicherheitspolitik, founded by FPÖ MP Markus Tschank. The funding became a major focus of investigations and debate concerning money flowing to organisations close to political parties.

State of the evidence

Cooperation agreement and amounts documented

Legal status — source text

Political and judicial examination of the circumstances; no personal embezzlement by Graf established

Attribution

Governance responsibility as Novomatic's owner; the documented funding came from entities associated with the group

Novomatic's Romanian subsidiary and the state lottery entered into an agreement covering 10,000 terminals. Romanian anti-corruption prosecutors examined indications that the arrangement may have been disadvantageous to the public company, creating a significant controversy for the group controlled by Graf.

State of the evidence

Romanian anti-corruption agency investigation and 10,000-terminal contract documented

Legal status — source text

Investigation into the contractual arrangement; no personal conviction of Graf established

Attribution

Governance responsibility as founder and owner; no personal guilt established in the Romanian investigation