profile

Country Snapshot: Austria

Landlocked in central Europe and bordered by eight other countries, Austria has a population of 8.1 million with Vienna being both its capital and largest city.

Often overshadowed by its larger big brother Germany next door, the Austrian market is an attractive one for webmasters for several reasons.

For starters, webmasters are not legally obliged to stick to the stringent child protection laws of its big brother.

Austria is a sexually tolerant society, with hardcore pornography being freely available at every newspaper kiosk in the shape of the popular ÖKM magazine, which proclaims itself to be Europe's favorite.

It is also the home of several key niche websites that cater for the Austrian's seemingly insatiable appetite for all things fetish – fetishes which, rather conveniently, are more often than not shared by their kinky neighbors next door, who even more conveniently, just so happen to share the same language.

Translating your tours and join pages into German with therefore not only help convert surfers from Austria, but also the 85 million or so other German speakers in both Germany and Switzerland.

More than half of Austrians are online, and according to Internetworldstats.com this market grew by 121.4 percent since 2000.

Credit card growth in the last five years has also been slow. This is because of a number of factors including a culture that is adverse to debt and promotes work, discipline and saving.

Furthermore, poor credit card penetration and a reliance on the German economy, which has performed particularly badly in recent years, has hampered growth in this area, with Austrians often reluctant to use credit cards online with fellow Austrians – yet alone foreign porn merchants based in the USA or elsewhere.

On the other hand, Austria is the world's most attractive pay-per-call market since it allows you to charge €3.63/Minute for content via its "09" premium rate prefix. This is why we pay a full $10 per password sold in that market.

Furthermore, thanks to their careful and conservative attitude towards money, chargebacks from Austrians who pay you this way are practically unheard of.

Phone billing should therefore be included in your billing armory if you intend to make more Euros from this market.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

WIA Profile: Lainie Speiser

With her fiery red hair and a laugh that practically hugs you, Lainie Speiser is impossible to miss. Having repped some of adult’s biggest stars during her 30-plus years in the business, the veteran publicist is also a treasure trove of tales dating back to the days when print was king and social media not even a glimmer in the industry’s eye.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

Fighting Back Against AI-Fueled Fake Takedown Notices

The digital landscape is increasingly being shaped by artificial intelligence, and while AI offers immense potential, it’s also being weaponized. One disturbing trend that directly impacts adult businesses is AI-powered “DMCA takedown services” generating a flood of fraudulent Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notices.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Building Seamless Checkout Flows for High-Risk Merchants

For high-risk merchants such as adult businesses, crypto payments are no longer just a backup plan — they’re fast becoming a first choice. More and more businesses are embracing Bitcoin and other digital currencies for consumer transactions.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

What the New SCOTUS Ruling Means for AV Laws and Free Speech

On June 27, 2025, the United States Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, upholding Texas’ age verification law in the face of a constitutional challenge and setting a new precedent that bolsters similar laws around the country.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

What You Need to Know Before Relocating Your Adult Business Abroad

Over the last several months, a noticeable trend has emerged: several of our U.S.-based merchants have decided to “pick up shop” and relocate to European countries. On the surface, this sounds idyllic. I imagine some of my favorite clients sipping coffee or wine at sidewalk cafés, embracing a slower pace of life.

Cathy Beardsley ·
profile

WIA Profile: Salima

When Salima first entered the adult space in her mid-20s, becoming a power player wasn’t even on her radar. She was simply looking to learn. Over the years, however, her instinct for strategy, trust in her teams and commitment to creator-first innovation led her from the trade show floor to the executive suite.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

How the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act Could Impact Adult Businesses

Congress is considering a bill that would change the well-settled definition of obscenity and create extensive new risks for the adult industry. The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act, introduced by Sen. Mike Lee, makes a mockery of the First Amendment and should be roundly rejected.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

What US Sites Need to Know About UK's Online Safety Act

In a high-risk space like the adult industry, overlooking or ignoring ever-changing rules and regulations can cost you dearly. In the United Kingdom, significant change has now arrived in the form of the Online Safety Act — and failure to comply with its requirements could cost merchants millions of dollars in fines.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Understanding the MATCH List and How to Avoid Getting Blacklisted

Business is booming, sales are steady and your customer base is growing. Everything seems to be running smoothly — until suddenly, Stripe pulls the plug. With one cold, automated email, your payment processing is shut down. No warning, no explanation.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA Profile: Leah Koons

If you’ve been to an industry event lately, odds are you’ve heard Leah Koons even before you’ve seen her. As Fansly’s director of marketing, Koons helps steer one of the fastest-growing creator platforms on the web.

Women in Adult ·
Show More