Everything You Need to Know About the Casino Laws
At the federal level, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is responsible for licensing and regulation, plus enforcement of laws established by the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and subsequent amendments. This includes banning online casinos in Australia.
However, states and territories also have individual regulatory and licensing bodies, principally covering land-based casinos, pokies (slots), poker, lotteries, and sport betting. While the laws and regulations can vary between states, ACMA provides national oversight and legislation, such as the following key points:
ACMA
- Online casinos are banned from offering their services to Australian customers.
- In-play sports betting is banned for Australian customers.
- Sports betting services are banned, unless they hold an Australian license.
- Betting on the outcome of a lottery is banned.
- Banned services must not be advertised in Australia.
- Offering, promoting, or using credit for online gambling is banned.
Beyond its initial implementation, subsequent amendments have been made to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, most of which came via amendments to the original legislature in 2017.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment Act 2017 published a national registry of interactive gambling services licensed in Australia, plus new enforcement mechanisms and powers to prosecute gambling companies that break the law. The ACMA can also request that internet service providers in Australia block access to illegal gambling websites.
In 2019, further law changes brought about the launch of BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register. Since June 2024, the use of credit or digital currency for gambling has been banned. This includes using credit cards, e-wallets linked to credit cards, and gambling or betting activities using cryptocurrencies.
Gambling in Australia
The main federal legislature is the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001, passed by the Australian Commonwealth Parliament. This essentially made it illegal for online gambling operators to offer or advertise “real money” gambling services to Australian citizens, such as online casinos and online poker.
However, it’s not illegal for Australian residents to gamble at online casinos located outside the country. Also, gambling companies based in Australia are still permitted to offer their services to customers in other countries, including online casino services, which is quite the paradox.
Gambling at land-based venues is legal and regulated, mostly licensed by the individual states and territories, although what’s permitted can vary from one to the next. This includes gambling at licensed casino venues, pubs, clubs, and other retail or commercial sites.
For participants, land-based gaming options include electronic gaming machines such as pokies (video slots), video poker, table games like blackjack and roulette, keno and bingo, plus scratch cards known as scratch-its or scratchies in Australia. Licensed live poker games, tournaments, and leagues are also available at physical venues throughout the country.
Gambling History and Future
While there’s no laws to stop you from gambling at online casinos, which aren’t regulated or licensed in Australia, there’s obviously genuine risks involved to you and your cash. Instead, the ACMA levies penalties and fines against gambling operators or companies that are breaking Australian laws.
Australian Flag
- 1961 – Victoria state government launched the Totalisator Agency Board (TAB), becoming the first legal off-course horse race betting company. Other states quickly followed.
- 1983 – Totalisator Agency Boards began to legalize and take bets on other sports including soccer, cricket, boxing, and many more.
- 1993 – Sportsbet became the first non-government sportsbook and private company to be granted a gambling license.
- 2001 – Interactive Gambling Act 2001 makes it illegal for gambling operators to offer certain online services in Australia, such as online casinos.
- 2017 – Interactive Gambling Amendment Act 2017 introduces publication of a public register of licensed operators, plus enforcement tools and enforcement powers.
- 2019 – Law amendment introduces the National Self-Exclusion Register, BetStop.
- 2024 – Promoting, offering & using online credit for gambling and betting is banned.
Despite pushback from the iGaming industry and consumers, and numerous political debates on the subject, it seems unlikely that the current stance in Australia of banning online casinos will change in the near future.
By comparison, New Zealand will have online casino licensing and regulation in place by 2026, so it will be interesting to see what – if any – impact that has on the Australian market, given the close economic ties between the two countries.
Conclusion
As we mentioned at the top of this article, millions of Australians gamble at online casinos, despite them being banned from operating or advertising there, alongside being unregulated and unlicensed.
Likewise, we’re not plucking numbers from thin air with such a statement. According to statistics published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in 2022, 17% of adults gambled on online casino games, so that was almost 4.2 million of the population. These numbers continue to increase.
However, this tends to be an age-old problem when governments take a prohibition approach. People tend to look towards the black market instead, seemingly regardless of the inherent risks involved, given there are no laws to prevent you from doing so.
Yet we must reiterate the pitfalls of gambling at unlicensed and unregulated online casinos, which currently remain illegal in Australia, and look set to remain so for the foreseeable future. Stay safe and gamble responsibly via activities that are licensed and legal in Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that you have a clearer picture covering online casinos in Australia, just in case you seek more information and clarification, here’s a selection of the most popular questions. Likewise, feel free to reach out with any further questions of your own.
Is online gambling in Australia legal?
Yes, but only when licensed and regulated federally by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Online sports betting is legal in Australia, but in-play sports betting online is banned. Gambling operators are banned from offering online casino and online poker services to Australian customers, but there are no laws to prevent Australians from gambling at offshore casino sites, albeit at their own risk.
Can I bet on sports from Australia?
Yes, online sports betting is legal with gambling operators that are licensed and regulated in Australia. Online in-play sports betting markets are considered illegal and banned, but are legal and available via phone or at land-based venues within Australia.
Are online casinos banned in Australia?
The short answer is yes. The detailed response to this question is that gambling operators in Australia are banned from setting up online casinos, while offshore operators are banned from offering or promoting online casino services to Australian consumers. Although we advise against doing so, there are no laws to stop Australian consumers gambling at offshore casino sites.
What are the risks of gambling at offshore and unlicensed casinos?
Aside from potentially losing any money that you have deposited or won, offshore casinos are unlicensed and unregulated in Australia, which means you have no financial or consumer protections. Essentially, you do so entirely at your own risk.
Written By Heath Chesters