Gambling Laws and Regulations Report 2025 Australia

The free-to-air TV industry has lobbied against a full ban on gambling advertising, warning it could slash up to $240 million in annual advertising revenue. The inquiry suggested a blanket ban on gambling advertising within three years, but media companies have been fighting the proposed ban, and there have been concerns the government might introduce a watered-down version of the proposed ban in response. 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.

Additionally, while the Act prevents Aussie players from playing at Australian-based online casinos, it doesn’t stop Australians from establishing online casinos and offering their services to offshore residents. However, the act also prevents advertising real money interactive gambling to Australian players and any Aussie operator caught doing so will receive a penalty of up to $220,000 per day. The ACMA’s actions, including the ability to request internet service providers to block access to illegal gambling websites, demonstrate Australia’s commitment to enforcing its online gambling laws and protecting consumers. 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. The relevant legislation is the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (the IGA), which states that it is an offence to provide certain gambling services via the internet, to a customer physically present in Australia.

Keep in mind that this is not legal advice, and you should consult the IGA yourself (link here) and also check for any amendments or revisions to the Act. State and territory lotteries engage in pooling arrangements pursuant to what is known as ‘bloc agreements’, under which jackpots are pooled, making the customer offering more attractive. Each state and territory has a relevant Casino Control Act (or similar legislation) under which casino licences have been issued.

The Grey Area of Online Gambling in Australia

Any applicant for a licence is generally required to undergo a probity assessment to determine whether such applicant is ‘fit and proper’ to be granted a licence. The processes are generally quite extensive, and it can sometimes take up to 12 months or longer for state and territory gambling regulators to complete in relation to new applicants seeking major licences. Hotels and clubs hold a venue operator’s licence and a permit/licence to operate each gaming machine within the licensed premises. There are often strict local government planning requirements that must be met in relation to gaming machines. Retail Wagering is offered by state and territory-based totalisator agency boards (TABs) pursuant to sole licences in the relevant state or territory, thereby providing them with a form of www.qld.gov.au ‘retail exclusivity’. There is co-mingling of state and territory totalisator pools through pooling arrangements, with three Australian totalisator pools currently in existence.

It’s a balance that allows for some level of online gambling enjoyment, while still upholding the country’s laws and protecting consumers. The Aussie government however, is extremely lax on foreign-owned online casinos and online poker rooms, and other offshore sites which offer real money ‘interactive’ gambling services to Australians. Technically, these companies are in violation of the IGA rules and regulations, however, there has never been a serious attempt to thwart these offshore/internationally-owned operators from advertising and offering their products and services to Australian residents. Thus, many reputable Internet gambling companies which are licensed and regulated by their own jurisdiction’s gaming authority, continue to market such services to the Australian public. While the legal landscape of online gambling in Australia is complex, it also ensures a responsible and safe environment for players.

• However, you must be aware that although the online casino is currently accessible in Australia, there is a possibility it could be blocked by the government in the future.
• We provide advice to the Government about the regulation of interactive gambling services and harm minimisation initiatives such as BetStop – the National Self Exclusion Register and gambling advertising.
• As the consumption prohibitions have repeatedly shown, bans may sometimes force good citizens into the underground world where dangers lurk beyond the safety or regulatory protection.
• Many forms of online gambling services are outlawed federally in Australia under section 5 of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth) (‘IGA’).

Buyback costs could be substantial if many venues choose to surrender their licences. While this is unlikely – because pokies are so profitable – a big reduction in pokies numbers would also come with great social benefits at a one-off cost to the taxpayer. Even better, state governments could pay for it by reducing pokies tax concessions for clubs, which currently cost state governments at least $1.2 billion a year. Mandatory pre-commitment schemes for pokies should be rolled out by state governments. Pokies venues would need to comply with the scheme as a condition of their license, and could be given the option to sell their licences back to the state government instead. Gambling losses are draining already tight household budgets, and losses can lead to financial and mental distress, relationship breakdown, family violence and suicide.

BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion RegisterTM

If you are able to find an online casino to play in Australia, it is not illegal for you to play https://spinline.io/ there. However, you must be aware that although the online casino is currently accessible in Australia, there is a possibility it could be blocked by the government in the future. This is a great question, since physical casinos are perfectly legal, and lotteries and online betting on sports is legal. The short answer is that there are concerns regarding gambling addiction, fraud, underage gambling and taxation issues.

Proposed new mandatory minimum classifications for gambling-like content in computer games

However, a person may still apply for an ‘internet gaming licence’ in the Northern Territory and offer their gaming products outside of Australia in certain circumstances. All state and territory unlawful gambling schemes include criminal penalties for non-compliance. Gambling on pokies is far less prevalent in WA because they’re only available in one casino. Gambling problems and harm are about one-third lower in WA, and our analysis shows this can be attributed to the limited access to pokies.

The implementation of the Act had the main aim of preventing players from the negative consequences of online gambling, as well as protecting land-based venues – where the government gains a profit – from players moving online. Trustworthy and unbiased online casino reviews on OnlineGamblingAus provide invaluable assistance for Aussie players in identifying safe, secure, and legal options for their gambling endeavours. All-in-all, the legal framework provides a foundation for enjoyable and safe gambling experiences, allowing players to engage in their favourite pastime while respecting the laws designed to protect them. The legality of crypto gambling at Bitcoin casinos or Bitcoin sports betting sites ultimately depends on the compliance of the gambling site with Australian laws and regulations. However, it is not explicitly illegal for individuals to participate in online casinos and pokies through offshore websites. 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.

Australians can lawfully enjoy a range of gambling activities, such as licenced sports betting and lottery games, which offer both excitement and security. The awareness around offshore online casinos helps players make informed choices, steering clear of potential risks. Prohibited ‘interactive gambling services’ include a wide range of gambling activities facilitated by digital platforms, including online casinos, online poker, and live sports betting. Generally, any interactive game provided online for some financial benefit is likely to fit within the federal prohibition.

There is no prescribed maximum number of licences that can be issued; however, in a practical sense there are limitations in respect of the number of On-course Bookmaker Licences that could be issued. The Australian Constitution provides the federal government with powers to regulate and govern, among other things, tele-communications, money and trade amongst the states and territories. Each of Australia’s eight mainland states and territories separately regulates gambling activities within each of their respective jurisdictions.

The Albanese government is under pressure to reduce the social harm caused by online betting, after a Senate inquiry released last year found that the torrent of advertising aimed at children, especially during sports events, was grooming young people to gamble. 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.

She says while other advertisers might not be willing to pay quite as much as the gambling companies, the revenue loss to free-to-air advertisers would only be about 1 per cent of their revenue if other advertisers step in to take those spots. "When you ban advertising of any kind — we’ve done it before in Australia with tobacco advertising, for example — other advertisers do emerge," Ms Griffiths says. There have been leaks to media suggesting that Labor was considering a cap of two gambling ads per hour on each channel until 10pm and banning ads an hour before and after live sport.

It must be said though that the government does not explicitly provide this as a reason for the ban but it is hard not to see this as a factor in the policy’s development. Separately, the CCA imposes penalties for, amongst other things, misleading and deceptive conduct (including through advertising). In addition, a series of federal statutes also cover certain aspects of gambling activity throughout Australia. The maximum penalty for this offence is 50 penalty units and/or 12 months’ imprisonment. History tells us the same will happen with mandatory gambling limits, even if we’re a bit uncomfortable about it at first.