Gambling Laws In Australia 2024
Gambling is a popular leisurely activity for many Australians. Both online and offline gambling entertainment is very much thriving in Australia. If you want to find out more about the gambling laws in Australia, keep on reading.
Prohibited Online Gambling Activities In Australia
The IGA does not allow any Australian operators to provide any gambling services online. These are the prohibited online activities:
Online casinos: Online casinos based in Australia or abroad cannot offer their services to Australians unless they’re licensed.
Online Poker: The IGA does not allow any gambling sites to offer online poker services to Australians.
Sports Betting: Australians cannot place bets on any sports events while they are taking place. The only exception to the rule is licensed operators’ telephone betting services.
Online Gambling Laws In Australia 2024
The many technological advances over the previous years have brought Australia closer to online casino sites. It is for this very reason that in 2001, the Interactive Gambling Act was passed by the Australian Commonwealth in a bid to protect Australians from potentially unsafe and illegal gambling sites and activities online.
The Interactive Gambling Act forbids any Australian-based gambling sites (both casino and sports betting) from setting up shop in Australia and offering their services to Australian players. While this may sound confusing to players, we must underline and emphasise that it is not illegal for Australian players to open an account and gamble at offshore online casinos.
Similarly, there is nothing stopping these gambling sites from setting up their business internationally. The IGA originally allowed online sports betting but was initially a little more vague when it came to poker and online casinos. Because of this, both licensed and unlicensed online gaming operators have been able to offer their services unhindered to Australians for more than 15 years.
The signing of the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill of 2016, sought to straighten out any misinterpretations. This amendment blocks offshore online casino and poker brands unless they also get an Australian gaming license as well.
This bill made it difficult for any interested parties to apply for the necessary credentials, which would in turn allow them to enter the market legally. The Northern Australian Territory entered the picture and detailed its license application process that would grant Australian gambling licences to international gaming companies.
Permitted Forms of Online Gambling In Australia
Playing at real money online gambling sites that have a valid gambling licence from a government authority such as the Malta Gaming Authority, Curacao eGaming or Kahnawake amongst others is not considered illegal.
On the other hand, when it comes to online sports betting, operators must acquire various licences from state or territory regulatory bodies, by abiding by very strict rules and requirements. These include the implementation of responsible gambling tools, such as self-exclusion, KYC checks such as age verification checks and the promotion of safe gambling in advertising and marketing adverts.
When it comes to keno and lottery games, they must also follow similar regulatory rules. Operators must obtain the right licence from state or territorial authorities to guarantee fair gaming and player protection. Amongst some of the regulations, operators must verify the age of the player, make responsible gambling tools available to players and apply advertising limits to protect vulnerable players.
Social gaming sites are not yet subject to the same scrutiny as online gambling sites, since they do not include real money transactions. That said, if these sites incorporate any real-money purchases or pave the way for gambling activities, they must face similar scrutiny. Skill-based games, whereby the player has a degree of decision-making and can thus influence the results are not considered as gambling under Australian law unless betting is involved.
Could Gambling Laws In Australia Change?
While we are unable to predict the future, Australia is not currently focusing on expanding its gambling opportunities, both online and offline. Instead, the government is likely to tighten current restrictions, rather than apply any chances to Australian online gambling laws. There have been quite a few changes in recent years. These include:
New Player Casino Bonuses
In 2018, New South Wales passed a new gambling legislation banning new players’ incentives when opting for online bookmaking services.
In-Play Betting Rule
The in-play betting rule became a topic of contention in Australia. Bookmakers have been fighting tooth and nail against the restriction of in-play betting. Gambling regulatory authorities have been boosting their compliance efforts.
Advertising and Marketing Restrictions
Since 2018, TV advertising from state-regulated bookmakers has been restricted to specific times. Other regions, such as Victoria are looking to place such a ban on other advertising methods, such as public transportation and billboards
Online Casinos By Australian States
Whether you are based in Victoria, Queensland or Tasmania, we have compiled the below pages to help you get a better understanding of the gambling laws in Australia. You can also find the best online casinos in your area:
Land Based Gambling Laws In Australia 2024
Since there has been a surge in popularity when it comes to gambling in Australia, there is a plethora of options. Be it luxurious brick-and-mortar casinos to pokie machines at your local pub, restaurants or retail locations, there are plenty of options available at your disposal. There are plenty of casino games permitted under Australian gambling law, including slots, keno, video poker and even poker games. In addition to these games, players can also opt for sports betting options, lottery, bingo and racing.
Gambling laws applying to land-based gambling entertainment vary from one region to another. However, the majority of licensing, gambling regulation and operational directives are monitored and administered by individual state and territorial jurisdictions.
On the other hand, the Australian Commonwealth oversees on a national level. Below is a list of organisations involved in regulating gambling laws in Australia and the regions that they cover:
Licensing Commission – Northern Territory
- Local Address: Level 3, NAB House, 71 Smith Street, Darwin NT 0800
- Phone: (08) 8999 1800
- Email: agd.licensingnt.dob@nt.gov.au
Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing – New South Wales
- Local Address: Level 6, 323 Castlereagh Street, Haymarket, NSW 2000
- Phone: 1300 024 720
- Email: Online feedback form
Department of Racing, Gaming, and Liquor – Western Australia
- Local Address: Gordon Stephenson House, Level 2, 140 William Street Perth WA 6000
- Phone: 61 8 6551 4888
- Email: rgl@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
ACT Gambling and Racing Commission – Australian Capital Territory
- Local Address: GPO Box 158, Canberra ACT 2601
- Phone: (02) 6207 0359
- Email: Gambling and racing feedback form
Independent Gambling Authority – South Australia
- Local Address: Level 4, 45 Grenfell Street, Adelaide SA 5000
- Phone: +61 8 8226 7233
- Email: iga@iga.sa.gov.au
Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation – Victoria
- Local Address: Level 3, 12 Shelley Street, Richmond, Victoria, 3121
- Phone: 1300 182 457
- Email: Submit an inquiry
Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation – Queensland
- Local Address: 63 George Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
- Phone: 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
- Email: gamingcompliance@justice.qld.gov.au
Tasmanian Gaming Commission – Tasmania
- Local Address: Hobart (4 Salamanca Place, Hobart TAS 7000); Launceston (Henty House, 1 Civic Square, Launceston TAS 7250)
- Phone: Hobart (03 6166 4040); Launceston (03 6777 2777)
- Email: gaming@treasury.tas.gov.au
