These casinos operate offshore, but they’re designed to meet the needs of Australian gamblers with modern features, strong security, and a wide variety of options. This page explains, in plain English, what you can (and can’t) do as an Australian casino player in 2025, how the Interactive Gambling Act works, and what practical risks you need to know about. Poker is typically played within casinos and is www.abc.net.au regulated as a table game by the state and territory gambling regulators detailed below. Australians have got many different legal forms of online gambling available to them, with these varying in the legislation that surrounds them.
- The Australian Government commissioned a review of the Act last year, following which it has strengthened its ban on in-play betting.
- 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.
- 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.
- Alternatively, assistance can also be found online at the Australian Government’s Gambling Support page.
- The bill is a result of the 2015 O’Farrell Review into Illegal Offshore Wagering.
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From there, check out the range of games they offer, the generosity of their promotions, and the payment methods they make available. Apps can offer added layers of security, such as biometric logins (Face ID, fingerprint scans), but mobile websites use SSL encryption and are just as safe as long as the casino itself is licensed. Some apps have a smaller game library because not all titles are allowed by the app stores.
While there are no laws to prevent Aussies from playing at offshore and unlicensed casino sites, we strongly advise against doing so. The mobile experience has become paramount for modern gambling platforms, and it’s especially important for new real money online casinos in Australia. As new sites aren’t held back by outdated design choices, players will have higher expectations for how well the mobile versions of their platforms perform. A 2017 amendment of the 2001 IGA empowered ACMA to block unlicensed offshore gambling websites and levy fines and formal warnings.
Will video games be affected?
All fantasy betting typically occurs through Corporate Bookmakers in Australia. In relation to hotels and clubs, a venue requires both a gaming venue licence and also a permit/licence for each gaming machine a venue operates. Set out below is a list of the primary legislation governing gaming, betting, lotteries and social/skill arrangements for each Australian state/territory, as well as at the federal level. The rapidly changing digital landscape has caused several anti-gambling politicians and others within the government to propose amendments to the IGA so it can apply more appropriately to how online gambling currently is operating. Only in late 2016 did the Australian public finally be informed of potential new legislation changes to the existing act.
This act outlines a broad prohibition against ‘interactive gambling services’ when delivered via digital communication methods. At a federal level and in relation to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing compliance, a large Australian gambling company paid a civil penalty of AUS $45 million to AUSTRAC in relation to admitted breaches of the AML/CTF Act. More recently, AUS $450 million and AUS $67 million civil penalties have been applied to two operators in the casino sector. AUSTRAC has also commenced proceedings against The Star and undertaken enforcement investigations in relation to global corporate bookmakers.
Further, ACMA has also been very active in engaging with overseas regulators and other parties concerning the illegal offering of online gambling products in Australia. There are comprehensive federal, state and territory advertising restrictions that apply to the lawful advertising of gambling services. In addition to the compulsory responsible gambling messages and warnings, it is an offence to advertise an inducement to open a betting account or to refer another person to open a betting account and, in some jurisdictions, to gamble or to gamble more frequently. Online casino gambling laws and online kaloxdigital.com poker are a little bit more murky and you have to dig a little bit deeper to play these games.
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Australia is a country with a rich history of gambling, but the online sector is subject to strict regulation. At the heart of this system is the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA), a federal law that determines which online services can be provided and which are completely prohibited for residents of the country. Under section 15 of the Act it is an offence for a person to intentionally provide a prohibited interactive gambling service with an Australian-customer link. This offence carries a maximum penalty of 5000 penalty units, applicable each day the unlawful service is provided. Overseas-based online casinos that target Australian residents are explicitly prohibited under the IGA, with significant civil penalties attached. Casino licences can typically only be applied for through a competitive tender process run by the relevant state or territory.
In mid-2024 Australia banned credit cards and digital currency for use in relation to online wagering. An application for a Corporate Bookmaker Licence issued in the NT, or an application for an On-course Bookmaker Licence, typically takes between three and six months for approval and can be made at any time. 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. For completeness, the authors note that the list of gambling-related legislation below is not an exhaustive list. There are many pieces of legislation that are incidental to gambling activity (for example, legislation setting the applicable gambling tax rates). There are also various subordinate legislative instruments, including regulations, which have not been included.
The number of gaming machines available in each state and territory is strictly regulated. Various states (including NSW and Vic) have implemented harm minimisation measures to cap the number of gaming machine permits/licences on issue in certain lower socio-economic areas. 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. Online lotteries are also legal according to the Act, as long as they are not the ‘instant-win’ style scratch cards. For the most part, individual states and territories within Australia are responsible for regulatory oversight of the industry for their region.
The content produced on this website is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or recommendation. Always conduct your own research or check with certified experts before investing, and be prepared for potential losses. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Analytics Insight, or any of its affiliates, officers or directors.