Gambling Laws in Australia
Online gambling is subject to federal, state and territory legislation. Different rules apply to different gambling products, and the legal status of a service should not be inferred from its online availability.
Interactive Gambling Act 2001
The primary Commonwealth law is the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). It targets providers of interactive gambling services, not individual players. The Act makes it an offence to provide certain interactive gambling services to people physically located in Australia, regardless of whether the provider is based in Australia or overseas.
Prohibited interactive gambling services include:
- Online casino-style games of chance or mixed chance and skill (online pokies/slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps, online poker for real money, and similar products).
- In-play (live) sports betting offered over the internet (telephone betting with a licensed operator remains permitted in many cases).
- Betting on the outcome of a lottery and certain online instant/scratch lottery products.
Regulated interactive gambling services that can be offered lawfully if the operator holds an Australian state or territory licence include online sports and race wagering (placed before the event starts) and authorised lottery ticket sales.
Penalties for providing a prohibited service are substantial: up to approximately $360,000 per day for an individual and $1.8 million per day for a body corporate. The Act also prohibits advertising of designated interactive gambling services to Australian audiences.
Role of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) enforces key provisions of the Interactive Gambling Act. Its functions include:
- Investigating complaints about prohibited or unlicensed interactive gambling services.
- Maintaining a register of licensed interactive wagering providers that are permitted to operate in Australia.
- Administering a website-blocking scheme that requires internet service providers to block access to illegal offshore gambling sites that have been identified.
- Overseeing compliance with advertising restrictions and other consumer-protection measures.
Anyone can lodge a complaint with ACMA if they believe a prohibited gambling service is being offered to people in Australia.
What Is Legal vs Prohibited for Australian Customers
| Service type | Status under the IGA | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online casino games (pokies, blackjack, roulette, etc.) | Prohibited | Offence for any provider, wherever based |
| Online in-play sports betting | Prohibited | Telephone betting with a licensed operator may still be allowed |
| Sports & race wagering (pre-event) | Regulated | Requires an Australian state/territory licence |
| Authorised lottery ticket sales | Regulated | Must be offered by an authorised operator |
| Land-based casino games & venue pokies | Permitted (state/territory regulated) | Subject to local licensing, caps and rules |
Player Status Under the Law
The Interactive Gambling Act creates offences for providers, not for individual customers. Australian residents have not been prosecuted simply for playing at an offshore online casino. However, using offshore sites carries practical risks: limited or no consumer protection, potential difficulties recovering funds, and exposure to sites that may not meet Australian standards of fairness or responsible gambling.
National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering
Licensed Australian online wagering operators must comply with a national framework of consumer-protection measures. Key elements include:
- Minimum age of 18 with mandatory identity verification before a customer can wager or withdraw funds.
- Credit prohibition – licensed operators cannot accept credit cards or digital currency for online wagering accounts.
- BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register – a free government service that allows a person to self-exclude from all licensed Australian online and telephone wagering providers for a period ranging from three months to a lifetime.
- Mandatory account tools such as deposit limits, time limits, activity statements and cool-off periods.
These protections apply only to licensed Australian wagering services. They do not extend to offshore casino sites.
State and Territory Responsibilities
While the IGA sets the national rules for what can be offered online, states and territories license and regulate land-based gambling (casinos, pubs and clubs with pokies, TAB outlets) and issue licences for online wagering operators. Most national online bookmakers are licensed in the Northern Territory. Each jurisdiction also sets its own rules for venue-based gaming machines, including machine numbers, bet limits, cash-input limits and operating hours. Western Australia, for example, restricts electronic gaming machines to the Perth casino.
Offshore Casinos and Website Blocking
Many websites that offer online pokies and casino games advertise overseas licences and accept Australian players and currency. An offshore licence does not authorise the operator to provide prohibited interactive gambling services to people in Australia. ACMA can require internet service providers to block access to sites that have been found to be offering prohibited services. Players who use such sites generally have little practical recourse if disputes arise over unpaid winnings, account closures or unfair practices.
Advertising Restrictions
Australian law restricts the advertising of prohibited interactive gambling services. Operators, affiliates and advertisers must ensure that promotions, links and other commercial communications directed at Australian audiences comply with the Interactive Gambling Act and related rules.
Practical Considerations for Players
- Check whether a service appears on ACMA’s register of licensed interactive wagering providers if you are looking for a regulated product.
- Understand that access to a website does not equal legal authorisation or effective consumer remedies.
- Review the operator’s licensing jurisdiction, terms and conditions, and available dispute-resolution processes before depositing funds.
- Use responsible-gambling tools (deposit limits, self-exclusion, device blockers) wherever they are available.
- Remember that free support is available through Gambling Help Online (1800 858 858) if gambling is causing concern.
Official Information Sources
- Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) – complaints, licensed provider register and website-blocking information.
- Federal Register of Legislation – full text of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and related instruments.
- Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts – policy overview of interactive gambling.
- BetStop – National Self-Exclusion Register for licensed wagering services.
This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. Laws and regulatory guidance can change; always consult official sources or a qualified professional for advice specific to your circumstances.