Gambling Laws in Australia

Most forms of gambling in Australia are considered to be legal. The Australian gambling laws, in particular, the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 with its amendments, the last of which was enforced on 13 September 2017, is the main regulatory act of all online gambling activities in the country. Under the current Australian gambling legislation, many forms of online gambling such as online casinos, online poker or live betting are considered illegal. The latest amendments of the law were especially intended to fight illegal online gambling in the country. Consequently, it is illegal for any company to offer gambling services to Australian citizens unless the company holds a license from a state authority in Australia. The regulatory body of the online gambling activities in the country is the Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA), an institution functioning on a Commonwealth level, while the legal functioning of the land-based sector is supervised by institutions on a state level. All Australian casinos, sportsbooks, or other types of gambling providers, brick and mortar as well as online, are licensed and regulated by particular state institutions dealing with gambling activities such as the Northern Territory Racing Commission in the Northern Territory or the Office of Liquor & Gaming Regulation in Queensland. According to the Australian gambling laws, minors under 18 years of age are prohibited to participate in gambling activities. Due to the wide popularity of gambling in the country, programs for protection from pathological gambling are quite prominent in each of the Australian member states.   

Is Online Gambling Legal in Australia? Yes, but not in all its variety. Online casino games, online poker, and live betting are considered to be illegal in Australia, according to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

Online Casinos in Australia

As of May 2019, online casinos in Australia are illegal, under the amendments of the Interactive Gaming Act 2001 from September 2017. Consequently, there are no legal Australian casino sites on the offer and no Australian online casino licenses have been issued in the country. Nevertheless, it is possible to access foreign platforms, as the Government doesn’t have jurisdiction over them.

Online Poker in Australia

Online poker sites in Australia are also not legal. Although there are no specific Australian online poker laws, the amendments of the Interactive Gaming Act 2001 from September 2017, make table games such as poker illegal in the country. Consequently, no specialized poker site has been granted an Australian poker license for offering this game in the country.

Online Lottery in Australia

Although there are no specific Australian online lottery laws, the regulations derived from the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and its amendments, serve as a basic legal framework within which lotto companies offer their lotto products. And most operators in the country have Australian online lotto sites as well.

Online Bingo in Australia

Even though are no specific online bingo laws in Australia, the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 prohibits the offer of bingo games for real money on the internet, as well as their advertisement. This is why there are no specialized sites offering online bingo in Australia.

Online Sports Betting in Australia

Online sportsbook sites in Australia are legal and highly popular. The regulation of the betting sector in the country is also supervised by the ACMA which prescribes that any supplier of online betting opportunities on the Australian market must obtain a proper license. It is worthy to mention that live-betting is prohibited in Australia on a Commonwealth level, under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and its latest amendments.  

Online DFS in Australia

Online DFS sites in Australia are legal. Even though there is an ongoing debate on the status of this type of game in most countries, the Australian government hasn’t objected to the existence of this game. Since 2015 that Daily Fantasy Sports sites can operate in the country with a license granted by the Northern Territory Racing Commission (NTRC).