Gambling Laws and Regulations Report 2026 Australia

Corporate Bookmakers offer fixed-odds betting online and over the telephone on sport, racing and other approved events, whereas On-course Bookmakers offer fixed-odds betting on-course and, subject to approval, also over the telephone and in some instances online on similar events as a Corporate Bookmaker. 2.1 What regulatory licences, permits, authorisations or other official approvals (collectively, “Licences”) are required for the lawful offer of the Relevant Products to persons located in your jurisdiction? 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. Each of Australia’s eight mainland states and territories separately regulates gambling activities within each of their respective jurisdictions. Any skill games and competitions with no element of chance are not typically regarded as gambling, but may still fall within certain gaming regimes when operated in a land-based context. Such sweepstakes games can be differentiated from ‘trade promotion lotteries’ which are common in the jurisdiction.
Bingo in land-based venues is regulated by the state and territory gambling regulators detailed below. Online bingo is regulated by the state and territory gambling regulators detailed below. In addition to casinos, poker is also played in hotels and clubs without generally being regulated in the same manner as a traditional casino table poker game, provided no third party (i.e. the venue owner/operator or tournament organiser) gains a percentage or share of any amount gambled. Online casino gaming is prohibited in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth) (Interactive Gambling Act).
The Victorian regulator subsequently announced in March 2024 that it was satisfied that Crown Melbourne was suitable to operate the casino and that it was in the public interest for the casino licence to remain in force. best trusted casinos in USA are generally subject to periodic Licence reviews (often every five years). In relation to wagering and betting, apart from the NT (where the licences expire in 2035) and WA (where Retail Wagering and betting is operated by the state), the expiry dates of current Retail Wagering Licences are also similarly long-dated and range between 2044 and 2100. The duration of major operator licences depends upon the legislative framework in the relevant state or territory and is subject to possible change upon a licence renewal or new licence being issued. 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. The number of licences available are limited and there are typically only one per state and territory (except in the case of current casino licences held in each of Qld, NT and NSW, the two recently issued Vic keno licences, and potentially for new wagering licences) and the processes are very infrequent.
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. Hotels and clubs are permitted to provide approved gaming machines in the licensed premises. With the exception of virtual/simulated racing (which is generally only offered in retail venues including hotels and clubs), this betting is generally offered at racecourses, retail venues, online and by telephone. The number of gaming machines available in each state and territory is strictly regulated. Hotels and clubs hold a venue operator’s licence and a permit/licence to operate each gaming machine within the licensed premises.
The legal risk falls on unlicensed operators, not Aussie players. Australian authorities do not license online casinos for local players. Aussies are not breaking the law by playing at offshore online casinos. Loads of pokies and other games by many different providers, including live dealers and exciting game shows. 200% bonus up to $2000, claimable twice and with 100 free spins. Win up to $10,000 or 800 free spins, three times every week. Winz Excellent Aussie casino with no wagering required on all bonuses and free spins.
What appetite for and track record of enforcement does your local regulatory authority have? State and territory laws often also contain a range of offences in relation to unlawful gambling, which can include organising the unlawful event, as well as participating in it. Whilst federal, state and territory laws and regulations are often capable of being contravened by directors and other officers of licensees, recent regulatory action has been taken against corporate licensees only. Such betting is limited to telephone betting and betting within a Retail Wagering environment. Casino licensees cannot offer online casino games in Australia (it is prohibited under the Interactive Gambling Act, which also prohibits online poker). Are there any specific licensing or operational requirements for operators accepting digital currencies (including cryptocurrencies)? The use of cryptocurrency for online wagering was recently prohibited following amendments to the Interactive Gambling Act.
A casino licence permits the relevant casino to typically offer traditional table games and gaming machines. A state or territory licence is typically required to operate a bingo centre in the relevant jurisdiction. Using these powers, the federal government has enacted legislation regulating, amongst other things, interactive gambling, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) and consumer and competition protections (also known as anti-trust matters in some other jurisdictions). For completeness, it is worth noting that, to a lesser extent, local government bodies in most states and territories also regulate gambling from a local government and town planning perspective, but typically only as it relates to gaming machines and their operation within the relevant municipal district. Any skill games and competitions with no element of chance are not typically regarded as gambling, but may fall within certain ‘interactive gaming’ regimes when operated online and be regulated by state and territory gambling regulators. Unlike other jurisdictions, sweepstakes models which involve redemptions outside the platform are not operated in this jurisdiction (at least in any overt manner).
Despite these enforcement measures, many overseas operators continue to target Australian players, often exploiting legal loopholes or operating from jurisdictions with lax regulatory oversight. In regard to lotteries in NSW, the Public Lotteries Act 1996 requires the provider of lottery, including an online lottery, to be authorised if the total prize value exceeds $30,000. The Northern Territory is unique in that it also has an established scheme for corporate bookmakers, issuing licenses for general online sports betting, including fantasy sports betting, which are not covered in other jurisdictions. Most jurisdictions focus their regulation on the authorisation of providers for online and offline betting and lottery services. Instead, it prohibits companies from offering certain types of online gambling (like casino games and poker) to people in Australia, unless they are licensed and regulated.
Enforcement action by the ACMA is also likely to continue following the implementation of various legislative changes, including in relation to illegal gambling sites and following the recent commencement of the NSER. The AML/CTF Act also contains criminal provisions and it is possible that AUSTRAC may seek to apply these provisions in relation to non-compliance going forward. In the case of breaches of the AML/CTF Act by gambling service providers, AUSTRAC continues to show that it will prosecute civil penalty offences. State and territory licensees are expected to have appropriate controls in place to ensure that they comply with their licence obligations, including relevant laws and any conditions attaching to their licence. Have fines, licence revocations or other sanctions been enforced in your jurisdiction?