Australia has one of the most regulated gambling landscapes in the world. The laws governing online and offline gambling activities are complex and constantly evolving. For players looking to gamble online in Australia, understanding these laws is crucial to ensure legal compliance and safe gaming experiences. This article breaks down Australia’s gambling laws, recent changes, and what to expect in 2025 and beyond.
Australia’s Gambling Framework: Federal vs. State Laws
Gambling regulation in Australia operates on two levels: federal legislation that applies nationwide and state/territory laws that can vary significantly across different regions.
The federal government primarily regulates online gambling through the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) of 2001, which was significantly amended in 2017 and continues to be updated with new provisions expected in 2025. Meanwhile, land-based gambling operations fall under state and territory jurisdictions, each with their own regulatory bodies and licensing requirements.
This dual system creates a complex legal environment where what’s permitted in one state might be prohibited in another. The federal government sets broad regulations, while states handle the practical implementation and enforcement.
The Interactive Gambling Act Explained
The Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) forms the backbone of Australia’s online gambling regulation. First introduced in 2001, this federal legislation has undergone several major revisions, with significant amendments in 2017 and more updates planned for 2025.
Key provisions of the IGA include:
- Ban on providing unlicensed online casino services to Australian residents
- Prohibition of online poker sites that target Australians
- Restrictions on live sports betting
- Ban on gambling advertisements during live sports broadcasts
- Penalties for offshore operators who illegally target the Australian market
The 2017 amendments strengthened the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) enforcement powers. The ACMA can now issue formal warnings, civil penalties, and injunctions against offending gambling providers. They can also refer matters to border protection agencies to place directors of gambling operations on movement alert lists.
By 2025, experts predict further amendments to address emerging technologies like cryptocurrency gambling and virtual reality casinos. The federal government has already announced plans to review the IGA’s effectiveness in combating illegal offshore gambling sites.
State and Territory Gambling Authorities
Each Australian state and territory has its own gambling regulatory body:
- New South Wales – Liquor & Gaming NSW
- Victoria – Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation
- Queensland – Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation
- Western Australia – Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor
- South Australia – Consumer and Business Services
- Tasmania – Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission
- Australian Capital Territory – ACT Gambling and Racing Commission
- Northern Territory – Northern Territory Racing Commission
These authorities issue licenses, monitor compliance, handle complaints, and enforce gambling laws within their jurisdictions. The Northern Territory is particularly significant in Australia’s online gambling landscape as many Australian-facing wagering operators choose to base themselves there due to its more favorable licensing conditions and tax rates.
Starting in 2025, several states plan to harmonize certain aspects of their gambling regulations to create more consistency nationwide. This initiative aims to reduce regulatory confusion for both operators and consumers.
What’s Legal and What’s Not: Current Status
Understanding what’s legal in Australia can be confusing. Here’s the current status as of 2025:
Legal Gambling Activities:
Sports betting is legal through licensed Australian bookmakers, both online and in physical locations. These operators must hold an Australian license.
Lottery products are legal and can be purchased online or in-person from authorized retailers. This includes national draws like Powerball and state-specific lotteries.
Land-based casinos operate legally in all states and territories. Australia has around 13 major casinos offering traditional table games and electronic gaming machines.
Poker machines (pokies) are legal in licensed venues such as clubs, pubs, and casinos in most states. Western Australia only permits pokies in its casino.
Horse and greyhound racing wagering is legal through licensed bookmakers and totalizators.
Illegal Gambling Activities:
Online casinos targeting Australians are illegal under the IGA. This includes slots, roulette, blackjack, and other casino games when offered online.
Online poker sites cannot legally offer services to Australian residents.
In-play or live sports betting online during events is prohibited. Such bets can only be placed via telephone or in person at licensed venues.
Unlicensed betting operations of any kind are illegal.
Recent statistics show that despite these prohibitions, many Australians continue to access offshore gambling websites. In response, the government plans to introduce stricter enforcement measures in 2025, including working with financial institutions to block payments to illegal gambling sites.
Playing at Offshore Online Casinos: Player Risks
While the IGA targets operators rather than individual players, gambling at offshore online casinos still carries significant risks:
No legal protection exists if disputes arise with offshore operators. Australian authorities cannot help recover funds from unlicensed overseas gambling sites.
Financial information may be vulnerable as offshore sites don’t have to comply with Australian data protection standards.
Many offshore sites lack responsible gambling measures required by Australian law, such as self-exclusion options and deposit limits.
Tax complications can arise from winnings at foreign gambling sites. The Australian Taxation Office has announced increased scrutiny of offshore gambling winnings in 2025.
Under current law, individual players are not prosecuted for accessing offshore gambling sites. However, this creates a somewhat contradictory situation where the supply is illegal but the consumption is not. Legal experts anticipate this gray area may be addressed in future legislation, possibly as early as 2025.
Recent Changes and Developments
Australia’s gambling laws continue to evolve in response to emerging issues and technologies:
The National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering implemented in 2019 introduced mandatory pre-commitment schemes, prohibition of lines of credit, and stronger ID verification.
In 2023, mandatory gambling harm warnings became required on all gambling advertisements, similar to tobacco warning labels.
By early 2025, Australia plans to implement a national self-exclusion register allowing problem gamblers to ban themselves from all online betting platforms simultaneously.
Several states have introduced spending caps on pokies, with Victoria leading the way with mandatory pre-commitment technology on all machines.
The federal government has announced plans for a comprehensive review of the IGA in late 2025, focusing on cryptocurrency gambling and enforcement mechanisms against offshore operators.
The ACMA received expanded powers in 2024 to directly fine illegal operators up to $1.1 million per day of continued operation.
These developments reflect Australia’s increasingly strict approach to gambling regulation, with particular focus on harm minimization and consumer protection.
Point-of-Consumption Tax and Its Impact
One of the most significant recent changes to Australia’s gambling landscape is the introduction of Point-of-Consumption Tax (POCT) across all states and territories. This tax is levied based on where the bettor is located rather than where the gambling company is based.
Before POCT was introduced, many operators based themselves in the Northern Territory to benefit from lower tax rates while accepting bets from customers nationwide. Now, operators must pay taxes to each state where their customers are located.
Current POCT rates vary by state:
- Victoria: 10%
- New South Wales: 15%
- Queensland: 15%
- South Australia: 15%
- Western Australia: 15%
- Tasmania: 15%
- ACT: 15%
- Northern Territory: 10%
In 2025, several states are considering raising these rates to generate additional revenue for public services and gambling harm reduction programs. Industry analysts predict this could lead to consolidation among smaller betting operators who may struggle with the increased tax burden.
The implementation of POCT has also increased the transparency of gambling revenue data, giving authorities better insight into gambling patterns across different regions.
Advertising Restrictions
Australia has progressively tightened gambling advertising regulations. Current restrictions include:
Ban on gambling ads during live sports broadcasts between 5:00 AM and 8:30 PM
Prohibition of “inducements” or offers designed to encourage opening betting accounts
Requirement for clear responsible gambling messages in all advertisements
Ban on the use of celebrities or sports stars in gambling promotions
In 2025, these restrictions will expand further with a complete ban on online gambling advertisements on social media platforms that cannot verify users’ ages. The government has also proposed restrictions on gambling sponsorships in sports, though this remains under discussion.
These advertising limitations aim to reduce gambling normalization, particularly among young people. Research cited by the Australian government shows that children as young as eight can recall specific betting brands and offers, raising concerns about early exposure to gambling.
Online Gambling Access Blocking Measures
The ACMA has ramped up efforts to block illegal offshore gambling websites. Their process works as follows:
- The ACMA identifies websites offering services that violate the IGA
- After investigation, they request Australian internet service providers to block access to these sites
- ISPs implement DNS blocking, preventing Australian users from accessing these platforms
Since this program began in November 2019, hundreds of illegal gambling websites have been blocked. The list continues to grow monthly as the ACMA actively monitors the market.
In 2025, the government plans to implement more sophisticated blocking technology to address VPN workarounds that some users employ to access these sites. The ACMA’s powers will also expand to include blocking gambling-adjacent services such as affiliate marketing sites that promote illegal operators.
Responsible Gambling Laws and Initiatives
Australia has some of the world’s most comprehensive responsible gambling laws. These include:
Mandatory pre-commitment systems allowing players to set time and money limits
Requirements for gambling operators to offer self-exclusion programs
Ban on credit card use for online gambling
Mandatory training for venue staff to identify problem gambling behaviors
By 2025, all Australian states will implement a standardized responsible gambling framework that includes mandatory loss limits across all forms of online wagering. This represents a significant shift toward harm minimization as the primary regulatory objective.
The National Consumer Protection Framework continues to roll out additional measures, with the final phase scheduled for completion in 2025. This will establish consistent protections regardless of which state a player resides in.
Cryptocurrency and Emerging Technology Regulation
As cryptocurrency gambling gains popularity globally, Australia has begun addressing this emerging sector. The current legal status is ambiguous, with the IGA not explicitly mentioning cryptocurrency gambling.
However, the ACMA has indicated that cryptocurrency casinos targeting Australians fall under the same prohibitions as traditional online casinos. Several such sites have already been added to the ACMA’s blocking list.
In 2025, the government plans to introduce specific legislation addressing cryptocurrency gambling, blockchain-based betting platforms, and NFT gambling games. This reflects the regulatory challenge of keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology.
Virtual reality casinos represent another regulatory frontier that Australian authorities are beginning to address. Current interpretation holds that VR casinos are subject to the same restrictions as traditional Australian online casinos, but specific regulations may be forthcoming in the 2025 IGA review.
Future Outlook and 2025 Predictions
Australia’s gambling regulatory landscape will likely see significant changes in 2025 and beyond:
Increased harmonization between state gambling laws to create more regulatory consistency nationwide
Further restrictions on gambling advertising, particularly in digital spaces
Enhanced enforcement against offshore operators, including expanded website blocking and payment blocking
Specific legislation addressing emerging technologies like cryptocurrency gambling and virtual reality
Potential reconsideration of the online poker and casino ban, with some lawmakers advocating for a regulated system rather than prohibition
Introduction of algorithmic monitoring requirements to identify problem gambling patterns before they escalate
The government has announced a comprehensive gambling harm study to be completed in 2025, which will inform future policy decisions. Early indications suggest this may lead to more stringent responsible gambling requirements across all sectors.
Key Takeaways
Australia’s gambling laws create one of the world’s strictest regulatory environments, particularly for online gambling. The Interactive Gambling Act prohibits online casinos and poker sites from serving Australian players, though enforcement challenges remain. Sports betting, lotteries, and land-based gambling options operate legally under various state and federal regulations.
Recent years have seen increased enforcement actions against offshore operators, expanded advertising restrictions, and stronger consumer protection measures. The Point-of-Consumption Tax has changed the economic landscape for operators, while responsible gambling initiatives continue to expand.
Looking toward 2025 and beyond, Australia appears set to further strengthen its gambling regulations while addressing emerging technologies and payment methods. Players should stay informed about these evolving laws to ensure their gambling activities remain compliant and protected. The government’s focus will likely continue balancing revenue generation with harm minimization, with the latter gaining increased priority in coming regulatory updates.
Vikas Varier is a content writer based in Sydney. Previously, Vikas worked for different digital agencies as a writer. During that time he helped companies attract visitors and convert leads through cleverly written copy. He has degrees in Communication and Management from Charles Sturt University. In his free time he loves to walk around and cycle in the Royal National Park.