The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 makes it illegal for companies to offer online gambling services to Australians. However, companies within Australia are permitted to provide services to other countries.
Legal Framework Overview
Australia regulated online gambling at a federal level. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) prohibits all forms of online casino gambling, including online poker, from being offered to Australian citizens. Furthermore, it is illegal to advertise online gambling services to Australians.
The IGA does not prohibit Aussies from accessing online gambling sites. Also, while the IGA makes it illegal for outside countries to offer services to Aussies, to date, it has not actively prosecuted any violators.
Some forms of online gambling are permitted under the IGA. Online lottery services are not illegal under the act, provided they do not offer instant-win games. Online bingo games are legal and regulated by state and territory gambling agencies. Social casino games and skill-based games that do not have an element of chance are not regulated under the IGA.
Regulatory Bodies
While online gambling and the IGA are regulated at the federal level, state regulatory bodies do most of the legwork in carrying out enforcement. Each Australian state and territory has its own regulatory division that is responsible for gambling policy.
Some of the duties provided by regulatory bodies include:
- Regulating live casino, pub, and club gambling
- Carrying out policies defined in the IGA
- Prosecuting violations of live and online gambling policies
- Influence gambling policy at the state and federal level
- Acts as the final escalation point for players who have issues with casinos or other gambling institutions
There are eight state and territory-level regulatory bodies throughout Australia, as listed below:
Victoria – The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commissions
New South Wales – Liquor and Gaming New South Wales
Queensland – The Queensland Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation
Australian Captial Territory – The Gambling and Racing Commission
South Australia – Consumer and Business Services
Tasmania – The Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission
Northern Territory – Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission
Compliance and Consumer Protection
Regulators are responsible for ensuring that online gambling sites in Australia are adequately protecting players. Two primary areas regulators focus on are responsible gambling practices and money laundering. Let’s quickly look at some of the ways regulators ensure compliance from casinos.
Anti-Money Laundering Policies – Money laundering has been a major issue in live casinos in Australia in the past, leading to strict anti-money laundering requirements from all casinos. These stipulations include requiring casinos to conduct KYC verification for players, verify where a player receives funds for gambling, and even verify the types of accounts being used for transfers.
Responsible Gambling Practices – Australia combats problem gambling by requiring all casinos to adhere to responsible gambling practices. This includes giving players the ability to set limits on play and allowing players to exclude from casinos. Casinos must also have their responsible gambling policies clearly defined and available to players. Casinos also should provide links to help services for players, such as the National Gambling Hotline, Gamblers Anonymous, or SMART Recovery.
Learn More About Online Gambling Laws by State
- ACT Casinos
- New South Wales Casinos
- Northern Territory Casinos
- Queensland Casinos
- South Australia Casinos
- Tasmania Casinos
- Victoria Casinos
- Western Australia Casinos