Why Australia is banning online poker
Australia is known for strict gambling regulation. One of the most discussed restrictions is the ban on online poker. Despite the game's popularity, local laws do not allow operators to offer online poker to Australian players. At the same time, the players themselves do not violate the law by playing on foreign platforms.
Why is the government so severely restricting access to online poker? The answer lies in the legislative, political and ethical reasons detailed below.
What the law says: Interactive Gambling Act
In 2001, Australia passed the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA), the main law governing online gambling. It initially banned the provision of online casinos and interactive games to Australians without a licence.
In 2017, the law was tightened:
Important:
Reasons for banning online poker
Legislative restrictions are caused by a number of reasons:
Online poker is most often provided by offshore operators that cannot be effectively controlled. This creates risks:
The ban allows the state to restrict access to venues that are not subject to Australian regulations.
2. Money laundering issues
Poker as a format is suitable for bypassing AML (anti-money laundering) regulation. Unlike slots, where everything is transparent, poker rooms allow players to transfer chips among themselves, which makes it possible:
3. Social and psychological risks
Poker requires strategic thinking, but it can also cause gambling addiction, especially in young players. Australia is one of the countries with the highest per capita spending on gambling and the government is looking to reduce access to the riskiest types of gambling.
4. No licensing mechanism
There is no framework for legalising online poker in Australia. Unlike betting or lotteries, poker rooms cannot get a local license, even if they want to work legally.
5. Pressure from politicians and lobbyists
Part of the restrictions is related to the internal pressure emanating from:
What happens in practice
Despite the ban, Australians continue to play online poker through offshore platforms:
Players are in a legal gray area: they do not directly violate the law, but they are not protected in any way.
Alternatives and possible changes
For several years, the idea of creating a national licensing system for online poker has been discussed. However:
Therefore, for 2025, the prospects for legalization remain extremely vague.
Conclusion
Online poker in Australia is prohibited for operators, but not for players. This paradox is explained by the desire of the state to control the market, to minimize the risks of restricting access to potentially dangerous forms of gambling.
As long as the country does not have a transparent licensing system, online poker will remain illegal. Players should understand the risks: when playing on illegal sites there will be no protection, there are no guarantees of payments, and any conflicts will have to be resolved independently.
Why is the government so severely restricting access to online poker? The answer lies in the legislative, political and ethical reasons detailed below.
What the law says: Interactive Gambling Act
In 2001, Australia passed the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA), the main law governing online gambling. It initially banned the provision of online casinos and interactive games to Australians without a licence.
In 2017, the law was tightened:
- - Amendments have been added to ban all forms of interactive gambling, including online poker, unless the operator has an appropriate licence approved by the Australian government.
- - Online poker has been officially classified as a banned interactive game.
Important:
- Playing online poker is not prohibited - the operator is responsible, not the player.
- The main blow is aimed at platforms operating without approval, and not at users.
Reasons for banning online poker
Legislative restrictions are caused by a number of reasons:
- 1. Lack of local control
Online poker is most often provided by offshore operators that cannot be effectively controlled. This creates risks:
- lack of player protection;
- inability to verify the honesty of games;
- difficulty resolving disputes.
The ban allows the state to restrict access to venues that are not subject to Australian regulations.
2. Money laundering issues
Poker as a format is suitable for bypassing AML (anti-money laundering) regulation. Unlike slots, where everything is transparent, poker rooms allow players to transfer chips among themselves, which makes it possible:
- money laundering schemes;
- use of anonymous accounts;
- transferring funds between countries through the game.
3. Social and psychological risks
Poker requires strategic thinking, but it can also cause gambling addiction, especially in young players. Australia is one of the countries with the highest per capita spending on gambling and the government is looking to reduce access to the riskiest types of gambling.
4. No licensing mechanism
There is no framework for legalising online poker in Australia. Unlike betting or lotteries, poker rooms cannot get a local license, even if they want to work legally.
5. Pressure from politicians and lobbyists
Part of the restrictions is related to the internal pressure emanating from:
- organizations to combat gambling addiction;
- religious and community groups;
- offline casinos that are not competitive.
What happens in practice
Despite the ban, Australians continue to play online poker through offshore platforms:
- Players use foreign sites operating without a license.
- Some use VPN to access blocked sites.
- Withdrawal of winnings is possible, but without any guarantees or support from the Australian authorities.
Players are in a legal gray area: they do not directly violate the law, but they are not protected in any way.
Alternatives and possible changes
For several years, the idea of creating a national licensing system for online poker has been discussed. However:
- no bill was passed;
- authorities see the market as too risky;
- controlling the game in real time is difficult.
Therefore, for 2025, the prospects for legalization remain extremely vague.
Conclusion
Online poker in Australia is prohibited for operators, but not for players. This paradox is explained by the desire of the state to control the market, to minimize the risks of restricting access to potentially dangerous forms of gambling.
As long as the country does not have a transparent licensing system, online poker will remain illegal. Players should understand the risks: when playing on illegal sites there will be no protection, there are no guarantees of payments, and any conflicts will have to be resolved independently.
