State regulation of gambling in Australia: the current situation

Australia is one of the largest gambling markets in the world. At the same time, state policy in this area combines strict regulation and partial legalization of online gambling. The legislation is updated regularly, and control is carried out both at the federal and regional levels.

1. Who regulates gambling in Australia

Gambling is regulated on two levels:
  • The federal level is through ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority), which controls online gambling, blocks illegal sites and enforces the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
    • Regional level - each state and territory has its own regulators and licensing authorities. Exempli gratia:
    • NSW— Liquor & Gaming NSW
    • Victoria— Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC)
    • Queensland— Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation
    • etc.

    2. Interactive Gambling Act

    The main federal document is the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). It prohibits:
    • Offer interactive casino services (real money games) within Australia without a license.
    • Advertise illegal forms of gambling.
    • Accept bets from minors.

    However, the law allows:
    • Online betting on sports and horse racing with licensed operators.
    • Playing offline casinos and land machines.
    • Registration of Australian players in offshore casinos in the absence of direct advertising and local presence.

    3. Existing restrictions and prohibitions

    The following restrictions apply in 2025:
    • You cannot open an online casino within Australia unless it is licensed and regulated by the relevant state.
    • You cannot advertise bonuses such as freespins or cashback without specifying conditions.
    • Operators are required to comply with the principles of responsible play, including self-locking, deposit restrictions and game time control.

    4. Types of licenses

    Gambling licences in Australia are issued exclusively by regional authorities. The most stringent are licenses from:
    • Northern Territory Racing Commission
    • VGCCC (Victoria)
    • ACT Gambling and Racing Commission

    Licenses regulate not only casinos, but also bookmakers, lotteries, poker rooms.

    5. International licenses and offshore casinos

    Players from Australia actively use casinos licensed by Curacao, MGA (Malta), Isle of Man, since in practice they are not blocked. However, ACMA maintains a register of prohibited sites - in case of complaints or violations, resources may be blocked.

    6. ACMA and site blocking

    Since 2019, ACMA has been actively blocking sites that violate the law. From early 2024 to mid-2025, more than 900 online casinoi of their clones were blocked.

    Reasons for blocking:
    • No license.
    • Violations of the principles of responsible play.
    • Acceptance of bets from minors.
    • Complaints from players about fraud.

    7. Advertising control

    All forms of gambling advertising in Australia are subject to regulation:
    • It is forbidden to direct advertising to minors.
    • Limited time for advertising on television and radio.
    • The Internet space has strict rules for targeting and describing bonuses.

    8. Responsible play and self-regulation

    All licensed operators are required to provide players with:
    • Ability to set limits on deposits and losses.
    • Self-exclusion button.
    • Information about organizations that help with dependency.

    Conclusion

    State regulation of gambling in Australia is a system that combines strict supervision, transparent rules and mechanisms for protecting players. Despite the partial legalization of online gambling, most online casinos operate through offshore licenses. When choosing a platform, it is important to pay attention to the availability of a license, the policy of responsible play and the reputation of the site.