Australian Gambling Laws

Nowadays many punters are wondering whether online gambling is legal in Australia, as the number of players around the world is actively increasing every year and this area is becoming more and more popular and expanded. However, it is not so easy for a beginner who just wants to discover the world of online pokies to figure this out, especially if he is not ready to study hundreds of documents in search of answers.

Therefore, our team of experts has compiled a small guide that will help you get an idea of ​​​​online gambling laws in Australia, about the current situation on the market and main tendencies. We also paid attention to the important aspect of how users themselves can check if a gambling operator is legal, because this is a very important factor when choosing a site.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Australia?

Let's start with the main question that often occupies the minds of users. The topic of the legal framework is important for all participants in the process: for operators, non-compliance with the standards can lead to large penalties, and for clients there are risks of using illegal or unregulated platforms, which can lead to the loss of personal funds.

The main document that became the foundation for all existing gambling laws in Australia is the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001, known as the IGA. The current and used version today is the Amendment of 2017. This act sets out the basics, divides gambling into its legal and illegal forms, differentiates between the rules for domestic and offshore operators, and much more.

If you start to examine the rules in more detail, you will see that some activities (for example, sports betting and lotteries) are included in the permitted ones, and online pokies and poker are prohibited. However, this does not mean that Australian residents cannot participate in them. Such gambling laws are aimed at operators and set restrictions for them, and players can use international platforms without violating the provisions. All these rules are enforced with one goal: to protect all users from the risks of gambling addiction, unregulated environments and from unfair practices and conditions.

New Gambling Laws in Australia

We constantly monitor all trends and changes in this area as it has a direct impact on all processes. Australia’s gambling laws do not stop developing, and recently more and more attention is paid to the online sphere and what potential harm to users may exist.

The classic document IGA 2001 is periodically amended in order to strengthen comprehensive protection for all layers of users. Here is one of the most striking recent additions: the introduction of special measures to combat illegal offshore gambling – so that the authorities have more powers to impose fines and even block access to certain operators who do not have permission.

Here are a couple of key points to know about recently:

• National Consumer Protection Framework

This was launched in 2019 and has become a major milestone in the development of protective measures and the establishment of safety for all Australian gamblers.

• National Self-Exclusion Register

One of the main platforms aimed at combating the risks and dangers of gambling (both offline and online).

• Australian Communications and Media Authority

It is better known by its abbreviation ACMA, and continues to play a major role now for IGA compliance. Its main task is to combat illegal gambling and unlicensed operators.

Verifying Legitimacy via the ACMA

There is a reliable way to check whether online gambling is illegal in Australia on a particular site. And you can do this using a popular resource.

Here are a few simple steps:

Additionally, each user has the opportunity to declare a site or platform that raises doubts, and there will be further investigation on them. That is really important, because more and more players will play only on verified licensed sites and avoid risks and problematic situations.

Also in Australia there are special local regulatory bodies. They are the ones who deal with all important issues locally, their main role is to control and implement all the rules and regulations in their specific regions. Here are some examples:

All this shows the increasing focus of all gambling laws in Australia on protecting players. The most important task for many years has been to combat the negative side of gambling and to implement initiatives to create a regulated and safe environment. The main principle is this: everything should be carried out in a secure and transparent manner, and the risk of any harm to individuals (and especially to vulnerable ones) should be minimal.

How to Check if a Gambling Operator is Legal

Choosing a site from a variety of existing ones is one of the most important tasks in order to ensure a safe online gambling experience in the future. Licensed and verified resources provide full compliance with responsible gambling measures, are subject to regular audits, all their operations are completely transparent. So players can be calm about their finances and all personal data, because they will be protected by Australian gambling laws and the system as a whole.

So, how can an ordinary player check if a gambling operator is legal before proceeding to registration and games? Usually, all such information will be collected and indicated directly on the official website of the operator. Anyone can easily find all the numbers of current licenses and the authorities that issued them – most often it will be indicated in the footer or in the Terms and Conditions. You can also simply choose a platform from our list of the best online casinos for Australia, where we collect top platforms with detailed reviews and all the pros and cons.