Gambling Laws and Regulations Report 2026 Australia

Instead, gambling in Australia is regulated at both the state/territory and federal level. If games are not entirely skill-based (that is, there is an element of chance), then they will be subject to the relevant gaming laws. Social gaming (as described) is not generally regulated by gambling regulators; however, age classifications and other restrictions apply to such games. The relevant regulatory bodies are the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission (NTRWC) and Licensing NT.
State and territory laws complement the federal framework by regulating authorised online gambling services within their jurisdictions. Prohibited ‘interactive gambling services’ include a wide range of gambling activities facilitated by digital platforms, including online casinos, online poker, and live sports betting. Ripper Trusted popular online casinos australia casino for Australia offering 20 free spins at sign-up, no deposit required. Visit our recommended online casinos for legal, secure platforms with engaging games and generous bonuses.
Betting on fantasy sports in Australia is offered by some corporate bookmakers licensed in the NT (Corporate Bookmakers). Poker is typically played within casinos and is regulated as a table game by the state and territory gambling regulators detailed below. Under section 15 of the Act it is an offence for a person to intentionally provide a prohibited interactive gambling service with an Australian-customer link. Overseas-based online casinos that target Australian residents are explicitly prohibited under the IGA, with significant civil penalties attached. The penalties for organising an unlawful lottery include 50 penalty units and/or 12 month imprisonment for a first offence, or 100 penalty units and/or 2 years imprisonment for a second or subsequent offence. Under section 6 of the Act, it is an offence to conduct a public lottery without lawful authority. TAB Limited operates a unique position in online betting in the state in that it is licensed under the Totalizator Act 1997 (NSW) to conduct totalizator and fixed odds wagering.
Enforcement action by the ACMA is also likely to continue following the implementation of various legislative changes, including in relation to illegal gambling sites and following the recent commencement of the NSER. The AML/CTF Act also contains criminal provisions and it is possible that AUSTRAC may seek to apply these provisions in relation to non-compliance going forward. In the case of breaches of the AML/CTF Act by gambling service providers, AUSTRAC continues to show that it will prosecute civil penalty offences. State and territory licensees are expected to have appropriate controls in place to ensure that they comply with their licence obligations, including relevant laws and any conditions attaching to their licence. Have fines, licence revocations or other sanctions been enforced in your jurisdiction?
Various states (including NSW and Vic) have implemented harm minimisation measures to cap the number of gaming machine permits/licences on issue in certain lower socio-economic areas. Gaming machine and other equipment manufacturers, software developers and technical services suppliers selling products and/or services used for gambling-related activities are also required to hold a relevant licence (including providers of gaming machine monitoring services). There are often strict local government planning requirements that must be met in relation to gaming machines. State and territory lotteries engage in pooling arrangements pursuant to what is known as ‘bloc agreements’, under which jackpots are pooled, making the customer offering more attractive. On-course Bookmakers holding an On-course Bookmaker Licence offer fixed-odds betting at racecourses and, where appropriately licensed, over the telephone and via the internet. Similarly, a skill game with no element of chance is also not considered gambling and does not require any licence, unless it is operated online and falls within certain ‘interactive gaming’ regimes regulated by state and territory gambling regulators. In relation to hotels and clubs, a venue requires both a gaming venue licence and also a permit/licence for each gaming machine a venue operates.
The same applies in relation to Retail Wagering Licences and also lottery and keno licences. Casino licences can typically only be applied for through a competitive tender process run by the relevant state or territory. Corporate Bookmakers offer online and telephone fixed-odds betting on racing, sports and other approved events and totalisator derivative betting on racing. Retail operations are typically conducted using authorised agents and licensing distribution arrangements. Retail Wagering is offered by state and territory-based totalisator agency boards (TABs) pursuant to sole licences in the relevant state or territory, thereby providing them with a form of ‘retail exclusivity’. Each state and territory has a relevant Casino Control Act (or similar legislation) under which casino licences have been issued.
Corporate Bookmakers offer fixed-odds betting online and over the telephone on sport, racing and other approved events, whereas On-course Bookmakers offer fixed-odds betting on-course and, subject to approval, also over the telephone and in some instances online on similar events as a Corporate Bookmaker. 2.1 What regulatory licences, permits, authorisations or other official approvals (collectively, “Licences”) are required for the lawful offer of the Relevant Products to persons located in your jurisdiction? Set out below is a list of the primary legislation governing gaming, betting, lotteries and social/skill arrangements for each Australian state/territory, as well as at the federal level. Each of Australia’s eight mainland states and territories separately regulates gambling activities within each of their respective jurisdictions. Any skill games and competitions with no element of chance are not typically regarded as gambling, but may still fall within certain gaming regimes when operated in a land-based context. Such sweepstakes games can be differentiated from ‘trade promotion lotteries’ which are common in the jurisdiction.
Under the AML/CTF Act, certain gambling activities are classified as ‘designated services’ and, as such, reporting entities are required, among other things, to register with AUSTRAC, develop and maintain a compliant AML/CTF Program and report certain transactions to AUSTRAC, including by way of TTRs and SMRs. The NSER, which operates under the name ‘BetStop’, commenced operations in August 2023. All gambling-related licences issued by a state or territory are subject to strict requirements relating to responsible gambling and harm minimisation. By way of example, in Vic, where average revenue per gaming machine is greater than AUS $12,500 per month, the tax rate is 60.67%. State and territory taxes on gaming machine revenue are complicated and vary significantly. By way of example, putting aside a federal company tax of either 25% or 30% on profits and a goods and services tax (GST) of 10% on gross revenue, the sole casino licensee in Vic paid a multi-million-dollar licence fee to the state for the right to operate the only casino.