What licenses are considered legal for the Australian market
1) The general principle of licensing in Australia
Australia does not have a single national license for online gambling. Instead, regulation is at the state and territory level. Each license is valid within the jurisdiction that issued it and must comply with the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) 2001.
2) What licenses are considered legal
Only licenses issued by Australian regulators are considered legal:
3) Which licenses are not suitable
Even if the operator is licensed in another country, it does not make its operations legal in Australia.
Such licenses include:
4) Why it matters to players
Choosing a platform with a license recognized in Australia guarantees:
5) Licenses for different types of games
Bookmaking and sports betting are licenses from the NTRC and their respective state regulators.
Lotteries and scratch cards are licenses from state gambling boards.
Online casino games are completely prohibited domestically, there are no licenses for their conduct in AU. Allowed only in land casinos with a physical location.
6) Control and sanctions
Regulators may:
7) The bottom line
Only licenses issued by local regulators are suitable for legal work in the Australian market. Foreign permits, even from known jurisdictions, do not give the right to offer online casinos or interactive gambling in AU. Players who care about safety should check for an Australian license, and not focus only on international brands.
Australia does not have a single national license for online gambling. Instead, regulation is at the state and territory level. Each license is valid within the jurisdiction that issued it and must comply with the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) 2001.
2) What licenses are considered legal
Only licenses issued by Australian regulators are considered legal:
- The Northern Territory Racing Commission (NTRC) is the primary regulator for bookmakers and online betting companies operating across Australia.
- Victoria Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) - licenses for lotteries and some forms of gambling.
- NSW Liquor & Gaming - licences for local gambling and lottery operators.
- Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission - regulates certain types of online gambling.
- South Australian Consumer and Business Services - issues permits for gambling services in the state.
- ACT Gambling and Racing Commission and WA Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor - licenses for operators operating in their territories.
3) Which licenses are not suitable
Even if the operator is licensed in another country, it does not make its operations legal in Australia.
Such licenses include:
- Curacao eGaming
- Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
- UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)
- Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner
- Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
- These licenses may be considered prestigious in the world, but in the Australian context they do not entitle Australians to legal provision of online casinos or interactive gambling.
4) Why it matters to players
Choosing a platform with a license recognized in Australia guarantees:
- protection of player rights by Australian laws;
- the ability to contact the local regulator in the event of a dispute;
- compliance with the standards of responsible play and honesty;
- Meet stringent data security and anti-malaise requirements.
5) Licenses for different types of games
Bookmaking and sports betting are licenses from the NTRC and their respective state regulators.
Lotteries and scratch cards are licenses from state gambling boards.
Online casino games are completely prohibited domestically, there are no licenses for their conduct in AU. Allowed only in land casinos with a physical location.
6) Control and sanctions
Regulators may:
- revoke licenses in case of violations;
- fine operators millions of AUD;
- blacklist companies to block access;
- pass data to ACMA to block sites.
7) The bottom line
Only licenses issued by local regulators are suitable for legal work in the Australian market. Foreign permits, even from known jurisdictions, do not give the right to offer online casinos or interactive gambling in AU. Players who care about safety should check for an Australian license, and not focus only on international brands.
