Are live casinos and games with real dealers allowed
1) Legislative framework
Live casinos and games with real dealers are regulated by the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA), the main federal law governing online gambling in Australia.
The IGA prohibits the provision of interactive casino services to Australian players unless the operator has a permit and license under Australian law.
The ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) monitors compliance with the law, blocks illegal sites and can impose fines on operators.
2) Live casino status in Australia
Prohibited:
Allowed:
3) Why live casinos are banned online
The Australian government considers interactive casinos with real dealers to be high risk for players in terms of addiction and consumer protection.
Monitoring the integrity and safety of live games on the Internet is more difficult than for automated games.
The ACMA policy is aimed at restricting access to interactive casino services, regardless of whether the servers are located in Australia or abroad.
4) ACMA position
ACMA blocks sites that offer Australians access to live casinos, even if the operator has an international license (Curacao, Malta, Gibraltar, etc.).
Blocking is performed by IP and DNS.
Operators who break the law risk multimillion-dollar fines.
Players are not criminally liable, but lose the ability to demand payment and protection of rights.
5) Can Australians play at overseas live casinos
Technically possible using a VPN, but this violates the terms of the law and user agreements. Player risks:
6) Permitted alternatives
Offline gaming in licensed Australian casinos.
Virtual versions of random number generator (RNG) games from licensed operators.
Social gaming platforms without cash bets (social casinos).
Conclusion:
Live casinos and games with real dealers are regulated by the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA), the main federal law governing online gambling in Australia.
The IGA prohibits the provision of interactive casino services to Australian players unless the operator has a permit and license under Australian law.
The ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) monitors compliance with the law, blocks illegal sites and can impose fines on operators.
2) Live casino status in Australia
Prohibited:
- Online casinos in an interactive form, including live roulette, live blackjack, live baccarat, live poker.
- Broadcasts with real dealers, when the game is held in real time and bets are accepted via the Internet.
Allowed:
- Participation in live games only in offline casinos (for example, Crown Casino in Melbourne or The Star in Sydney).
- Use streaming video for educational or demonstration purposes, but without the ability to bet.
3) Why live casinos are banned online
The Australian government considers interactive casinos with real dealers to be high risk for players in terms of addiction and consumer protection.
Monitoring the integrity and safety of live games on the Internet is more difficult than for automated games.
The ACMA policy is aimed at restricting access to interactive casino services, regardless of whether the servers are located in Australia or abroad.
4) ACMA position
ACMA blocks sites that offer Australians access to live casinos, even if the operator has an international license (Curacao, Malta, Gibraltar, etc.).
Blocking is performed by IP and DNS.
Operators who break the law risk multimillion-dollar fines.
Players are not criminally liable, but lose the ability to demand payment and protection of rights.
5) Can Australians play at overseas live casinos
Technically possible using a VPN, but this violates the terms of the law and user agreements. Player risks:
- Account blocking and confiscation of funds.
- Lack of legal protection in case of dispute.
- Possible transfer of data to third parties on dubious platforms.
6) Permitted alternatives
Offline gaming in licensed Australian casinos.
Virtual versions of random number generator (RNG) games from licensed operators.
Social gaming platforms without cash bets (social casinos).
Conclusion:
- In Australia, online live casinos and games with real dealers are prohibited under IGA 2001. You can play them only in land casinos that have a local license. Attempting to access such games through offshore sites or VPNs deprives the player of legal protection and increases the risk of fraud. For safe play, it is worth choosing licensed RNG games or visiting physical casinos.
