Are lotteries and bingo legal online
1) Legislative framework
Online lotteries and bingo in Australia are federally and regionally regulated:
2) Online lotteries: what's allowed
In Australia, only licensed lotteries are allowed that:
Features:
3) Online bingo: legal status
According to IGA 2001, online bingo for Australian players is prohibited if it is offered in an interactive form in real time (similar to online casinos).
Exceptions:
4) Licensing and control
Lotteries - licenses are issued by state/territory authorities, for example:
5) Responsibility of players and operators
Unlicensed operators incur heavy fines and can be blocked.
Players participating in illegal online lotteries or bingo risk losing winnings and losing legal protection.
6) Practical recommendations to players
Buy lottery tickets only on official state or licensed sites.
Check for a license in the state/territory.
Avoid sites offering overseas lotteries and bingo with live presenters unless they are licensed in Australia.
Conclusion:
Online lotteries and bingo in Australia are federally and regionally regulated:
- Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) - Determines which gambling services are allowed to be provided online.
- State and territory laws - regulate licensing and the procedure for holding lotteries and bingo.
- ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) - monitors compliance with the law, blocks illegal sites and oversees licensed operators.
2) Online lotteries: what's allowed
In Australia, only licensed lotteries are allowed that:
- conducted under the control of the state or territory government;
- have an official operator with a licence (e.g. The Lott by Tatts Group, Lotterywest in Western Australia);
- offer draws in the format prescribed by law (traditional draw lotteries, instant lotteries - scratch cards, charity lotteries).
Features:
- You can buy tickets online on the official websites of operators.
- Access to international lotteries through offshore sites (Powerball US, EuroMillions) is considered illegal and blocked by ACMA.
3) Online bingo: legal status
According to IGA 2001, online bingo for Australian players is prohibited if it is offered in an interactive form in real time (similar to online casinos).
Exceptions:
- Charitable bingo conducted by registered organizations under limited licenses.
- Online ticket sales for offline events (draws are held in a physical location, not in an interactive online environment).
4) Licensing and control
Lotteries - licenses are issued by state/territory authorities, for example:
- Queensland Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation
- NSW Fair Trading
- Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation
- Bingo - licensed as "community gaming" or "charitable gaming," with separate requirements for operators.
- The ACMA makes sure Australian sites do not offer bingo in an interactive form without permission.
5) Responsibility of players and operators
Unlicensed operators incur heavy fines and can be blocked.
Players participating in illegal online lotteries or bingo risk losing winnings and losing legal protection.
6) Practical recommendations to players
Buy lottery tickets only on official state or licensed sites.
Check for a license in the state/territory.
Avoid sites offering overseas lotteries and bingo with live presenters unless they are licensed in Australia.
Conclusion:
- In Australia, online lotteries are allowed, but only through licensed domestic operators. Access to foreign lotteries and interactive online bingo is prohibited. Only charity or offline formats with online ticket sales are available for playing bingo online. Legal play is only possible if the license is verified and ACMA requirements are met.
