Basic laws governing online gambling
1) Basic Regulation - Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA)
Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) is the main federal law governing online gambling in Australia. Its key provisions are:
2) Amendments to IGA and increased regulation
Interactive Gambling Amendment Act 2017 - introduced an outright ban on offshore unlicensed casinos and obliged all operators to obtain an Australian license.
2019-2023 - amendments were adopted that strengthened payment control, verification of player identification (KYC) and ACMA's powers to block sites.
2025 - ACMA continues to expand the list of prohibited domains, actively blocking illegal platforms.
3) Role of regulators
ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) - monitors IGA compliance, blocks illegal sites, maintains a register of prohibited domains.
Staff and territorial commissions - issue licenses for bets, lotteries and land casinos, control the activities of local operators.
AUSTRAC - monitors financial transactions as part of the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.
4) Additional laws and acts
Australian Consumer Law (ACL) - protects the rights of consumers, including players of online platforms.
Privacy Act 1988 - regulates the processing of personal data of players and obliges operators to protect their privacy.
Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act) - requires operators to identify customers and track suspicious transactions.
5) Responsibility of operators and players
Operators: Heavy fines for breaching IGA, up to a million Australian dollars per day of operation.
Players: There is no direct liability for participating in illegal online casinos, but there is no legal protection for financial disputes and losses.
6) International aspect
The IGA does not prohibit Australians from using foreign platforms, but such sites are generally blocked by the ACMA and have no obligation to Australian players. This makes playing them high risk.
7) The bottom line
In 2025, Australia's legal system is built around IGA 2001 and related acts that severely restrict online gambling, leaving only certain formats allowed with strict licensing. ACMA and other regulators are actively fighting illegal sites, and players are advised to use only officially authorized platforms.
Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) is the main federal law governing online gambling in Australia. Its key provisions are:
- Prohibits operators without an Australian license from offering online casinos, poker and other interactive gambling products to residents of the country.
- Allows only certain forms of online gambling: sports betting, betting on races, lotteries and keno with a license.
- Obliges operators to adhere to strict standards of player protection and game integrity.
- It acts extraterritorially - it also applies to foreign operators focused on the Australian market.
2) Amendments to IGA and increased regulation
Interactive Gambling Amendment Act 2017 - introduced an outright ban on offshore unlicensed casinos and obliged all operators to obtain an Australian license.
2019-2023 - amendments were adopted that strengthened payment control, verification of player identification (KYC) and ACMA's powers to block sites.
2025 - ACMA continues to expand the list of prohibited domains, actively blocking illegal platforms.
3) Role of regulators
ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) - monitors IGA compliance, blocks illegal sites, maintains a register of prohibited domains.
Staff and territorial commissions - issue licenses for bets, lotteries and land casinos, control the activities of local operators.
AUSTRAC - monitors financial transactions as part of the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.
4) Additional laws and acts
Australian Consumer Law (ACL) - protects the rights of consumers, including players of online platforms.
Privacy Act 1988 - regulates the processing of personal data of players and obliges operators to protect their privacy.
Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act) - requires operators to identify customers and track suspicious transactions.
5) Responsibility of operators and players
Operators: Heavy fines for breaching IGA, up to a million Australian dollars per day of operation.
Players: There is no direct liability for participating in illegal online casinos, but there is no legal protection for financial disputes and losses.
6) International aspect
The IGA does not prohibit Australians from using foreign platforms, but such sites are generally blocked by the ACMA and have no obligation to Australian players. This makes playing them high risk.
7) The bottom line
In 2025, Australia's legal system is built around IGA 2001 and related acts that severely restrict online gambling, leaving only certain formats allowed with strict licensing. ACMA and other regulators are actively fighting illegal sites, and players are advised to use only officially authorized platforms.
