How the betting and casino licensing system works
1. The basics of gambling regulation in Australia
In Australia, gambling is regulated on two levels:
2. Who issues licenses
Betting (sports betting and horse racing) - licenses are issued by state authorities, for example:
3. Differences in betting and casino regulation
Betting: Allowed with a license from one of the state or territory authorities. It can be offered both online and offline. Compliance with the rules of responsible play, checking the age of players, protecting transactions is required.
Casino (online): It is illegal for Australian operators to offer classic online games (slots, roulette, poker). Access to such products on the Internet in a legal format is provided only by foreign licenses, but they are not recognized within Australia.
Land-based casinos: Operate under state licenses, are highly regulated, and undergo regular inspections.
4. Requirements for obtaining a license
Operator financial stability.
Full vetting of beneficiaries and managing persons.
Anti-money laundering (AML) and customer identification (KYC) systems.
Adherence to fair play and data protection standards.
Availability of responsible game tools: deposit limits, self-locking, notifications about the time of the game.
5. Role of ACMA
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) does not issue licenses, but monitors compliance with federal bans on illegal online services. ACMA:
6. What it means for players
Legal online betting in Australia is only available through operators with a state or territory license.
Online casinos in their usual form (slots, live dealers) are not licensed domestically.
Playing with an operator with a valid license guarantees the ability to file a complaint, data protection and control the integrity of calculations.
7. Result
Australia's licensing system is built to allow only strictly controlled forms of online gambling (primarily sports betting) and to completely prohibit the licensing of classic online casinos in the country. For players, this means that the reliability and legality of the service is determined by the presence of a state or territory license, and for casinos - by compliance with all federal and local requirements.
In Australia, gambling is regulated on two levels:
- Federal level - regulates general rules and prohibitions for interactive games through Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA).
- State and territory level - each state issues its own licenses, sets local requirements for operators and monitors the implementation of rules.
2. Who issues licenses
Betting (sports betting and horse racing) - licenses are issued by state authorities, for example:
- Northern Territory Racing Commission (NTRC)
- Victoria Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR)
- NSW Liquor & Gaming
- Casinos - Land casino licenses are issued by state commissions (e.g. Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission for Crown Melbourne).
- Online casinos - Federal law prohibits them in real money format for local operators, but individual licenses may cover sports betting and lotteries.
3. Differences in betting and casino regulation
Betting: Allowed with a license from one of the state or territory authorities. It can be offered both online and offline. Compliance with the rules of responsible play, checking the age of players, protecting transactions is required.
Casino (online): It is illegal for Australian operators to offer classic online games (slots, roulette, poker). Access to such products on the Internet in a legal format is provided only by foreign licenses, but they are not recognized within Australia.
Land-based casinos: Operate under state licenses, are highly regulated, and undergo regular inspections.
4. Requirements for obtaining a license
Operator financial stability.
Full vetting of beneficiaries and managing persons.
Anti-money laundering (AML) and customer identification (KYC) systems.
Adherence to fair play and data protection standards.
Availability of responsible game tools: deposit limits, self-locking, notifications about the time of the game.
5. Role of ACMA
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) does not issue licenses, but monitors compliance with federal bans on illegal online services. ACMA:
- Blocks sites of operators operating without the right to serve Australians.
- Maintains a "black list" of prohibited domains.
- Accepts complaints from players.
6. What it means for players
Legal online betting in Australia is only available through operators with a state or territory license.
Online casinos in their usual form (slots, live dealers) are not licensed domestically.
Playing with an operator with a valid license guarantees the ability to file a complaint, data protection and control the integrity of calculations.
7. Result
Australia's licensing system is built to allow only strictly controlled forms of online gambling (primarily sports betting) and to completely prohibit the licensing of classic online casinos in the country. For players, this means that the reliability and legality of the service is determined by the presence of a state or territory license, and for casinos - by compliance with all federal and local requirements.
