Can an international casino get an Australian licence
1. Legal basis for licensing foreign operators
In Australia, regulation of online gambling is enshrined in the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) and a number of amendments administered by the ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority). The law allows a foreign company to apply for a license, but only on the condition that:
2. Basic requirements for international casinos
To qualify for an Australian licence, a foreign operator must:
3. Restrictions for international operators
State licenses: Some types of gambling are regulated at the state level (e.g. Northern Territory Racing Commission), requiring a separate permit.
A ban on certain products: live casinos, online poker and slots in some jurisdictions remain unavailable even with a license.
Marketing restrictions: Gambling advertising in Australia is strictly controlled, including a ban on aggressive promos and bonuses.
Financial barriers: high license costs and mandatory annual fees.
4. International Casino Licensing Steps
1. Preliminary Assessment - Verify compliance of the business model with Australian law.
2. Registration of the company and legal address in the country.
3. Submission of an application to the licensing authority (national or state).
4. Provision of documents: charter, company structure, beneficiary data, financial statements, evidence of compliance with AML/CTF requirements.
5. Checking the reputation of key persons and payment history.
6. Technical audit of the platform (RNG certificates, data encryption, integration of payment gateways).
7. License issuance and subsequent annual monitoring.
5. Why most international casinos don't get an AU license
Strict requirements for the types of games and the format of work.
Need for physical presence in Australia.
High compliance costs and annual inspections.
Incompatibility with global marketing strategies of operators.
6. Examples of successful license acquisition
Some international brands have been able to obtain an Australian licence through local affiliates, focusing on sports betting, lotteries or fantasy sports, as these formats are more loyally regulated in the country.
7. Conclusion
Theoretically, an international casino can obtain an Australian license, but in practice this is available only to a limited number of operators who are ready to restructure their activities to local legislation, open an office, adapt the product line and invest heavily in compliance. For most global brands, it is easier to operate under an offshore license and accept Australian players without formal permission, which, however, carries legal risks.
In Australia, regulation of online gambling is enshrined in the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) and a number of amendments administered by the ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority). The law allows a foreign company to apply for a license, but only on the condition that:
- full compliance with local standards;
- legal representation in Australia;
- readiness to work according to the requirements of a responsible game and AML/CTF (anti-money laundering).
2. Basic requirements for international casinos
To qualify for an Australian licence, a foreign operator must:
- 1. Register a legal entity in Australia or enter into a partnership agreement with a local company.
- 2. Open an office and appoint a responsible director with residence in the country.
- 3. Connect only permitted games and providers - without prohibited formats (for example, online slots in a number of states).
- 4. Organize local support for players - at least in English, during working hours via AEST/AEDT.
- 5. Store user data on servers that meet Australian security requirements.
- 6. Pass independent audits of honesty and financial transparency.
3. Restrictions for international operators
State licenses: Some types of gambling are regulated at the state level (e.g. Northern Territory Racing Commission), requiring a separate permit.
A ban on certain products: live casinos, online poker and slots in some jurisdictions remain unavailable even with a license.
Marketing restrictions: Gambling advertising in Australia is strictly controlled, including a ban on aggressive promos and bonuses.
Financial barriers: high license costs and mandatory annual fees.
4. International Casino Licensing Steps
1. Preliminary Assessment - Verify compliance of the business model with Australian law.
2. Registration of the company and legal address in the country.
3. Submission of an application to the licensing authority (national or state).
4. Provision of documents: charter, company structure, beneficiary data, financial statements, evidence of compliance with AML/CTF requirements.
5. Checking the reputation of key persons and payment history.
6. Technical audit of the platform (RNG certificates, data encryption, integration of payment gateways).
7. License issuance and subsequent annual monitoring.
5. Why most international casinos don't get an AU license
Strict requirements for the types of games and the format of work.
Need for physical presence in Australia.
High compliance costs and annual inspections.
Incompatibility with global marketing strategies of operators.
6. Examples of successful license acquisition
Some international brands have been able to obtain an Australian licence through local affiliates, focusing on sports betting, lotteries or fantasy sports, as these formats are more loyally regulated in the country.
7. Conclusion
Theoretically, an international casino can obtain an Australian license, but in practice this is available only to a limited number of operators who are ready to restructure their activities to local legislation, open an office, adapt the product line and invest heavily in compliance. For most global brands, it is easier to operate under an offshore license and accept Australian players without formal permission, which, however, carries legal risks.
