Online bingo and keno: how it's regulated in AU
1. Legal status of online bingo and keno in Australia
In Australia, online bingo and keno are subject to the federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA), which prohibits local operators from offering interactive gambling for real money, with the exception of certain permitted categories. Keno and bingo in most cases are prohibited types of interactive casino games if they are held online in real time for players in Australia.
2. Who regulates
Federal level - IGA determines what forms of online gambling can be legally provided. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is responsible for control, which blocks sites and fines operators.
State and territory level - allows offline versions of bingo and keno, and also regulates public and private lottery formats in which keno may be included.
3. Allowed formats
Offline bingo and keno: Held in clubs, pubs and special halls under state or territory licence.
Online versions through goslotherei: Some states, such as Victoria and New South Wales, allow the purchase of keno tickets and participation in draws through the websites of official lottery operators.
Private online operators: Not entitled to offer keno and bingo with real rates to players based in Australia unless acting under special permission under lottery products.
4. Limitations and requirements
Mandatory age verification (18 +).
Compliance with the principles of responsible play: betting limits, alerts, the possibility of self-exclusion.
Integrity Control - Random Number Generators (RNGs) must be certified.
Full transparency of the conditions of the draws.
5. Role of ACMA
ACMA ensures that:
6. Risks for players in unlicensed online games
No guarantee of payments.
There is no mechanism for filing a formal complaint.
Possibility of loss of funds when blocking a site.
Violation of the law by the operator, which increases the risk of sudden closure of the service.
7. Result
Online bingo and keno in Australia are highly regulated: in the format of free online access, they are prohibited for private operators, but can be offered under state lottery systems and licensed offline halls. For players, participation through official, regulator-approved providers remains a safe and legal option.
In Australia, online bingo and keno are subject to the federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA), which prohibits local operators from offering interactive gambling for real money, with the exception of certain permitted categories. Keno and bingo in most cases are prohibited types of interactive casino games if they are held online in real time for players in Australia.
2. Who regulates
Federal level - IGA determines what forms of online gambling can be legally provided. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is responsible for control, which blocks sites and fines operators.
State and territory level - allows offline versions of bingo and keno, and also regulates public and private lottery formats in which keno may be included.
3. Allowed formats
Offline bingo and keno: Held in clubs, pubs and special halls under state or territory licence.
Online versions through goslotherei: Some states, such as Victoria and New South Wales, allow the purchase of keno tickets and participation in draws through the websites of official lottery operators.
Private online operators: Not entitled to offer keno and bingo with real rates to players based in Australia unless acting under special permission under lottery products.
4. Limitations and requirements
Mandatory age verification (18 +).
Compliance with the principles of responsible play: betting limits, alerts, the possibility of self-exclusion.
Integrity Control - Random Number Generators (RNGs) must be certified.
Full transparency of the conditions of the draws.
5. Role of ACMA
ACMA ensures that:
- Illegal online casinos offering bingo and keno were blocked in Australia.
- Advertising of prohibited formats was not distributed on the Internet and the media.
- Operators who broke the law were prosecuted, including hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
6. Risks for players in unlicensed online games
No guarantee of payments.
There is no mechanism for filing a formal complaint.
Possibility of loss of funds when blocking a site.
Violation of the law by the operator, which increases the risk of sudden closure of the service.
7. Result
Online bingo and keno in Australia are highly regulated: in the format of free online access, they are prohibited for private operators, but can be offered under state lottery systems and licensed offline halls. For players, participation through official, regulator-approved providers remains a safe and legal option.
