Gambling is one of the most heavily regulated activities in Australia, but the rules are easy to misread. The single most important point is this: the law is aimed at operators, not players. You will not break any law by using an offshore online casino, even though no Australian company is allowed to run one. Everything below builds on that distinction.
The short version
- Online sports and race betting with licensed Australian bookmakers is legal.
- Online lotteries and keno through licensed providers are legal.
- Online casino games, poker and live-dealer games cannot legally be offered by Australian operators – so players use offshore sites.
- Playing at an offshore casino is not an offence for you as a player.
- Land-based casinos, pokies and TABs are legal and licensed state by state.
How gambling is regulated in Australia
Regulation is split across two levels of government, which is why the picture looks complicated.
Federal vs state
The federal government regulates online gambling, mainly through the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The states and territories regulate physical gambling – casinos, pokie venues and TAB outlets – and license the operators within their borders.
State and territory regulators
Each state and territory has its own regulator for land-based venues and licensing disputes:
| State / Territory | Regulator |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | Liquor & Gaming NSW |
| Victoria | Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) |
| Queensland | Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) |
| Western Australia | Dept of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries |
| South Australia | Consumer and Business Services (Liquor & Gambling Commissioner) |
| Tasmania | Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission |
| Australian Capital Territory | ACT Gambling and Racing Commission |
| Northern Territory | Northern Territory Racing Commission |
The Interactive Gambling Act 2001
The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) is the federal law that shapes online gambling in Australia. It makes it an offence to provide online casino games, online poker and live-dealer games to people in Australia – but it places no penalty on the people who play them. It also prohibits online in-play sports betting, while allowing licensed pre-match and telephone in-play betting.
Because the IGA is the piece of law players most often misunderstand, we cover it in full on a dedicated page: the Interactive Gambling Act explained.
What’s legal online
Sports and race betting
Betting online with a licensed Australian bookmaker on sports and racing is legal. The main restriction is that in-play (live) bets on sports cannot be placed online – they must be made by phone or in person. Licensed bookmakers also cannot advertise sign-up bonuses, which is why you see far more promotions at offshore casinos.
Lotteries, keno and bingo
Online lotteries and keno through licensed providers are legal, as is online bingo. These are the other corners of the legal local online market.
Online casino games and live dealer
Pokies, blackjack, roulette and live-dealer tables cannot legally be offered online by an Australian operator. The games themselves are not a crime to play – the law simply bars local companies from running them, so the entire online casino market that serves Australians is offshore.
Land-based gambling
Physical gambling is legal and state-regulated. Australia has around a dozen licensed brick-and-mortar casinos, pokie machines in pubs and clubs (tested and regulated, though usually at lower RTP than online), and TAB outlets and racetracks for in-person betting on racing.
The credit card and crypto ban
Since 11 June 2024, licensed Australian online wagering providers may no longer accept credit cards, credit-related products (such as some digital wallets) or cryptocurrency. The ACMA enforces the ban, with penalties of up to A$247,500 for operators who fail to comply, and the government is reviewing its effectiveness after June 2026.
Note the limit of this rule: it binds legal Australian wagering services. Offshore casinos sit outside Australian law, which is exactly why they still accept cards and crypto.
Offshore casinos and the ACMA blacklist
Offshore casinos are licensed abroad – most commonly in Curaçao, sometimes Malta or the Isle of Man – and are not bound by Australian rules. The ACMA maintains a list of illegal services and directs Australian internet providers to block them, which is why a casino may become unreachable without warning. Blocking targets the operator; it is not action against you.
Where you stand as a player
For an Australian player, the practical takeaways are simple. You can legally bet with licensed local bookmakers and play licensed lotteries and keno; you can also legally play at offshore casinos, accepting that they fall outside Australian protection. If a dispute arises at an offshore site, Australian regulators cannot recover your money – your routes are the casino’s own licensing authority and the steps on our player disputes page.
Laws by state and territory
The federal rules above apply everywhere, but each state and territory layers its own licensing and venue laws on top. See the guide for your region:
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- South Australia
- Western Australia
- Tasmania
- Australian Capital Territory
- Northern Territory
See also our guides to gambling and tax and the penalties that apply under Australian gambling law.
This page is general information for players, not legal advice. If gambling has stopped being fun, free and confidential support is available 24/7 on 1800 858 858 – see our responsible gambling page.