Tasmania has an outsized place in Australian gambling history – it opened the country’s first legal casino – and is now trying to lead in the opposite direction, on harm-minimisation. Its state rules sit on top of the federal framework.
Who regulates gambling in Tasmania
The Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission, supported by the Liquor and Gaming Branch of the Department of Treasury and Finance, is the state regulator for casinos, poker machines and wagering. Online gambling is handled federally by the ACMA under the Interactive Gambling Act.
The major law
- Gaming Control Act 1993 – the main framework for casinos, machines and wagering in Tasmania.
From first casino to licensing reform
Wrest Point in Hobart opened in 1973 as Australia’s first legal casino; the state also has Country Club Tasmania near Launceston. For decades, gaming across the state was tied to the Federal Group under a long-running arrangement. Tasmania has since reformed that model, moving toward individual venue licensing rather than a single statewide operator – a significant structural change.
The push toward a mandatory player card
Tasmania’s most notable recent move is harm-minimisation. The state legislated for a mandatory player card and cashless poker machine play with pre-set limits, pitched as a national-first measure. In practice the rollout has met delays and reviews, with parts put on hold pending a broader national consensus – so it is worth checking the current status rather than assuming it is fully in force.
What’s legal for Tasmanian players
- Legal: online betting with licensed Australian bookmakers on sports and racing; licensed lotteries and keno; land-based casino, pokie and TAB play.
- Offshore only: online casino games, poker and live-dealer games, which no Australian operator may offer.
- Restricted: online in-play sports betting, which must be placed by phone or in person.
What this means for you
For a Tasmanian, the practical rules match the national ones: bet legally with licensed local bookmakers, play licensed lotteries and keno, and treat any online casino as an offshore, unprotected option. See our gambling laws overview and the player disputes page for more.
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.
