Legal Info for AU Casino Players: Is Online Gambling Legal in Australia? 2026

This means that Australian-based gambling sites and licensed offshore gambling sites are allowed to offer these types of gambling options to Aussie residents. For the most part, individual states and territories within Australia are responsible for regulatory oversight of the industry for their region. Other forms, while not regulated by any local authority, are offered over the web using offshore casinos and poker rooms via smartphones and tablets. It is not illegal for an online gambling site to operate within Australia, however, these businesses can only legally offer their services to players outside of the nation’s borders. The IGA effectively prohibits Australian-based online casinos and poker rooms from offering their services to Aussie players. The onset of technological advances within the gambling industry brought Australia face-to-face with Internet gambling sites. Online gambling, or interactive gambling as Australia terms it, is one area where the Commonwealth has gotten more involved from a national regulatory standpoint.
You’ll need to report your net profits (winnings minus losses) as income on your tax return. For example, a professional sports bettor who consistently wins must report their net earnings. If you bet for fun, whether on sports, racing, or lotteries, you don’t pay tax on your winnings. If you see an ad that appears to be misleading, you can report it to the ACMA or your state regulator for further action. However, they must include messages about responsible gambling.
The 2017 IGA amendment further tightened rules by targeting offshore operators, ensuring only licensed betting services operate legally. This keeps your betting options exciting but within legal boundaries. Totalisator betting (pari-mutuel) and fixed-odds betting are both legal, offered by licensed bookmakers or state-run TABs. Licensed sites follow strict regulations on fair play, customer verification, and responsible gambling, so you can bet with confidence. To find legal sites, check for licenses from regulators like the NTRC, which is popular for online bookmakers due to its flexible licensing rules. These sites offer sports betting, racing bets, and sometimes lotteries or keno. You have plenty of legal ways to gamble online in Australia, but the options are limited by the IGA.
The authors also anticipate reforms in the area of ‘trade promotion lotteries’ which are a form of free-entry permissible lottery conducted for the purpose of promoting a business or trade. The ACMA has been particularly active in taking action against illegal gambling operators offering or promoting their services to Australians. Further, the ACMA has also been very active in engaging with overseas regulators and other parties concerning the illegal offering of online gambling products in Australia.
State and territory lotteries engage in pooling arrangements pursuant to what is known as ‘bloc agreements’, under which jackpots are pooled, making the customer offering more attractive. Retail operations are typically conducted using authorised agents and licensing distribution arrangements. A Brisbane casino development licence permits the relevant casino to typically offer traditional table games and gaming machines.
Casino licences can typically only be applied for through a competitive tender process run by the relevant state or territory. There are often strict local government planning requirements that must be met in relation to gaming machines. Hotels and clubs hold a venue operator’s licence and a permit/licence to operate each gaming machine within the licensed premises. Retail Wagering is offered by state and territory-based totalisator agency boards (TABs) pursuant to sole licences in the relevant state or territory, thereby providing them with a form of ‘retail exclusivity’. Each state and territory has a relevant Casino Control Act (or similar legislation) under which casino licences have been issued. 2.2 Where Licences are available, please outline the structure of the relevant licensing regime.
Despite the pro-online poker community’s efforts to prove that legalized online poker would be more beneficial than a looming ban, the Committee’s report did not meet the pro-poker advocates’ expectations and only delayed online poker legislation. From posh casinos to popular pub pokies, and sports betting options, it is clear that there is plenty of demand for this type of entertainment. This has both regulatory and ethical implications that could set a precedent for the rest of Australia.” “Every study shows that the person who gets in trouble with gambling, if they set their limits, money and time before they’re in front of that mesmerising machine, actually set much more sensible limits,” he said. Gamblers will be required to set limits for how long they play, how much they spend and lose, and will no longer be able to play when they reach any of these benchmarks.
Laws regarding online gambling vary by country, so always ensure you meet the legal gambling age and comply with your local regulations before playing. Gambling can be addictive; we encourage you to set personal limits and seek professional help if needed. By country, so always ensure you meet the legal gambling age and comply with your local regulations before playing. For residents of the Sunshine State, gambling is a significant pastime, with recent data showing continuous high engagement in gaming machines (pokies) and a surging preference for convenient online play. Always ensure that you are gambling responsibly and within the legal boundaries set by the Queensland Government to enjoy a safe and enjoyable gaming experience. Popular gambling games in Queensland include poker machines (also known as pokies), table games such as blackjack and roulette, and sports betting. Queensland boasts several world-class casinos and gaming venues, offering a wide range of gambling activities.