Online Gambling Ban Australia

AGRC survey reveals young men betting more in lockdown. October 2020: The Australian Gambling Research Centre’s survey on gambling during COVID-19 has shown that young male gamblers spent more in lockdown and they were doing it online (with one in three signing up for new online betting accounts). Gambling losses in Australia are at a record high after punters frittered away almost A$24bn (£14bn; $18bn) in a year, according to data compiled by the Queensland state government this month.

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Have you noticed that gambling laws in Australia and most countries were much more well-defined before the age of the internet?

There was no ambiguity with land-based gaming and whether or not you could play pokies or walk up to a betting window with cash in hand.

Online gambling has changed the game, though. With casinos, online casinos, bookmakers, and sports betting sites, it can be challenging to keep up with what’s on the approved list or not.

• What’s the legal gambling age in Australia?
• Do you have to pay taxes on gambling winnings?
• Is in-play betting legal in online sportsbooks?

The questions can go on indefinitely. But we’ll address as many as possible in our overview of betting in the Land Down Under.

We’re covering land-based and online Australia gambling laws, how they evolved, and where they’re heading.

To fully understand Australia’s stance on gambling, we have to start with the big picture.

Australia is a bit like the US when it comes to gambling legislation. There’s a touch of federal input, especially regarding consumer protection, but the states and territories govern individual gambling laws.

Unlike the US, though, there’s more of a consistent approach amongst the eight regions. You’ll find at least one casino in each area, pokies are in bars and clubs except in Western Australia, and sports betting is legal in-person and online.

Distinctions emerge when you look at the little details. For example, one state may impose a $5 betting maximum on pokies in bars and clubs, while it’s $10 in another. Or, the situation in Western Australia where a casino is the only destination for gambling machines.

We’ll look at the situation in the eight regions soon, but here’s a breakdown of Australia’s gambling regulation.

Unlike land-based gambling that varies from region to region, Australia’s online gambling laws are subject to the Interactive Gambling Bill of 2001.

The Interactive Gambling Bill is easy to understand as it mentions three prohibited activities.

It’s against Australian law to do any of the following.

• Provide a prohibited interactive gambling service to customers in Australia.
• Provide an unlicensed regulated interactive gambling service to customers in Australia.
• Provide an Australian-based interactive gambling service to customers in designated countries.

If you don’t read all of the language, the bill could be interpreted to include all gambling forms, but that’s not the case. This particular legislation pertains to casino gambling (table games, pokies, poker).

In a nutshell, online casinos are prohibited whether they originate from inside the country or through offshore providers.

Even though online casinos are technically off-limits for Aussies, there’s plenty of internet-based casino gambling happening in Oz.

Online betting is private. It’s not like authorities are physically looking over your shoulder while you’re on your desktop or smartphone. So, the laws apply to the providers instead of players.

The ACMA, or the Australian Communications and Media Authority, handles online gambling complaints. A few actions can be taken toward a cease and desist based on those reports, starting with a written warning and leading to some considerable fines.

Fines for breaking the Interactive Gambling Bill’s rules are as follows.

• $1.6 million for an individual
• $8.3 million for a corporate entity

Not too much is done to follow-up, though, even with the potential countermeasures.

The government encourages players to avoid offshore providers because they’re risking money with no available recourse of non-payment. But that’s about the extent of enforcing Australia’s online gambling laws.

Online sports betting laws in Australia are in a different category.

Not only are there thousands of traditional brick and mortar sportsbooks throughout Oz, but sports betting sites are also approved with two caveats.

• The sports betting site must be licensed and regulated within the country.
• In-play wagering is prohibited.

You may wonder why in-play betting is excluded. If you look at the 2001 Interactive Gambling Bill’s language, the word “interactive” is used repeatedly. It’s what sets casino gambling apart from sports betting.

Unlike pre-game action, in-play betting heads into that realm of interactive gambling. So, regardless of the ongoing protests by bookmakers, live sports betting is still off-limits.

Most online betting providers are licensed in the Northern Territory, and it’s a lengthy approval process.

There are plenty of hurdles to jump for potential providers, but it’s beneficial for players. They have more confidence in risking their money, knowing they’re using thoroughly vetted gambling sites in Australia.

The Northern Territory investigates the following when issuing licenses.

• Reputation
• Financial background
• Current financial resources
• Proposed management

Pari-mutuel wagering is in the category of sports betting. It’s not an interactive activity, so Aussies can bet horse racing online, as well as in person.

The same principle applies to the lottery. While players can buy advance sale tickets using their computer or mobile device, instant play is excluded.

The Land Down Under heads to the middle when it comes to its gambling legislation.

It doesn’t have 50 locations to contend with, like the US. But it’s also not as streamlined as a location like the United Kingdom, where everything falls under the jurisdiction of the UK Gambling Commission.

The Australian Capital Territory covers just under a half-million residents. Its gambling offerings include Casino Canberra, which opened in 1994.

There are nearly 5,000 pokies in the region, ok’d by the Gaming Machine Act of 2004. The machines are in hotels, clubs, and taverns with limits. Players can’t insert bills higher than $20 nor bet more than $10 per game.

The Race and Sports Bookmaking Act of 2001 grants authority of race and sportsbooks, both brick and mortars and online, to the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission.

Charity gambling is allowed, while poker and table games are prohibited outside of Casino Canberra.

More legal gambling is happening in New South Wales than anywhere else in the country. Three casinos, The Star and Crown Casinos in Sydney and Wolf Betting Casino in Terrigal, house a small portion of the more than 100,000 pokies in the state.

New South Wales also has a $10 maximum per game unless you’re in one of the casinos, then the sky’s the limit. If you win more than $5,000, you’ll receive your payout in a check instead of cash.

The area dominates with clubs that carry machines, as well as TAB outlets. Half of all Aussie clubs and bars with pokies reside within New South Wales state lines. The area also has 1,133 brick and mortar sports betting locations in addition to the licensed online bookmakers.

While offshore casino website operators are warned but pretty much left alone, New South Wales is serious about a 2018 update to 1998’s Betting and Racing Act. The modification makes it illegal for a bookmaker to provide an inducement to players, like a new player welcome bonus.

NSW’s Office for Liquor, Gaming, and Racing is serious about the relatively new law and has already issued fines of a few thousand dollars to each policy violator.

While the Northern Territory has two land-based casinos, Lasseters in Alice Springs and Mindil Beach in Darwin, it’s known more for issuing online licenses for sports betting.

The Northern Territory Government has an entire department dedicated to online gaming.

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Land-based betting is a bit more limited compared to some of its sister states and territories. You’ll find a handful of TAB outlets and approximately 2,200 pokies in bars and clubs.

Gambling machines are limited to $5 bets, and winnings over $500 are issued through checks.

Compared to the Northern Territory landscape, Queensland is hopping with 47,000 machines in hotels and clubs.

Queensland is number one for brick and mortar casinos, even edging out New South Wales.

• The Star Gold Coast – Broadbeach
• The Reef Hotel Casino – Cairns
• Treasure Casino – Brisbane
• The Ville Resort-Casino – Townsville

Gambling is under the jurisdiction of the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation. While the office has a department specifically for interactive gambling licenses, they’re primarily issued to non-profit organizations.

Queensland also imposes a $5 maximum betting limit, as well as a $25,000 ceiling on winnings in clubs or hotels. While the pokies accept cash, forget about using a hundred, as $50 will do it.

Adelaide Casino, formerly Skycity Adelaide, is the only prominent gambling venue in South Australia. The Adelaide is home to 1,000 out of the 13,000 machines in the region.

While South Australia allows for $10 bets in clubs, it restricts payouts to $10,000 or less. Pokies are a bit different, though, as they only take coins. You can’t insert a bill into a machine in South Australia.

The South Australia government Consumer and Business department handles gambling licensing, as well as licenses for anyone who works for a bookmaking operation. To be certified, you have to undergo a criminal and financial background check.

The Wrest Point Hotel and Casino in Tasmania is the first in the country. It opened in 1973 in Hobart and is still going strong. Nine years later, Launceston’s Country Club Casino had its grand opening.

Like the Australian Capital Territory, there are only about a half-million residents in Tasmania. They’re well accommodated with more than 3,500 pokies. But the machines are the same as South Australia in that they don’t take bills. It’s coins only in hotels and clubs.

Pokies are limited to $5 maximum bets, and winnings over $1,000 are paid by check.

The Crown Melbourne Casino is the crown jewel of Victoria. The area accommodates 30,000 machines.

Victoria approved pokies in 1991, and they have similar restrictions as other areas. While you can insert a $20, $50 is the limit. Your per-game wager also has to be $5 or less, and winning over $1,000 is paid by check, similar to most of Victoria’s sister states.

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Residents can take advantage of some specific gambling inclusions in Victoria, including the following.

• Betting on approved foot and bicycle races
• Games at amusement parks and carnivals
• Approved Calcutta sweepstakes
• Two-up at ANZAC day

The other seven states and territories have approved pokies in bars, clubs, and hotels. New South Wales gave the go-ahead starting in 1956, but Western Australia has taken a different stance.

While you can still play any of the 1,750 gambling machines in the area, they’re all located within the Crown Perth Casino, formerly the Burswood Casino.

It’s more a case of quality over quantity in Western Australia. Maximum bets can be as high as $225, and the minimum RTP is slightly higher than in other locations. The pokies need to have at least a 90% RTP, while other regions hover around the 85% mark.

FAQ About Gambling Laws in Australia

Australians visiting casinos, playing pokies, or placing sports bets need to be at least 18 years of age.

Pokies and sports betting are the top two gambling activities in the Land Down Under. Placing a sports bet is as easy as pulling out your smartphone and accessing one of the many state-regulated online bookmakers.

If you prefer to place your bet in person, you’ll find thousands of TAB outlets, primarily in hotels, clubs, and taverns.

No. Australia doesn’t impose a tax on player gambling winnings.

Yes. All bookmaking operations, casinos, and pokie providers are licensed and regulated by one of the eight agencies, depending on location.

Providers and their staff go through a thorough background check that includes reputation, finances, and viability.

Australia’s online gambling laws, specifically the Interactive Gambling Bill of 2001, prohibit casino gaming, or “interactive” gambling. While bookmakers can apply for an online license, casinos are strictly land-based operations.

The legislation is directed toward the offshore providers that accept Australians, but that hasn’t deterred providers or players.

Yes, and no.

Purchasing a draw ticket is permissible. But instant lottery tickets fall under the interactive category, which is off-limits in Oz.

Online bingo is legal for Aussies, but only through licensed providers.

A: Yes. Pari-mutuel wagering is legal in Australia. You can place your bets through both land-based and online racebooks in Australia.

Yes. Australian punters are obligated to make good on their gambling debts. However, the scenario should only apply to casino high rollers.

Since 2018, bookmakers are prohibited from extending credit to players.

If you’re using an Australia-licensed online sportsbook, you won’t find any welcome incentives anymore.

Just as player credit has been off the table since 2018, so have gambling site welcome awards.

Instead of dedicated DFS websites, Aussie punters can participate in Daily Fantasy Sports through Australia’s licensed online bookmakers.

ACMA, or the Australian Communications and Media Authority, provides oversight for federal gambling laws in Oz.

It handles consumer complaints regarding prohibited online gambling activities, including casino gambling, instant lotteries, in-play betting, and player credit.

Yes. The Australian Government’s Department of Social Services offers gambling help for players and their families and friends. There are also financial counseling services.

• Gambling help online – www.gamblinghelponline.org.au
• National Gambling Helpline – 1800 858 858

While we can’t foresee what the future holds, Australia isn’t currently focusing on expanding its list of gambling and online gambling opportunities.

Instead of proposed changes to Australian online gambling laws, the government focuses on tightening current restrictions. There’ve been a few changes to the 2001 Interactive Gambling Bill, providing more player protection.

New South Wales passed new gambling legislation in 2018, eliminating new players’ incentives to use online bookmaking services.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported eight providers were already fined a total of $131,950 plus another $184,000 in court costs in less than a year.

In-play betting continues to be a hot topic in Australia.

Bookmakers fight against the restriction while gambling regulatory agencies are ramping up compliance efforts.

Since 2018, TV advertising from state-regulated bookmakers has been restricted to certain hours to avoid “family-time.”

Some regions, like Victoria, are striving to ban other advertising methods, like billboards and public transportation. Aussies can expect gambling advertising to be a highly debated topic moving forward.

As Australians lose an average of $24 billion through gambling pursuits, the federal government and the states and territories focus on player protection above gambling expansion.

There are some minor inconsistencies amongst Australia’s gambling regulatory agencies. However, overall, there’s an easy formula associated with gambling and online gambling laws in Australia.

Casino gaming is legal in any of the land-based gambling venues across the country, and there’s at least one casino in every state and territory. Online casinos aren’t licensed and regulated in the Land Down Under. Slots and table game betting fall under the interactive category, which is off-limits.

Sports betting, pari-mutuel wagering, and daily fantasy sports are approved. Daily fantasy sports are exclusively online, but sports and horse racing bets can be placed in person or through licensed online bookmakers. Australia also allows for online lottery sales, but only draw tickets, as instant play is interactive.

The legal gambling age in Australia is 18, and players aren’t taxed on winnings.

Australian law has an established ban, under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, on real money mobile gaming applications, resulting in the removal of real cash apps in the Android and iOS app stores.

The fastest growing niche in online gambling is the mobile market. If you own a smartphone, tablet or even an older WAP or Symbian-based phone, you can access real money interactive gambling – casino games, sports and poker. Here’s how:

Best Mobile Gambling Apps and Sites for Australians

Here are our top mobile gambling apps and websites which make this activity an enjoyable and rewarding experience. With each app and/or mobile compatible browser website, welcome bonuses and constant promotions are on offer, as are an array of games and betting options, making mobile gambling in Australia far superior to land-based betting.

The mobile industry has changed the gambling industry forever, and for the better. There are more mobile phones in use across the world than there are people on this planet, and as Australians, we are fortunate enough to be able to access legal and convenient real money gaming on our portable devices.

Note: The official RV Casino application is actually branded Regal Vegas in all app stores. This is for marketing purposes. Understand that this is the app you want to install, because once you have downloaded it and registered an account, you can select from two interfaces within the app: Regal Vegas – practice play, and Royal Vegas – real money play.

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How Mobile Gambling Works

As detailed above, we can gamble on our mobile via a couple of different methods: we can download specific application software (market and non-market) which is designed to operate on smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, or we can access the fully-fledged exclusively mobile websites directly through our browsers.

In most cases, whether you use a downloadable app or access what is also referred to as ‘instant play’ sites (via Web-browsers), the content, available options and games will be more or less the same. Internet sites are fast becoming more advanced and with new formatting technology like HTML5, can carry out tasks just as well as specific application software.

We can also create our own Web apps via instant play sites offered through Web browser, by accessing our Internet settings and adding the specific site to our mobile/tab homescreen. Doing so creates an icon which uses browser language (such as Java, JavaScript, HTML5, Flash, Silverlight and CSS) to operate, and is compatible with all cellspacing='0' cellpadding='0'>

You can also create Web apps (also known as browser apps) directly through your Internet browser while you are gambling at any instant play mobile site. Access your in-browser settings and find the setting which says ‘add to homescreen.’ Create the title for either the specific sports bet or casino site, or even an individual game, and an application icon will pop up on your homescreen – a Web app which performs tasks just like a market app, but uses little (if any) disk space, and downloads its software for local processing via your browser (just like an Internet video).

Our suggested websites are licensed and secure, work with the Australian dollar, and offer a wide range of deposit and withdrawal methods such as credit/debit cards, Neteller, Skrill, POLi and direct bank transfers. They provide welcome bonuses, customer support, a variety of games, progressive jackpots and daily promotions and prizes.

Mobile Gambling Frequently Asked Questions

What is mobile gambling?

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Mobile gambling covers all forms of real money gambling that take place on mobile and smartphone devices. While the mobile market was a non-factor when Internet gambling sites first appeared in the 1990s, it has quickly grown over the past decade to become a major part of the industry.

Making wagers on smartphones and tablets is expected to be the biggest growth area for online gambling in the near future, as more sites offer mobile-friendly options and gamblers become more accustomed to playing real money games on their smartphones and tablets.

Can I Gamble on My iPhone?

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If you own a smartphone or tablet, you can access and play at real money mobile casino sites, sports and poker on your iPhone, iTouch or iPad device. Despite some information to the contrary, mobile gambling is allowed and available on iPhones in Australia.

The confusion comes from the fact that Apple has had a frosty relationship with online gambling apps in their app store, which has led some to believe that they do not allow any form of betting on their devices. In reality, Apple has chosen to be somewhat conservative with what they allow in terms of apps, only allowing real money gambling apps from licensed companies to be sold in regulated markets.

This means that in Australia – where there is no real regulatory scheme for most forms of Internet gambling – many sites do not offer iPhone apps for real money play. However, even if these are not available, you can access many mobile sites in your phone’s browser, allowing you to play at most casino, poker, and bingo sites.

Can I Play on My Android?

Android phones may be the ideal devices for gambling. There are fewer restrictions on gambling apps on Android devices, meaning that there are more available to choose from. As with iPhones, you’ll also have the option of navigating to the many mobile-friendly websites that have been set up by online gambling companies if you prefer not to use these apps (or if you are playing on a site that has not released an app).

How About on Older Phones and Other Tablets?

Yes, mobile gambling sites can be accessed from iPads, Kindle Fires, Google Nexus’s and other mobile tablet devices, and if you own an older WAP or Symbian-based phone, such as a Nokia or Blackberry device, most of our recommended mobile casinos support them too.

In many cases, tablets make the most ideal gambling platforms, as they combine the portability of a phone with the power and larger screen of a laptop. Depending on what apps are available on your device, you may be able to play at online casinos by downloading an app, or you may be able to access mobile sites (or in a few cases, even the standard “Instant Play” sites usually only set up for computers) through your tablet’s web browser.

Can I Play For Free?

Many mobile casino websites offer practice play games to members on both computer and mobile platforms, so a free sign-up to your preferred site is required.

How Safe Is It?

Gambling on your mobile device is as safe and secure as any other action you take on your phone, such as banking or paying bills. Online gambling sites protect and secure their mobile sites using the same encryption methods used on their downloadable software platforms and Flash sites, meaning you never have to worry about anyone intercepting your private data. The same 128-bit Secure Socket Layer digital encryption technology also ensures our real money AUD deposits, withdrawals and other general transactions remain safe and secure.

Mobile Gambling Versus Traditional Gambling on the Internet

Many mobile gambling games are essentially identical to the games you would find in a more traditional online gambling website. Progressive jackpots are often shared between the mobile and other versions of a casino’s software, and poker rooms allow mobile players to compete in games with those playing on their downloadable clients.

As mobile technology continuously advances along with mobile gaming, Microgaming software has made it easy for smart device users to access and play casino games on their platforms. All mobile games are essentially optimised for the mobile platform rather than condensed with concessions, thanks to increased graphical chipsets in our phones an tablets.

The same technology powering Internet casino games on the standard computer also takes advantage of many mobile devices and their inherent features; games are suited and fitted to the smaller screen and interfaces are designed around the unique touch-screens of many smart devices.

The main differences seen in mobile gambling can usually be attributed to simplification. Many games will have unnecessary features stripped out, such as some of the more enhanced graphics and ambient sound. Animations may be missing or otherwise less detailed, and extra information like number trackers in roulette may be excluded. Many mobile users tend to want a more streamlined experienced as well. As time goes on and technology improves, however, these features are becoming more common as a industry standard, even in games designed for mobile phones from the ground up.

What Kinds of Casino Games Can I Play?

A typical mobile casino will feature a wide variety of games. At all of our top recommended mobile casinos, there is always a guaranteed line-up of the most popular progressive pokies, such as Cash Splash, Mega Moolah and Major Millions. The top interactive slots, such as Avalon II, Immortal Romance and Thunderstruck II also always headline the best mobile casinos. Table games like blackjack and roulette, and plenty of video poker machines round out the catalogues.

The main difference comes not in the types of games you can play in a mobile casino, but in the number of games available. While a typical online casino like Royal Vegas might have hundreds of games available in their downloadable and instant play casinos, a mobile casino might just have 20-30 games on average. However, what mobile casinos may lack in sheer quantity they make up for in quality, as only the best and most requested titles get the portable treatment.

Can I Bet on Sports?

Sports betting has long been at the forefront of mobile gambling. Most online sportsbooks have built mobile-friendly sites that can be accessed from any phone that has an Internet connection, allowing bettors to place a bet any time they can hop online. Mobile sports betting is a great way to take advantage of late breaking news or get in a last minute bet when you feel that you want to put money on a game or match that is starting before you can get back to your computer.

Can I Play Poker?

Poker sites were the slowest adopters of mobile gambling, but in the last few years, they have slowly been rolling out versions of their software that will allow players to play poker games from their mobile phones. These poker rooms usually offer a limited selection of cash games (often just Texas Hold’em and perhaps Omaha), sometimes along with some tournament play as well.

Can I Make Deposits through My Phone?

The answer to this question varies depending on the casino or other gaming site you’re playing at on your mobile phone. Perhaps the most common situation you’ll run into is one in which deposits are possible through your phone, but with limited functionality. Find more answers to questions about gambling deposits here.

For instance, you may only be able to make deposits using through a select number of methods, or you might only be able to use banking options that you have already registered through the regular version of the software. Be sure to find out exactly what options are available for mobile banking at your sites in order to ensure you have money available in your accounts when you want to play.

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