Is online gambling legal in Australia? Partly. Betting on sport and racing with an operator licensed in an Australian state or territory is legal. Online casino games and online poker are not, and it is against the law for any company to offer them to a person located in Australia.
The rules sit in one federal statute, with state and territory licences layered on top. The distinction that matters most is who the law punishes: the legislation is written for operators, not for customers. This guide explains what is permitted, what is banned, which body enforces the rules, and which changes are due in 2027.
The Short Answer
| Activity | Status for players in Australia |
|---|---|
| Sports betting online with a licensed Australian operator | Legal |
| Racing bets online (thoroughbred, harness, greyhound) | Legal |
| Lotteries and instant scratch tickets online | Legal through licensed operators |
| Keno online | Legal in some jurisdictions, proposed for a ban from 2027 |
| In-play betting on sport, placed online | Not permitted online, allowed in venue or by phone |
| Online casino games: pokies, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps | Illegal to provide |
| Online poker for real money | Illegal to provide |
| Betting with an unlicensed offshore site | Illegal to provide, no offence for the customer |
The Law Behind It
The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 is the federal law that sets these boundaries. The Australian Communications and Media Authority, known as ACMA, administers it. The Act lists services that must not be supplied to anyone physically in Australia. Online casino-style games and online poker sit on that list, as does online in-play betting during a match. The ban applies to every provider, whether the company is based in Sydney or Curacao.
Two amendments did most of the recent work. The 2017 amendment closed the in-play telephone workaround and gave ACMA stronger enforcement powers, including the ability to have illegal sites blocked by internet providers. A 2023 amendment prohibited credit cards, credit-related products and digital currency as payment methods for online wagering, with those rules taking effect on 11 June 2024.
Operators Are Liable, Customers Are Not
The Act contains no offence aimed at individual players. A person in Australia who bets on an offshore casino site is not committing a crime under the Interactive Gambling Act, and there is no record of players being prosecuted for it.
The practical consequence is different. An unlicensed site owes an Australian customer nothing enforceable here. There is no local complaints process, no dispute resolution service, no protection for deposited funds, and no obligation to honour a withdrawal.
Who Licenses What
Licensing is a state and territory responsibility. Most national online bookmakers hold a licence from the Northern Territory Racing Commission, and each state regulates its own retail betting, lotteries, keno and gaming machines.
ACMA sits above that structure and handles the federal prohibitions. It investigates complaints, issues formal warnings and civil penalties, and requests website blocking for illegal services. Around 220 illegal services have withdrawn from the Australian market since enforcement powers were expanded.
What You Get With a Licensed Operator
- Identity verification before you can place your first bet, which supports the minimum age of 18 and blocks self-excluded customers.
- A deposit limit function, offered at sign-up and adjustable at any time, with increases subject to a waiting period.
- Regular activity statements setting out deposits, withdrawals, wins and losses.
- A ban on credit cards, credit products and cryptocurrency as deposit methods.
- A ban on offering credit, or arranging credit through a third party.
- Consistent warning messages on advertising, replacing the older “gamble responsibly” line.
- Access to BetStop, the national self-exclusion register, and a complaints path through the relevant state or territory regulator.
None of these apply offshore. That gap is the practical argument for staying inside the licensed market, separate from the legal question.
Self-Exclusion and the National Register
BetStop launched on 21 August 2023 as the final measure of the National Consumer Protection Framework. It is free, and one application covers every wagering provider licensed in Australia, online and by telephone.
Registration takes a few minutes. You choose a period from three months up to a lifetime, and the exclusion can be extended at any point. Providers must then close your accounts, refund any balance, refuse new accounts and stop sending marketing.
The self exclusion meaning here is narrower than some people expect. BetStop covers licensed wagering only. It does not reach the offshore casino sites that operate illegally, which is one reason people who want to ban themselves from online gambling entirely also install blocking software to block gambling sites across their devices, and use venue-level or state schemes for land-based play.
The 2026 Reform Bill
The government announced a reform package on 2 April 2026 and introduced the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 to Parliament on 2 July 2026. A Senate committee is examining it, with a report due on 17 August 2026. If the Bill passes in its current form, the measures start on 1 January 2027.
The main proposals:
- Gambling advertising on television limited to three ads per hour between 6am and 8.30pm, with a complete ban during live sport broadcasts in those hours.
- No gambling advertising at sports venues, or on the uniforms of players and officials.
- No use of athletes, celebrities or influencers to promote wagering.
- Radio restrictions covering school drop-off and pick-up periods.
- Online platform advertising permitted only to logged-in users over 18, with an opt-out.
- A ban on online keno and on foreign matched lotteries.
- Wider rules on operator messaging, covering app notifications and other direct contact.
- Changes strengthening BetStop, plus more enforcement funding against illegal offshore services.
The package stops short of the full advertising phase-out recommended by the 2023 parliamentary report, and the government has not backed a dedicated national gambling regulator. Both points remain contested, which is worth remembering when reading coverage that treats the Bill as settled law. It is not, yet.
Offshore Sites
Sites that accept Australian players for casino games, poker or unlicensed betting are breaking the Act. ACMA blocks them in batches, and blocked operators frequently reappear under new domains. Two signals identify an operator outside the licensed market. It offers casino games or poker to Australian customers. It accepts credit card or cryptocurrency deposits for wagering, which licensed providers have been prohibited from doing since June 2024.
FAQ
Is it illegal to gamble online in Australia?
No offence applies to the individual player. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 targets the companies providing prohibited services.
Can I legally bet on sport online?
Yes, with an operator licensed by an Australian state or territory. Bets must be placed before play begins for the online in-play prohibition to be met.
Why can I bet in-play at a venue but not on my phone?
The Act prohibits in-play betting supplied over the internet. In-person and telephone in-play betting remain permitted.
Is online poker legal in Australia?
No. Real-money online poker is on the prohibited list, alongside online casino games.
Can I use a credit card to fund a betting account?
No. Credit cards, credit-related products and digital currency have been banned as deposit methods for online wagering since 11 June 2024.
Are gambling winnings taxed?
Recreational winnings are generally not treated as taxable income in Australia. Operators are taxed instead. People who gamble as a business should get individual advice.
What is the minimum age?
Eighteen. Licensed operators must verify identity before a customer can place a bet.
How do I ban myself from online betting?
Register with BetStop. It is free, covers all licensed Australian wagering providers, and runs from three months up to a lifetime.
If gambling is causing harm to you or to someone close to you, support is available. In Australia, call the national gambling helpline on 1800 858 858 or visit Gambling Help Online, both free and available 24 hours.