Online Gambling Laws by State

The federal layer: the Interactive Gambling Act

Any guide to online gambling laws by state Australia players can rely on has to start in Canberra. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 is a Commonwealth law, so it applies the same way in Sydney, Perth or Darwin. It makes it an offence to provide certain interactive gambling services to people in Australia, including online casino games such as pokies, roulette and blackjack, and online poker.

The Act also sets out what is allowed. Licensed online wagering on racing and sport is permitted, as are online lotteries, with some limits such as the ban on in-play online sports betting. In 2017 the Act was amended to tighten the rules on offshore operators and give the regulator stronger enforcement tools.

The Act targets providers. Australians who use offshore casinos are not committing the offence the Act creates, but they give up the protections that come with a local licence. If an offshore casino refuses a withdrawal, there is no Australian ombudsman to call.

How ACMA enforces the federal rules

The federal rules are enforced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), not by the states. ACMA online gambling enforcement works through complaints and investigations aimed at the providers of prohibited services and at advertising for them. Since the 2017 amendments it can issue formal warnings and seek civil penalties, and since November 2019 it has asked internet providers to block websites that offer illegal gambling services to Australians. Players are not the target of that enforcement.

Offshore operators sit outside Australian courts and regulators, and their addresses change from time to time. For players, the practical lesson is simple: a site that keeps changing its address is harder to hold to account, and links shared through social media may lead to copies you cannot verify.

Several other federal measures shape the market. The National Consumer Protection Framework for online wagering, agreed by federal and state governments in 2018, requires licensed bookmakers to offer deposit limits, activity statements and consistent safer-gambling messages. BetStop, the national self-exclusion register run by ACMA, began in August 2023. And from June 2024, licensed online wagering providers have been banned from accepting credit cards and digital currency, a rule ACMA also enforces.

Online gambling laws by state Australia: the state-by-state map

States and territories regulate the gambling that happens inside their borders: clubs, hotels, casinos, local lotteries and the licensing of bookmakers based there. They also collect taxes on wagering. The table works as a map of who regulates what. Select your state in the first column and read across.

The last column is why the Northern Territory matters online: many of the large online bookmakers that operate across Australia hold licences issued there. Western Australia stands out at the land-based level, because gaming machines are confined to the Perth casino rather than spread through pubs and clubs.

What no state can do is license an online casino for Australian players. That rule is federal, which is why every casino in our catalogue is based offshore.

What this means when you choose a site

Because Australian law gives offshore casino players no local recourse, the casino's own licence and terms are the only rules that apply to you. That is why our score out of 10 gives points for a named licence and operator and for published bonus and payout terms, and why every review spells out withdrawal limits. Our how we rank page explains the ten checks in full.

When you read lists such as our best online casino sites or new gambling sites guides, keep the legal context in mind. A higher ranking means a casino's information is clearer and its terms easier to follow; it does not mean the casino is approved by any Australian authority. The full catalogue on our online gambling sites home page carries the same caveat.

Practical checks

• Read the licence and operator in the casino footer and compare them with independent sources.
• Keep copies of the bonus terms and your chats with support, in case of a dispute.
• Do not rely on BetStop for offshore sites; request self-exclusion from the casino directly.
• Expect address changes; bookmark the address from a source you trust rather than following links in messages.

Where to check the rules yourself

Online gambling laws by state Australia-wide also change over time: states regularly review venue rules, wagering taxes and advertising limits, and the federal government has reviewed online gambling advertising following a 2023 parliamentary inquiry. We update this page when a change affects how offshore casinos or Australian players are treated. Laws change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. For the federal position, the text of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 is published on the Federal Register of Legislation, and ACMA online gambling guidance for consumers, including how to report an illegal offshore service, is on the regulator's own website. Each state regulator in the table publishes the rules for venues and wagering in its jurisdiction. If you need advice about your own situation, speak to a lawyer.

For help with gambling itself, the national service is the same in every state: Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858, free and confidential, at any hour.

Laws by state FAQ