Have you ever wondered about Australian gambling laws? The law regarding gambling in Australia has always been vague, especially after online gambling became the new frenzy. And, because the lines are blurred, it’s difficult for inquiring players to know what’s allowed and what’s not. Fortunately, we are here to help you out.
In this guide, we’ll discuss legal matters regarding gambling in Australia. We look at the actual laws and what they say. We also look at the various gambling regulatory organizations and the role that they play in regulating online gaming.
Australian Gambling Laws Guide
- Is It Legal to Gamble in Australia
- Legal Gaming in Australia
- Gaming In Each Territory
- Australian Gambling Laws Statistics
Interactive Gambling Bill of 2001
The Interactive Gambling Bill of 2001 explains the gaming industry in Australia. It also shows how you can enjoy gambling. The Bill is quite long and detailed, but there are four main points that we should take note of. It states:
- Interactive gaming services may not be made available to Australian players.
- It prevents anyone from advertising gambling services or products
- It’s against the law to operate unlicensed gambling facilities
- It prevents anyone from offering gambling services to Australians in designated countries.
All this means that online casinos in the country cannot offer real money gambling to Australian players. Offshore casinos cannot do this either.
Is It Legal to Gamble in Australia
Australian gambling laws can get unnecessarily complicated. And, if you are anything like us then you also simply want to know if online gambling is legal in the country or not. Well, we’ve mentioned previously that the lines are heavily blurred when it comes to online gaming in Australia. Online gambling is mostly banned. However, there are some loopholes in the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001. These loopholes allow for exceptions with online pokies, bingo, and poker.
Legal Gaming in Australia
Online pokie machines are seemingly an acceptable form of gaming. You can also find pokie machines at land-based casinos across the country. Gambling stats also show that pokie machines are one of the most played games among Aussies.
Poker is very popular, just like pokies. However, the law does not allow online poker sites to operate in the country. This means that you are limited to playing poker in a social setting where no real money bets are being made.
Online bingo is another acceptable form of gambling in Australia. Land-based casinos offer computer-simulated bingo games that you can play. Other lottery-style games like keno is allowed, and so is participation in lottery games.
It is against the law for Australians to play casino games like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and craps for real money. This means that you can play these games, but there must be no real money betting involved.
The sports betting industry is more relaxed, though. Sports betting is totally legal, and there are hundreds of sportsbooks that you can visit to engage in pre-game betting.
The two main rules for sports betting are:
- All sports betting sites must be licensed and regulated in the country.
- In-play sports betting is not allowed. It is considered an interactive form of gambling.
In essence, you may only place bets before the game, not during.
Gaming In Each Territory
New South Wales
Australian gambling laws in NSW are more relaxed than in any other state. New South Wales also has the most robust gambling industry compared to all the other territories in the country. It has three fully operational casinos, and together they have about 100 000 pokie machines. You will find more than 1,000 sports betting places in the area. There are also many licensed and regulated bookmakers.
Queensland
Queensland boasts a total of four land-based casinos. The region has over 47 000 pokie machines located in hotels and public clubs.
Northern Territory
Northern Territory only has about 2 land-based casinos. Gambling is fairly more restricted in the area, with only 2200 pokie machines found in bars and clubs.
South Australia
In the South Australia region, Adelaide is the only area that has an active gambling industry. There are about 13 000 pokie machines for you to enjoy. Payouts in the region are restricted to $10 000 or less.
Tasmania
Pokie machines in Tasmania are only allowed in bars and clubs. About 3,500 machines are running in the area.
Western Australia
Western Australia only has about 1750 machines to date, and they are all inside the Crown Perth Casino.
Victoria
The Victoria region also has a robust gambling industry. Crown Melbourne Casino is one of the best casinos in the region. Victoria as a whole has about 30 000 machines to enjoy. Entertainment isn’t just about pokie machines. You can also bet on racing events, Calcutta sweepstakes, and other carnival activities.
Australian Gambling Laws Statistics
The Australian Gambling Statistics organization, or AGS, produces yearly reports. These reports show total spending and government revenue from gambling in Australian territories. The last recorded stats were for the 2018/19 financial year. We await the 2020/2021 statistics.
Here’s a breakdown of the total revenue received from each state/territory over that period.
| State | NSW | NT | Qld | SA | Tas | Vic | WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue Collected | $96,568.75 | $24,493.44 | $38,697.40 | $8,849.82 | $478.89 | $47,883.51 | $6,350.39 |
| Total | 225,754.74 |
The data shows that gambling in Australia does not generate much money. This may be because there are not many real-money games available. The overall amount is low compared to other countries that accumulate millions in gambling revenue on an annual basis.
One benefit of playing in Australia is that your winnings from real money gambling are not taxed. Instead, the operator pays the tax. This means you don’t pay any tax on the money you win. This is because the government sees this kind of money as income from a hobby and not income from an actual corporate job. How much tax operators will pay depends on the game and the state or territory.
