Gambling law in Australia

Pokies Explained editorial team. Last reviewed September 2026.

Gambling in Australia is regulated at two levels. The Commonwealth controls what can be offered online. The states and territories license and regulate venues, casinos, lotteries and betting providers.

The Interactive Gambling Act 2001

The main federal law for online gambling is the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). It divides online gambling services into those that can be provided to people in Australia with the right licence, and those that are prohibited altogether.

Allowed with an Australian licence

• Online and phone betting on sport and racing before an event starts, through a bookmaker or wagering service licensed by an Australian state or territory.
• Lotteries and certain lottery-style products sold online by licensed providers.

Prohibited

• Online casino games, including online pokies, roulette, blackjack and similar games.
• Online scratchies and similar instant-win games.
• Online "in-play" betting on sport once the event has started (in-play bets placed by phone are treated differently).
• Any online wagering service offered to people in Australia without an Australian licence.

Advertising prohibited interactive gambling services to people in Australia is also against the law.

Who the law applies to

The IGA targets the businesses that provide or advertise prohibited services, not individual players. Using an offshore online casino is not in itself an offence for the player. It does mean you are dealing with a business that is operating illegally in Australia, outside the reach of Australian consumer protections, dispute schemes and responsible gambling rules.

Who enforces it

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) enforces the IGA. Its tools include investigating complaints, issuing formal warnings and penalties, asking internet service providers to block access to illegal gambling websites, and notifying overseas regulators about operators targeting Australians. The ACMA has blocked a large number of illegal gambling websites since it began doing so in 2019, and it publishes information about blocked sites on its website.

You can report an illegal online gambling service to the ACMA through its online complaint form.

Consumer protections for licensed online betting

Licensed online wagering providers must follow a national framework of consumer protections. Key elements include:

• BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register, which lets people exclude themselves from all licensed online and phone wagering providers at once.
• A ban on using credit cards to fund online wagering accounts, which took effect in June 2024.
• Requirements to verify customers' identity, offer deposit limits, provide activity statements and show consistent safer gambling messages.

None of these protections apply to offshore sites that operate illegally.

Pokies in venues

Poker machines in pubs, clubs and casinos are regulated by the states and territories, each with its own laws on licensing, machine numbers, opening hours, bet limits and harm-minimisation measures. Several states have been introducing or trialling reforms such as lower load-up limits and cashless or card-based play with limit-setting. Western Australia is the notable exception: outside its single casino, poker machines are not permitted in pubs and clubs.

State and territory regulators

Names and structures of regulators change from time to time. Search for your state's regulator to confirm current contact details.