Are Online Pokies Legal in Australia? — Gambling Laws Explained for 2026
A plain-English breakdown of the Interactive Gambling Act, ACMA enforcement, the credit card ban, upcoming advertising reforms, and what the law actually means for Australian players.
Table of Contents
- The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 — What It Actually Says
- ACMA Enforcement — How Australia Polices Online Gambling
- The June 2024 Credit Card & Crypto Ban
- April 2026 Gambling Advertising Reforms
- State & Territory Gambling Regulations
- Offshore Casinos — The Grey Area for Australian Players
- How PayID Fits Into the Legal Landscape
- Responsible Gambling Protections Under Australian Law
- What Could Change — Future Legislation to Watch
- Frequently Asked Questions
It is one of the most commonly searched questions among Aussie punters: are online pokies legal in Australia? The short answer is complicated. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) makes it illegal for operators to offer online casino games and pokies to Australians — but it does not make it illegal for you, the player, to access those services. That distinction is critical, and it is one that a lot of online sources either get wrong or deliberately blur.
This guide is designed to cut through the noise. We will walk you through the actual legislation, explain how the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) enforces the law, cover the recent credit card and cryptocurrency ban that took effect in June 2024, look at the sweeping gambling advertising reforms announced in April 2026, and break down what all of this means in practical terms for Australian players. Whether you are trying to understand the online gambling laws in Australia for 2026 or simply want to know where you stand, this page has you covered.
A quick note before we begin: this guide is purely informational. It is not legal advice. If you have specific legal questions about your circumstances, speak to a qualified solicitor. Our goal here is to present the facts as accurately and clearly as possible, so you can make informed decisions.
The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 — What It Actually Says
The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) is the cornerstone of Australia's online gambling regulation. Passed by the Howard Government and taking effect on 28 June 2001, the IGA was one of the first pieces of legislation in the world to specifically address online gambling. Its stated purpose was to protect Australians from the harms associated with online gambling by regulating — and in most cases prohibiting — the provision of interactive gambling services within Australia.
The IGA underwent a major overhaul in 2017 through the Interactive Gambling Amendment Act 2017, which significantly expanded its scope and enforcement mechanisms. The 2017 amendments closed loopholes that had allowed some operators to continue serving Australian customers, introduced a formal complaints mechanism, and gave ACMA new powers to investigate and take action against non-compliant operators. Understanding both the original Act and the 2017 amendments is essential to grasping the current online casino laws in Australia.
What the IGA Prohibits
At its core, the IGA prohibits the provision of certain "interactive gambling services" to customers who are physically located in Australia. Specifically, the Act makes it an offence to:
- Provide online casino games (including online pokies, roulette, blackjack, and other casino-style games) to Australian customers
- Offer in-play or live betting on sporting events via the internet (bets placed after the event has commenced)
- Advertise prohibited interactive gambling services to Australians
- Operate an online gambling service that is accessible to Australians without holding the appropriate Australian licence
The 2017 amendments also expanded the definition of prohibited services to capture online poker tournaments and other forms of interactive gambling that had previously existed in a grey area. The net effect is that virtually all forms of real-money online casino gambling are prohibited from being offered to Australians by the legislation.
What the IGA Allows
The IGA is not a blanket prohibition on all online gambling. Several categories of interactive gambling are expressly permitted under the Act, provided the operator holds the appropriate Australian licence:
- Online sports betting (pre-match wagers placed before an event starts) through licensed Australian bookmakers such as Sportsbet, TAB, Ladbrokes, and Bet365 Australia
- Online lotteries operated by state and territory lottery corporations
- Online wagering on racing (horse racing, greyhound racing, harness racing) through licensed operators
- Online keno and scratchies offered by licensed state lottery operators
The distinction is important. Sports betting, racing, and lotteries are legal and regulated in Australia when offered by licensed operators. It is specifically online casino games and pokies — the interactive, real-money equivalents of what you would find on a casino floor — that the IGA prohibits operators from offering to Australians.
Does the IGA Target Players or Operators?
This is the question that matters most to Australian punters, and the answer is unambiguous: the IGA targets operators, not players. There is no provision in the Interactive Gambling Act that makes it a criminal offence for an individual Australian to place a bet, spin a pokie, or play a hand of blackjack at an offshore online casino. The law is squarely aimed at the companies and individuals who provide, operate, or advertise these services.
The penalties for operators are severe. Under the current provisions, individuals who provide prohibited interactive gambling services face fines of up to $360,000 per day that the offence continues. For corporations, the maximum penalty rises to $1.8 million per day. These are civil penalties, meaning ACMA can pursue them through the Federal Court without needing to establish criminal guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
To be absolutely clear: no Australian has ever been charged, fined, or prosecuted for gambling at an offshore online casino. The IGA simply does not contain a mechanism for penalising players. While the government has consistently stated that it discourages Australians from using unlicensed offshore services, the enforcement regime is built entirely around targeting the supply side — the operators, their affiliates, and the payment processors that facilitate the transactions.
Key Takeaway
The Interactive Gambling Act makes it illegal for operators to offer online pokies and casino games to Australians. It does not make it illegal for Australians to play them. The law targets the supply side, not the demand side. Penalties of up to $1.8 million per day apply to corporate operators who breach the Act.
ACMA Enforcement — How Australia Polices Online Gambling
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is the federal regulator responsible for enforcing the Interactive Gambling Act. Since being granted enhanced enforcement powers under the 2017 amendments, ACMA has taken an increasingly aggressive approach to shutting down illegal online gambling services that target Australian customers. The regulator operates through a combination of website blocking, direct operator engagement, and financial disruption.
ACMA gambling enforcement has transformed the landscape significantly since the regulator commenced its blocking programme in November 2019. Before that date, enforcement of the IGA was largely passive — the Act existed on paper, but there was limited practical action taken against the hundreds of offshore casinos openly serving Australians. That changed dramatically once ACMA received the legislative tools and budget to pursue active enforcement.
Website Blocking Orders
ACMA's primary enforcement tool is the power to issue website blocking orders to Australian internet service providers (ISPs). Under section 313 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 and the IGA enforcement provisions, ACMA can direct ISPs including Telstra, Optus, TPG, and others to block access to websites that provide prohibited interactive gambling services to Australians.
The blocking process typically begins with an investigation triggered by consumer complaints, industry intelligence, or ACMA's own monitoring activities. Once ACMA is satisfied that a website is offering prohibited services to Australians, it can issue an "interim blocking request" followed by a formal "final blocking notice." ISPs are legally obligated to comply, and the blocks are implemented at the network level using DNS filtering and URL blocking. While technically savvy users can circumvent these blocks using VPNs or alternative DNS servers, the blocks are effective at reducing casual access to illegal gambling sites for the general population.
Operator Penalties & Travel Bans
Beyond website blocking, ACMA pursues direct enforcement action against operators and their executives. The regulator has obtained Federal Court orders imposing civil penalties on offshore gambling operators, and has worked with the Australian Federal Police and the Department of Home Affairs to identify individuals behind illegal gambling operations. In several cases, ACMA has successfully obtained travel bans preventing the principals of offshore gambling companies from entering Australia.
The regulator also engages in what it calls "disruption activities" — contacting offshore operators directly, notifying them that their services breach Australian law, and giving them the opportunity to voluntarily withdraw from the Australian market. This approach has proven remarkably effective, with many operators choosing to geo-block Australian IP addresses or close Australian player accounts rather than risk formal enforcement action and the associated penalties.
How Many Sites Has ACMA Blocked?
The numbers tell a compelling story about the scale of ACMA's enforcement programme. Since commencing website blocking in November 2019, ACMA has ordered the blocking of more than 1,564 illegal gambling and affiliate websites. This figure includes both primary gambling domains and the affiliate marketing sites that direct Australian traffic to illegal operators.
In addition to the blocking programme, more than 225 offshore gambling services have voluntarily withdrawn from the Australian market after being contacted by ACMA. These voluntary withdrawals represent a significant force multiplier for the regulator — each one reduces the availability of illegal services without requiring the time and resources of a formal blocking proceeding.
ACMA publishes regular updates on its enforcement activities, and the trend is clearly accelerating. The regulator blocked more sites in 2024 and 2025 than in any previous years, and has signalled that it intends to maintain this pace heading into 2026 and beyond. For Australians searching for online gambling laws Australia 2026, the enforcement environment is materially stricter than it was even two years ago.
ACMA Enforcement by the Numbers
The June 2024 Credit Card & Crypto Ban
One of the most significant recent changes to Australia's online gambling landscape was the ban on using credit cards and cryptocurrency for gambling purposes, which took effect on 11 June 2024. This reform represented a major expansion of the regulatory framework and was designed to address the growing link between problem gambling and credit-funded betting.
What Changed
The credit card ban was implemented through amendments to the Interactive Gambling Act and applies to all forms of online gambling in Australia, including licensed sports betting and wagering services. The key changes include:
- Credit cards can no longer be used to fund any online gambling account with an Australian-licensed operator. This covers Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and any other credit facility.
- Cryptocurrency purchased via credit card cannot be used to circumvent the credit card ban. The legislation was specifically drafted to close this loophole.
- Digital wallets linked to credit cards (such as PayPal or Apple Pay funded by a credit card) are also captured by the ban when used for gambling transactions.
- The ban applies to all Australian-licensed wagering operators, not just online casinos (which were already prohibited under the IGA).
The rationale behind the ban was straightforward: research consistently showed that gamblers who used credit cards were significantly more likely to experience gambling harm. By removing the ability to gamble with borrowed money, the government aimed to reduce the financial damage caused by problem gambling. The ban was widely supported by gambling harm reduction advocates and received bipartisan support in Parliament.
What Payment Methods Are Still Legal?
The credit card ban does not affect all payment methods. Australian punters can still fund their accounts with licensed operators using:
- Debit cards — Visa Debit, Mastercard Debit, and eftpos cards remain legal for gambling deposits, as the funds come directly from your bank account rather than a credit facility
- Bank transfers — Direct bank transfers and BPAY remain available
- PayID — As a real-time bank transfer system, PayID is fully compliant with the new regulations since it draws funds directly from your linked bank account
- POLi — Online bank transfer payments remain permitted
- Cash deposits — Over-the-counter deposits at retail outlets (where available) are not affected
It is worth noting that the credit card ban only directly applies to Australian-licensed operators. Offshore casinos operating without an Australian licence are already in breach of the IGA, so the credit card ban is somewhat redundant in that context — those operators were never legal in the first place. However, Australian banks and payment processors have increasingly implemented their own blocks on gambling-related credit card transactions, making it harder to use credit cards at offshore sites regardless of the operator's licensing status.
April 2026 Gambling Advertising Reforms
In April 2026, the Australian Government announced the most sweeping changes to gambling advertising in the country's history. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the reforms would fundamentally reshape how gambling products are marketed to Australians, with a particular focus on reducing the exposure of children and vulnerable people to gambling promotion during live sport.
What's Being Banned
The April 2026 reforms target several categories of gambling advertising that have become increasingly prevalent in Australian media:
- Live sport broadcast advertising — Gambling advertisements will be banned during live sport broadcasts on television and streaming services. This is the most significant change, given that gambling ads have become a dominant feature of AFL, NRL, cricket, and other major sport coverage.
- Inducement offers — Bonus bet promotions, sign-up offers, "bet $10 get $50" style incentives, and other inducements will be restricted. These offers have been identified as a key driver of new gambling participation, particularly among young men.
- Social media advertising — The reforms will impose restrictions on gambling advertising across social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter). Targeted advertising based on user behaviour or demographics will face particular scrutiny.
- Sponsorship visibility — While full details are still being finalised, the reforms are expected to limit the prominence of gambling brand logos on team jerseys, stadium signage, and other high-visibility sponsorship placements.
When Do the New Rules Start?
The advertising reforms announced in April 2026 are set to take effect from 1 January 2027. The government has allowed a transition period to give sporting codes, broadcasters, and gambling operators time to adjust their commercial arrangements. The phased approach also provides time for the detailed legislative drafting and subordinate legislation required to implement the reforms.
It is important to understand that these reforms apply to licensed Australian operators — the bookmakers and wagering services that are legally permitted to advertise in Australia. They do not directly affect offshore casinos, which are already prohibited from advertising to Australians under the existing IGA provisions. However, the reforms signal a broader cultural shift in Australia's relationship with gambling, and may increase public pressure for even stricter regulation in the future.
The reforms were informed by a comprehensive parliamentary inquiry into gambling advertising, which heard testimony from gambling harm experts, sporting codes, broadcasters, community groups, and the gambling industry itself. While the industry has expressed concern about the commercial impact, public polling consistently shows strong support for reducing gambling advertising, particularly during live sport that children are likely to be watching.
State & Territory Gambling Regulations
While the Interactive Gambling Act is federal legislation that applies uniformly across Australia, gambling regulation is a shared responsibility between the Commonwealth and the states and territories. Each jurisdiction maintains its own gambling legislation, regulatory body, and licensing framework. These state and territory laws primarily govern land-based gambling activities — casinos, poker machines in pubs and clubs, lotteries, and racing — but they intersect with federal law in important ways.
NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA, SA, Tasmania, ACT, NT
New South Wales is regulated by Liquor & Gaming NSW under the Casino Control Act 1992 and the Gaming Machines Act 2001. NSW has the highest concentration of poker machines in Australia, with roughly 85,000 machines across pubs, clubs, and The Star Sydney. The state has been at the centre of pokies reform debate, with ongoing discussions about cashless gaming cards and mandatory pre-commitment schemes.
Victoria is overseen by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), which was established in 2022 following the Royal Commission into Crown Melbourne. Victoria regulates approximately 27,000 poker machines, and the VGCCC has taken an increasingly active role in enforcement, including imposing record fines on Crown Melbourne for regulatory failures. The state's Gambling Regulation Act 2003 is the primary legislative framework.
Queensland is regulated by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) under the Casino Control Act 1982 and the Gaming Machine Act 1991. Queensland operates a club-focused pokies model with around 40,000 machines statewide. The state is also home to three land-based casinos: The Star Gold Coast, Treasury Casino Brisbane, and The Reef Hotel Casino in Cairns. The upcoming Queen's Wharf Brisbane development will add significant casino capacity when it fully opens.
Western Australia stands apart from other states by prohibiting poker machines outside of the Crown Perth casino. This makes WA unique in Australia — you will not find pokies in pubs or clubs anywhere in the state. The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries regulates gambling under the Gaming and Wagering Commission Act 1987. Crown Perth is the sole venue for poker machines and table games.
South Australia is regulated by the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner under the Gaming Machines Act 1992 and the Casino Act 1997. The state has around 12,000 poker machines in hotels and clubs, along with the SkyCity Adelaide casino. South Australia has implemented a $5 maximum bet limit on poker machines and was an early adopter of mandatory pre-commitment trials.
Tasmania regulates gambling through the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission. The state's two casinos — Wrest Point in Hobart and Country Club in Launceston — are both operated by Federal Group. In a significant reform, the Tasmanian Government decided in 2023 to remove poker machines from pubs and clubs by 2023 (subsequently extended), centralising pokies exclusively within licensed casino venues.
The Australian Capital Territory is regulated by the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission. The territory has a relatively small gambling footprint, with around 4,000 poker machines spread across clubs. Casino Canberra operates as a table-games-only venue with no poker machines. The ACT has been proactive in harm reduction, implementing a range of consumer protection measures.
The Northern Territory occupies a unique position in Australian gambling regulation. The NT's Racing Commission and licensing framework have historically been used as the licensing jurisdiction for many of Australia's major online sports betting operators, including Sportsbet and Bet365. The territory's more permissive regulatory approach has attracted national operators who serve customers across Australia while holding a Northern Territory licence. This arrangement has attracted criticism from other states and has been a focus of national regulatory harmonisation efforts.
Offshore Casinos — The Grey Area for Australian Players
Despite the clear prohibition on operators under the IGA, hundreds of offshore online casinos continue to accept Australian players. This creates a legal grey area that is often misunderstood. To reiterate: it is illegal for these operators to provide their services to Australians, but there is no corresponding offence for Australians who choose to use them. The player sits in a gap that the legislation deliberately chose not to close.
Understanding why this grey area exists requires understanding the practical politics behind the IGA. When the legislation was drafted in 2001 and later amended in 2017, lawmakers made a deliberate decision not to criminalise the act of gambling itself. The rationale was twofold: first, it would be nearly impossible to enforce individual penalties against millions of Australians; and second, criminalising players would push the activity further underground and make it harder for people experiencing gambling harm to seek help. The supply-side approach was seen as more effective and less punitive.
Curacao, Malta & Other Licensing Jurisdictions
The offshore casinos accessible to Australian players are licensed in a variety of international jurisdictions, each with its own regulatory standards. The most common licensing jurisdictions include:
- Curacao — The most common licence held by casinos serving the Australian market. Curacao eGaming licences (now transitioning to the new Curacao Gaming Authority framework established in 2024) provide a basic regulatory foundation but are widely considered less rigorous than European alternatives. The majority of casinos featured on sites like ours hold Curacao licences.
- Malta (MGA) — The Malta Gaming Authority is one of the most respected regulators globally. MGA-licensed operators must meet strict player protection standards, maintain segregated player funds, and submit to regular audits. However, MGA licensees are technically not supposed to serve markets where online gambling is prohibited, which creates its own compliance tension with the Australian market.
- Gibraltar — Another well-regarded jurisdiction with stringent regulatory requirements, particularly around financial stability and responsible gambling.
- Kahnawake (Canada) — A licensing jurisdiction operated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission on Mohawk territory in Quebec. Less common than Curacao but still encountered in the Australian-facing market.
- Anjouan — An increasingly common licensing jurisdiction for newer operators, with regulatory standards that are still developing.
What Player Protections Exist?
This is where the grey area becomes most significant for Australian players. When you play at an offshore casino, you are operating outside the Australian regulatory framework. This means:
- You are not covered by Australian consumer protection laws in the event of a dispute with the operator
- The BetStop National Self-Exclusion Register does not apply to offshore operators — only to Australian-licensed services
- You cannot lodge a complaint with ACMA, the ACCC, or state gambling regulators about an offshore operator's conduct
- If an offshore casino refuses to pay your winnings, your legal recourse is extremely limited — you would need to pursue the matter in the operator's licensing jurisdiction, which is usually impractical and prohibitively expensive
Some offshore jurisdictions do offer dispute resolution mechanisms. The Malta Gaming Authority, for example, operates a player support service that can mediate complaints against MGA-licensed operators. Curacao-licensed operators are theoretically subject to their licensing authority's complaints process, though the practical effectiveness of this has been widely questioned. The bottom line is that playing at offshore casinos carries inherent risk that does not exist when using Australian-licensed wagering services, and players should be aware of this before making a decision.
How PayID Fits Into the Legal Landscape
PayID is a legitimate payment system developed by NPP Australia (New Payments Platform Australia) and supported by over 100 Australian financial institutions. It allows Australians to send and receive money in real time using an identifier such as a phone number, email address, or ABN, rather than a traditional BSB and account number. PayID is part of Australia's core financial infrastructure and is not, in itself, a gambling product or service.
In the context of online gambling, PayID has become the preferred deposit and withdrawal method for many Australian players because of its speed, security, and compliance with the credit card ban. Since PayID transactions draw directly from a linked bank account (not a credit facility), they are fully compliant with the June 2024 credit card ban. For players using licensed Australian wagering services, PayID is an entirely legal and above-board payment method.
Where PayID intersects with the legal grey area is when it is used to deposit funds at offshore casinos. The transaction itself — a bank transfer from your account to another account — is a standard banking operation. Australian banks do not generally block outgoing bank transfers based on the recipient's business activity, unlike credit card processors who use merchant category codes to identify gambling transactions. This means PayID transfers to offshore gambling operators typically proceed without interference from the banking system.
However, it is important to understand that the ease of making a payment does not change the legal status of the operator receiving it. An offshore casino that accepts PayID deposits from Australians is still in breach of the IGA. The player, as we have established, is not committing an offence — but the transaction is flowing to an operator that is breaking Australian law. For a deeper understanding of how PayID works in practice, see our complete PayID guide.
Responsible Gambling Protections Under Australian Law
Australia has developed one of the most comprehensive responsible gambling frameworks in the world, though it continues to evolve. The framework operates across multiple levels — federal, state, and operator-level — and is designed to minimise the harm associated with gambling while recognising that most Australians who gamble do so recreationally and without experiencing significant problems.
BetStop National Self-Exclusion Register
BetStop is Australia's National Self-Exclusion Register, which launched on 21 August 2023. Managed by ACMA, BetStop allows any person to voluntarily exclude themselves from all Australian-licensed interactive wagering services for a chosen period. The minimum exclusion period is three months, and the maximum is a lifetime ban.
Once a person registers with BetStop, all Australian-licensed wagering operators are legally required to:
- Close any existing accounts the person holds
- Refuse to open any new accounts
- Take reasonable steps to prevent the person from gambling through their platform
- Refrain from sending the person any direct marketing or promotional materials
BetStop is free to use and can be accessed online at betstop.gov.au or by phone. It represents a significant improvement over the previous patchwork of operator-specific self-exclusion programmes, which required individuals to contact each operator separately. However, BetStop only applies to Australian-licensed operators. Offshore casinos are not part of the register and are not obligated to comply with BetStop exclusions. This is a significant gap for Australians who use offshore services.
National Consumer Protection Framework (10 Measures)
The National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering established a set of 10 harm reduction measures that all Australian-licensed interactive wagering operators must implement. These measures were developed collaboratively between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments and represent the baseline standard for player protection in Australia. The 10 measures include:
- National Self-Exclusion Register (BetStop) — As described above
- Prohibition on lines of credit — Operators cannot extend credit to customers for gambling purposes
- Customer verification and identification — All customers must verify their identity before they can place a bet or withdraw funds
- Voluntary opt-out of direct marketing — Customers can opt out of receiving promotional material from all Australian-licensed operators through a centralised process
- Activity statements — Operators must provide customers with clear, regular statements showing their gambling activity including net wins and losses
- Deposit limits — Customers can set daily, weekly, or monthly deposit limits. Increases to limits are subject to a cooling-off period
- Consistent gambling messages — Standardised responsible gambling messaging must be displayed across all platforms
- Staff training — Operator staff must be trained in responsible gambling and the identification of problem gambling behaviour
- Inducement restrictions — Limitations on the types and frequency of bonus offers and inducements (being further strengthened by the April 2026 reforms)
- Restriction on payday lending — Gambling operators cannot promote or facilitate payday loans or similar high-interest lending products
These measures represent a robust framework for Australian-licensed services. However, none of them apply to offshore casinos operating outside the Australian regulatory system. This is one of the key risks of using unregulated services — the player protections that Australian law requires simply do not exist.
What Could Change — Future Legislation to Watch
Australian gambling regulation is not static, and several potential changes are on the horizon that could further reshape the landscape for best online pokies Australia PayID players and the broader gambling ecosystem. Here are the key developments worth monitoring:
- Gambling advertising ban implementation (1 January 2027) — The detailed legislation implementing the April 2026 advertising reforms will need to be drafted, debated, and passed before the 1 January 2027 commencement date. The final form of the legislation may differ from the initial announcements, and industry lobbying could influence the scope of the ban.
- Cashless gaming cards for poker machines — NSW has been developing a mandatory cashless gaming card system for poker machines in pubs and clubs. If implemented, this would require players to use a registered digital wallet rather than cash, enabling automatic enforcement of pre-commitment limits and loss tracking. Other states may follow if the NSW model proves effective.
- Mandatory pre-commitment schemes — There is ongoing discussion about requiring all poker machine players to set binding loss limits before commencing play. This concept has been debated in Australia for over a decade and remains politically contentious, but growing public support for gambling reform may make it more viable.
- Harm-based licensing frameworks — Some policymakers and academics have advocated for a shift from the current "activity-based" licensing model (where different types of gambling are regulated separately) to a "harm-based" model where regulatory intensity is proportional to the level of harm associated with each product.
- Potential regulation of loot boxes — The intersection of video gaming and gambling — particularly loot box mechanics in popular games — remains an area of regulatory interest. Several parliamentary inquiries have examined whether loot boxes constitute gambling under Australian law, and future legislation could bring them within the regulatory framework.
- ACMA enforcement expansion — The regulator has signalled its intention to expand enforcement to target payment facilitators and digital marketing platforms that assist illegal gambling operators in reaching Australian consumers. This could make it harder for offshore casinos to process payments from Australian players.
The overall trajectory of Australian gambling regulation is clearly towards stricter controls, greater transparency, and stronger consumer protection. Whether future governments will consider creating a regulated domestic online casino market — as has occurred in jurisdictions like Ontario (Canada), several US states, and parts of Europe — remains an open question. Such a move would bring online pokies and casino games under Australian regulatory oversight, complete with player protections, taxation, and responsible gambling safeguards. However, there is currently no indication that this is on the legislative agenda.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Pokies & Australian Law
Quick answers to the questions Australians most commonly ask about online gambling laws.
No. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 targets operators, not players. There is no provision in the IGA that makes it a criminal offence for an individual Australian to place a bet or play pokies at an offshore online casino. The law prohibits operators from offering real-money interactive gambling services to Australians, but the player is not penalised for accessing those services. No Australian has ever been charged, fined, or prosecuted for playing online pokies.
The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) is the primary piece of federal legislation governing online gambling in Australia. It makes it an offence for operators to provide real-money online casino games, online pokies, and in-play sports betting to customers physically located in Australia. The Act was significantly strengthened in 2017 with the Interactive Gambling Amendment Act, which expanded enforcement powers and gave ACMA the ability to block non-compliant websites. Penalties can reach $1.8 million per day for corporate entities.
Under the Interactive Gambling Act, individuals who provide prohibited interactive gambling services to Australians face penalties of up to $360,000 per day that the offence continues. Corporations face penalties of up to $1.8 million per day. ACMA can also issue website blocking orders to ISPs, obtain Federal Court injunctions, and pursue travel bans against the principals of offshore gambling operations.
Since commencing its enforcement programme in November 2019, ACMA has ordered the blocking of more than 1,564 illegal gambling and affiliate websites. Additionally, more than 225 offshore gambling services have voluntarily withdrawn from the Australian market after being contacted by the regulator. The pace of enforcement has accelerated significantly in recent years, with ACMA blocking more sites in 2024 and 2025 than in any prior years.
No. As of 11 June 2024, it is illegal to use credit cards for any form of online gambling in Australia. This includes credit cards used directly, digital wallets funded by credit cards, and cryptocurrency purchased via credit card for gambling purposes. Debit cards, bank transfers, PayID, and other non-credit payment methods remain available for use with licensed Australian wagering services.
In April 2026, Prime Minister Albanese announced sweeping reforms to gambling advertising. The reforms will ban gambling advertisements during live sport broadcasts, restrict inducement offers such as bonus bets and sign-up promotions, and limit gambling advertising on social media and digital platforms. The new rules are set to take effect from 1 January 2027, with a transition period for sporting codes, broadcasters, and operators to adjust.
BetStop is Australia's National Self-Exclusion Register, launched on 21 August 2023 and managed by ACMA. It allows individuals to voluntarily exclude themselves from all licensed Australian wagering services for a minimum of three months up to a lifetime. Once registered, all Australian-licensed operators must close the person's existing accounts, refuse new accounts, and stop sending marketing materials. BetStop is free to use but only applies to Australian-licensed operators — offshore casinos are not part of the register.
Yes. While the Interactive Gambling Act is federal legislation covering all of Australia, each state and territory maintains its own gambling legislation and regulatory body. State laws primarily govern land-based gambling activities such as casinos, poker machines in pubs and clubs, lotteries, and racing. Key regulators include Liquor & Gaming NSW, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, and Queensland's Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation. The Northern Territory is notable as the licensing jurisdiction for many of Australia's major online sports betting operators.