Are There Real-Money Gambling Apps in Australia?

Which types of real-money gambling apps are available?

Real-money gambling apps in Australia can involve different products governed by different rules. A wagering account, a lottery ticket and an online casino game should not be assessed as though they were interchangeable.

For wagering, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, or ACMA, maintains a register of licensed interactive wagering services. For lottery products, check the relevant state or territory authority. For casino-style games, ACMA identifies online services supplied to people in Australia as prohibited.

The customer’s physical location matters to the federal service prohibition. Being an Australian citizen is not, by itself, the same question as being physically in Australia when a service is supplied. The following overview is for adults in Australia and is not a comprehensive statement of every individual’s legal position.

• Sports and racing wagering: Eligible services may be offered by a state- or territory-licensed operator, subject to restrictions on particular bets.
• Lottery tickets: Authorised products may be sold online or through an app, subject to the product’s rules and jurisdiction.
• Online casinos: Providers cannot lawfully supply real-money online pokies, poker and other specified casino-style services to people in Australia.

Sports and racing wagering: check the bet as well as the bookmaker

Wagering means placing a bet on an event, such as a sporting match or a race. Australian-licensed operators can offer eligible online wagering, but a licence does not make every kind of bet available or permitted.

For sports, the timing of an online bet matters. An app-based bet placed before a match begins is different from an online bet placed after play has started. Online in-play sports betting is generally prohibited under the federal rules.

A qualifying telephone service is treated differently. ACMA explains that, for the relevant telephone exception, the selection, bet type, amount and confirmation must be communicated wholly by voice. An app-generated customer-specific code used to place the bet can undermine that distinction. A separate place-based exception should not be mistaken for permission to place an ordinary in-play sports bet through an app.

The federal in-play sports prohibition does not apply to horse, harness or greyhound racing. That distinction does not authorise every racing product or every operator. Licensing and other applicable conditions still matter.

When checking legal betting apps in Australia, look beyond the brand name. ACMA’s register can include services that are telephone-only or not currently operational. An entry therefore does not, by itself, establish that the operator currently offers a particular app or bet.

Lottery tickets are different from bets on lottery results

An authorised lottery entry gives the purchaser a ticket or entry in a draw. That is different from staking money on what the result of a lottery will be. ACMA identifies betting on lottery outcomes as prohibited, so check what the service is actually selling rather than relying on the word lottery in its advertising.

Authorised lottery products may be sold online or through apps, depending on the operator, product and location requirements. For example, Lotterywest says members can buy tickets using its app and that membership requires a Western Australian residential address. That example should not be treated as a rule for every Australian lottery.

Check the relevant state or territory lottery authority or regulator for the operator and product. ACMA’s wagering register is useful for bookmakers, but it should not be treated as an exhaustive directory of authorised lotteries.

This guide is intended for adults. Lottery age requirements should nevertheless be checked against the particular product and jurisdiction: Lotterywest states that its games have a minimum age of 16, so a blanket claim that every Australian lottery has an 18-year minimum would be inaccurate.

Online casino and poker apps: an offshore licence is not Australian authorisation

If you are looking for online casino apps in Australia, distinguish an accessible app from an authorised service. ACMA identifies real-money online pokies and casino-style games such as poker, blackjack and roulette as prohibited services when supplied to people in Australia.

The restriction applies to the supply of the service, including by an offshore operator. A foreign licence, an Australian-looking website or the fact that an app works on your phone does not make a prohibited casino offering authorised for customers physically in Australia.

That provider-focused explanation should not be read as a complete answer about every player’s position under every possible law. Circumstances and other laws can differ.

Simulated games also need a separate assessment. An app may be free to download but charge for virtual credits or other purchases. Check what users can buy and whether the product offers cash or other prizes; do not assume that every simulated game is cost-free or that every product works the same way.

How to check whether a gambling app is authorised

Start with the service you intend to use, not a review, advertisement or app-store badge. Identify both the company operating the service and the specific product it offers. A bookmaker’s wagering licence does not authorise an online casino or a prohibited online in-play sports bet.

For sports and racing wagering, use ACMA’s interactive wagering register and compare the details carefully. For a lottery, check with the relevant lottery authority instead. If the operator’s identity, current status or product scope remains unclear, ask the relevant regulator before depositing or providing documents.

App-store rules can require permissions and geographic restrictions for gambling apps. Apple, for example, publishes such requirements. A listing is still not independent proof that a particular Australian-facing service is authorised. Similarly, ACMA’s blocked-sites information is useful for identifying warnings, but absence from that list is not proof that a service is licensed.

• Identify the product: Determine whether you are placing a sports or racing bet, buying a lottery entry or accessing a casino-style game.
• Find the operator: Look for the legal company name and trading name in the app’s terms or on its official website.
• Match the details: For wagering, compare the licence holder, trading name, listed URL and licensing authority on ACMA’s register. Be alert to copycat addresses.
• Check the scope: Confirm that the licence and service cover the product you intend to use, and ask the listed regulator if anything is unclear.
• Use enforcement information as a warning: Check ACMA investigations and blocked-site information, but do not treat them as a list of approved providers.

What to check before depositing

Gambling app safety involves more than checking a licence. Even an authorised provider can have terms you do not expect, and gambling can result in the loss of the money you deposit. Review the account and withdrawal conditions before committing funds.

Identity verification is a normal part of using applicable online gambling services. AUSTRAC says customer identification must be completed before an online gambling account is created or the designated service begins. However, a request for identity documents alone does not prove that the requester is legitimate. First establish that you are dealing with the verified operator through its official address.

Payment restrictions also depend on the product. Since 11 June 2024, online and telephone wagering operators have been prohibited from accepting credit-card deposits, credit-card-linked funds and digital currency such as cryptocurrency. ACMA says that particular ban does not apply to lotteries. This does not mean every lottery accepts credit cards: check the provider’s available methods.

Read any offer carefully rather than assuming an advertised amount can be withdrawn as cash. If an offer is permitted and available, its eligibility rules, expiry, wagering requirements, excluded markets and withdrawal restrictions may affect how it works.

Be especially cautious if a service unexpectedly asks for another payment to release supposed winnings. The ACCC has warned about fake online casinos that seek repeated payments. Stop and independently check the service rather than assuming that sending more money will solve the problem.

• Security: Use the verified official address, a unique password and any available account-security controls.
• Withdrawals: Check available methods, account-ownership requirements, minimums, fees and stated processing times for that provider.
• Offers: Read the conditions before opting in, including whether a benefit is cash or subject to further requirements.
• Risk: Decide what you can afford to lose. Neither a licence nor a betting strategy guarantees a return.

Deposit limits, BetStop and gambling support

A deposit limit restricts how much you can add to an account over a selected period. It is not necessarily a cap on all losses, and it does not automatically apply across every service. NSW GambleAware advises that limits may need to be set separately if you use multiple betting apps.

For example, setting a limit with one bookmaker does not by itself set a limit on a second account. Consider your overall spending across accounts rather than treating each limit in isolation.

BetStop is Australia’s national self-exclusion register for licensed online and telephone wagering. Registration is free, and the selected exclusion period can range from three months to a lifetime. Registered wagering providers must not open accounts, accept bets or send direct marketing to an excluded person; existing wagering accounts must be closed and credit refunded.

BetStop’s coverage is not universal. Do not assume it automatically blocks illegal online casinos, offshore services, all lotteries or gambling at physical venues. A deposit limit and self-exclusion are different tools, and neither guarantees that gambling harm cannot occur.

Free, confidential support is available through Gambling Help Online. You can call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Family and friends affected by someone’s gambling can also seek help.

• Set and review a deposit limit with each provider you use.
• Consider BetStop if you want to exclude yourself from Australian-licensed online and telephone wagering.
• Contact Gambling Help Online if you want to discuss your gambling or support someone else.

What to do if a provider will not resolve a problem

For a dispute with a licensed provider, such as a disputed withdrawal, contact the provider first. Keep transaction records, relevant account information and copies of correspondence. Explain the issue and the outcome you are seeking.

If the matter remains unresolved, contact the licensing authority listed for that provider on ACMA’s wagering register. For lottery issues, identify the relevant lottery authority or regulator. The appropriate route depends on the provider and product.

Suspected illegal online gambling, prohibited payment methods and BetStop breaches can be reported to ACMA through its complaints process. Reporting does not guarantee that money will be recovered, and Australian regulators may be unable to resolve withheld winnings from an illegal provider.

If you suspect fraud, contact your payment provider promptly as well. A payment provider may be able to explain your options, but a reversal should not be assumed. Gambling Help Online is a separate source of support if the experience has affected you or your family.

FAQ

Can Australians legally use real-money gambling apps?

Some eligible sports and racing wagering and authorised lottery products are available through apps. The answer depends on the product, operator and customer’s location. For example, an authorised wagering app is not equivalent to an online pokies service. The federal casino-service prohibition discussed here concerns supply to people physically in Australia, rather than citizenship alone.

Are real-money casino apps legal in Australia?

Providers cannot lawfully supply the described online casino services, including real-money pokies and poker, to customers physically in Australia under the federal framework. An offshore operator’s foreign licence does not change that. This explains the provider prohibition; it is not a comprehensive legal opinion about every individual player or every other law.

Does an app-store listing mean an app is licensed?

No. App stores can have rules about gambling permissions and geographic restrictions, but a listing or familiar badge is not a substitute for an independent check. Identify the operator and the product, then check the relevant Australian regulator. For wagering, compare the company, brand and URL with ACMA’s register.

How can I check a gambling app’s licence?

For sports and racing wagering, search ACMA’s register and compare the licence holder, trading name, URL and licensing authority with the service you intend to use. If a brand and operating company do not clearly match, contact the listed regulator. For a lottery product, check with the relevant state or territory lottery authority instead.

Does a deposit limit or BetStop cover every gambling app?

No. Deposit limits may need to be set separately with each provider, so a limit on one betting account does not automatically apply to another. BetStop covers Australian-licensed online and telephone wagering providers, not illegal online casino services. Neither tool should be described as blocking every form of gambling or guaranteeing safety.

What should I do if a provider will not resolve my complaint?

Keep transaction records and correspondence, and raise the issue with the provider first. If a licensed wagering dispute remains unresolved, contact its licensing authority using the details on ACMA’s register. Suspected illegal services or relevant breaches can be reported to ACMA. A report does not guarantee recovery, so contact your payment provider promptly if you suspect fraud.