Online gambling laws in Australia: what is permitted and how to check a provider

How online gambling is regulated in Australia

The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 sets key Commonwealth restrictions on interactive gambling services. For the services discussed here, a central question is generally whether the customer is physically in Australia, not simply whether they hold Australian citizenship. Relevant services can be delivered through websites, apps and telephone, although the same rules do not necessarily apply to every method.

Australian gambling regulations also involve state and territory authorities. They license and regulate providers and products within their responsibilities, and licensing conditions, complaint processes and other requirements can differ. A licence from one jurisdiction may be relevant to customers elsewhere; a provider does not necessarily need a separate licence in every customer’s home state or territory.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority, or ACMA, administers and enforces relevant interactive gambling rules. It maintains a register of licensed wagering providers, receives complaints and can request that internet service providers block illegal gambling websites. The authority that issued a licence can provide further information about its scope and conditions.

• Commonwealth: sets national restrictions on relevant services and advertising; ACMA administers and enforces relevant rules.
• States and territories: license and regulate gambling within their responsibilities, subject to applicable federal law.

Provider restrictions are not the same as player penalties

The main federal prohibitions discussed in this guide target providers of interactive gambling services, and the Act also addresses relevant advertising. The responsible Australian Government department describes the Act as targeting providers rather than their customers.

That distinction matters when considering an online casino. A prohibition on providing the service does not automatically mean that a customer commits the same offence by using it. Equally, it is not a guarantee that a player could never face a legal consequence under any law or in any circumstance. The position under every state and territory rule is outside the scope of this guide; seek independent legal advice about an individual situation.

Which online gambling activities are permitted or restricted?

If you are asking whether online gambling is legal in Australia, start with the activity rather than the website’s appearance. The following comparison summarises the general position as researched on 11 November 2026. It is not a substitute for checking the current law, the individual service and its licence conditions.

The categories are not interchangeable. In particular, betting on the outcome of a lottery draw is different from buying an authorised ticket, and the in-play sports rule should not simply be transferred to racing.

• Pre-event sports betting: generally available online from appropriately Australian-licensed wagering providers, subject to applicable rules and licence conditions.
• In-play sports betting: generally prohibited online once play has begun. A limited telephone exception requires the bet to be communicated wholly by telephone.
• Racing betting: generally available online from appropriately licensed providers. Check the specific race, market and licence conditions.
• Online casino games and real-money poker: providing services such as pokies, roulette, blackjack and poker to customers in Australia is prohibited.
• Lottery tickets: some can be sold online under applicable Australian licensing arrangements. Check the product and relevant authority.
• Online scratchies and other instant lotteries: identified by ACMA as illegal online services.
• Lottery-result bets: prohibited. These are bets on a draw’s outcome, not purchases of an authorised lottery product.
• Online keno: some licensed services have operated under the framework in place when researched. A change is scheduled for 1 January 2027.
• Foreign-matched lotteries: described in the 2026 government review under the then-current excluded-lottery framework. Their treatment is scheduled to change on 1 January 2027.

Sports, racing and in-play betting

Legal online betting in Australia can include a sports bet placed with an appropriately licensed provider before a match begins. Once play has started, online in-play sports betting is generally prohibited for customers in Australia.

A limited telephone exception exists, but ACMA says the bet must be communicated wholly by telephone to meet it. An arrangement that begins in an app and uses a call as part of the process should not be assumed to qualify. Check the current guidance and the provider’s permitted service rather than treating mixed delivery methods as a workaround.

Racing is a separate category. Licensed online racing wagering is generally permitted, but the position of a particular race or market depends on the applicable rules and licence. Do not assume that every restriction described for live sports applies to racing in the same way.

Online casinos and poker

Providing online casino-style games to customers in Australia is prohibited. This includes services offering real-money poker, online pokies, roulette and blackjack. A provider’s overseas licence does not change that federal position.

A wagering licence should not be treated as blanket approval for everything on a website. For example, authority to offer racing bets does not establish authority to provide online roulette. This describes the rule for providing the service; the separate question of a customer’s legal position should not be reduced to an automatic player penalty.

Lotteries, keno and the scheduled 2027 changes

Some lottery tickets can be sold online under applicable Australian licensing arrangements, but not every product described as a lottery is treated alike. ACMA identifies online scratchies and other instant lotteries as illegal services. Betting on the outcome of a lottery is also prohibited.

The distinction can be practical. Buying a ticket in an authorised lottery product is not the same as placing a synthetic bet on which numbers a separate draw will produce. Check what is actually being sold and which authority licenses it.

A 2026 government review described some licensed online keno and foreign-matched lotteries under the framework then in place. As at 11 November 2026, Schedule 4 of the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Act 2026 was scheduled to commence on 1 January 2027. It changes the excluded-lottery provisions for foreign-matched lotteries and keno-type lotteries, with a defined place-based exception for keno-type services.

Do not assume that the place-based exception covers an app used at home. If this article is published on or after 1 January 2027, the current Act, regulations, regulator guidance and any relevant transition or service-specific conditions need to be checked before relying on the summary.

Offshore gambling sites: authorisation and risks

Offshore gambling sites in Australia may display a foreign licence or accept Australian dollars, but neither establishes that they are authorised to offer a particular service to someone physically in Australia. The same is true of Australian-themed marketing or a website that is easy to access.

ACMA can request that internet service providers block illegal gambling websites and publishes a blocked-sites list. Blocking is a disruption measure, not a complete catalogue of every unlawful service. A site’s absence from the list is not proof that it is authorised.

ACMA warns that customers of illegal services may be unable to access winnings and that Australian regulators may have limited ability to help if they are treated unfairly. Protections and practical recourse may be limited; it would be too broad to say that every possible remedy disappears. Keep the distinction between provider restrictions and player consequences in mind.

• A foreign licence alone does not authorise a service prohibited under Australian law.
• An unblocked or accessible website is not evidence of authorisation.
• Australian branding or an Australian-dollar account balance is not a licence check.

How to check a provider and report a concern

To check whether a gambling site is licensed, identify the product first. ACMA’s register is a useful starting point for online wagering, and ACMA advises against using wagering services that are absent from it. It is not a comprehensive register of every lottery seller.

A matching name alone is not enough if the domain or product differs from the verified record. As an editorial precaution, also read the terms and consider whether the available controls meet your needs. A licence check or careful reading cannot guarantee safety or payment.

• Identify the activity and delivery method: for example, a pre-match sports bet through an app or an online lottery ticket.
• For wagering, search ACMA’s licensed-provider register and compare the trading name, legal operator, website and licensing jurisdiction.
• Check the issuing regulator and the scope of the licence. The Northern Territory’s licensed wagering operator list is one example of a regulator-maintained list. For lotteries, consult the relevant lottery licensing authority.
• Read the identity, withdrawal, payment and complaint terms. Check what spending-limit and self-exclusion tools are available.
• Report a suspected prohibited or unlicensed service through ACMA’s interactive gambling complaint form. For a dispute with a licensed provider, use its complaint process and check the licensing regulator’s escalation instructions.

Identity checks, self-exclusion and payment rules

Gambling services are for adults, not minors. Covered online wagering providers must verify a new customer’s identity before that customer can place a bet. This is a wagering safeguard; do not assume the identical procedure applies to every lottery product.

BetStop is a free national self-exclusion register for Australian-licensed online and telephone wagering providers. Registration can run from three months to a lifetime. Covered providers should not open an account, accept a bet or send direct marketing to a registered person; existing wagering accounts must be closed and credit refunded.

BetStop is not a universal block on gambling. Its stated scope does not extend to illegally provided online casinos, and it should not be assumed to cover all lotteries, land-based gambling or offshore sites.

Since 11 June 2024, covered online and telephone wagering operators have been unable to accept deposits using credit cards, credit-linked funds, including through digital wallets, or digital currency such as cryptocurrency. ACMA says the ban does not apply to other products such as lotteries. Check the applicable product rules and provider terms separately; the exclusion of a lottery from this wagering ban does not mean every payment method will be accepted.

Gambling winnings and where to get help

The Australian Taxation Office says betting and gambling wins are generally not assessable income unless the person operates a betting or gambling business. That does not establish the tax treatment of every gambling-related receipt or decide whether a particular person is carrying on a business. If your circumstances are uncertain, seek independent tax advice.

For free, confidential gambling support, contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858. The service lists support as available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can seek help whether or not you have established a provider’s authorisation.

If you want to stop using covered online and telephone wagering services, BetStop is another option. Its wagering-specific scope is important: it does not make an offshore or illegal service safe, and it is not a substitute for broader support.

FAQ

Is online gambling legal in Australia?

Some appropriately licensed online wagering and lottery services can be offered, but providing online casino-style services and certain other products is prohibited. The answer depends on the activity, provider, delivery method and customer’s location.

Are online casinos and poker treated like sports betting?

No. Appropriately licensed pre-event online sports wagering is generally permitted, while providing online casino games and real-money poker to customers in Australia is prohibited. That provider restriction is not, by itself, an automatic penalty for a player.

Can Australians use offshore gambling sites?

An overseas licence does not by itself authorise a prohibited service for someone physically in Australia. The main federal restrictions discussed here target providers, but that does not settle every possible player-related rule or circumstance. Protections and practical recourse may also be limited.

Is online in-play betting allowed?

Online in-play sports betting is generally prohibited once play has begun. A limited telephone exception requires the bet to be communicated wholly by telephone. Racing must be considered separately, and an app-plus-call process should not be assumed to qualify for the exception.

Do gambling rules differ between states and territories?

Federal restrictions apply nationally, while licensing, licence conditions and other requirements can differ between jurisdictions. A provider licensed in one jurisdiction may serve customers elsewhere; it does not necessarily need a separate licence from every customer’s home jurisdiction.

How can I check whether a gambling site is licensed?

For wagering, search ACMA’s register and compare the operator, domain and licensing details. Check the issuing regulator and the licence scope as well. For a lottery, use the relevant licensing authority; a wagering register entry does not authorise every product.

Where can I report a suspected illegal site or get help?

Use ACMA’s interactive gambling complaint form to report a suspected prohibited or unlicensed service. For free, confidential support, contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858. BetStop provides self-exclusion from covered Australian-licensed online and telephone wagering providers. A dispute with a licensed provider may instead require its complaint process and escalation to its licensing regulator.