Interactive gambling

A gambling service is considered "interactive" if it is provided on broadcasting, datacasting, telephone, and online platforms. These services broadly fit into 3 categories:

  1. wagering (or betting) services, e.g. betting on racing and sports
  2. lotteries, e.g. Keno
  3. gaming, e.g. casino style games.

The Interactive Gambling Act 2001(IGA) is the primary Commonwealth legislation regulating the types of interactive gambling services that can be provided to people located in Australia.

Under the IGA, it is an offence to:

  • provide a prohibited interactive gambling service to customers in Australia.
  • provide an unlicensed regulated interactive gambling service to customers in Australia.
  • provide an Australian-based interactive gambling service to customers in designated countries.

Prohibited interactive gambling services include casino-style games such as online blackjack and roulette, and pokies or slot machines.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) maintains a list of all licensed interactive gambling providers that are permitted to operate in Australia. These services must comply with the consumer protections outlined in the IGA.

The ACMA also administers a website blocking scheme to protect Australians against illegal offshore gambling websites. The ACMA maintains a list of all blocked gambling websites.

If you believe a prohibited gambling activity is being offered or advertised over the internet to people in Australia, you can make an online complaint to the ACMA using its complaint form

Online Gambling Inquiry

On 28 June 2023 the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs published the final report to its inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm (Online Gambling Inquiry).

The government is closely considering the recommendations from the Online Gambling Inquiry.

Online Keno and Foreign matched lotteries review

The government has conducted a review into the regulation of online keno and foreign matched lotteries under the IGA. The review was informed by targeted consultation with stakeholders, with submissions received from harm minimisation advocates, community and charity peak bodies, academics, the states and territories, government agencies, newsagents and the lottery and wagering industries.

The review was undertaken in response to recommendations by the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications in its review of the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023 (the Bill). The Committee recommended that the Bill be passed and that the Australian Government undertake a review into the regulation of keno-type lotteries.

The government will consider the review findings, including examining options to enhance nationally consistent consumer protections.

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