Online gambling in Australia is legally split. Licensed online wagering - sports and race betting placed before an event, plus certain lotteries and keno - is legal and regulated. But online casinos, pokies, poker, roulette and blackjack are prohibited: under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) it is illegal for any operator to provide them to people located in Australia. Crypto casinos targeting Australians are offshore and unlawful, and since June 2024 even licensed betting sites cannot accept cryptocurrency or credit cards. The upside for players: recreational winnings are generally tax-free.

The controlling law is the Commonwealth Interactive Gambling Act 2001. It permits licensed online wagering (fixed-odds and totalisator sports and race betting placed before a match or race starts) and some online lottery products. It prohibits interactive “gaming” - online casinos, pokies (slots), roulette, craps, blackjack and online poker - from being offered to anyone in Australia. The 2017 amendment closed the live “in-play” online betting loophole and pushed several offshore operators out of the market.

So when people ask “is online gambling legal in Australia?”, the honest answer is: online sports and race betting yes, online casinos no.

Who regulates it: ACMA and the states

Australia has a two-layer system:

  • The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) enforces the IGA at the federal level, publishes a register of licensed interactive wagering providers, runs a website-blocking scheme against illegal offshore sites, and handles complaints.
  • State and territory regulators issue operator licences - for example the Northern Territory Racing Commission (where many national bookmakers are licensed), Liquor & Gaming NSW, and Victoria’s VGCCC.
ItemAustralia
Primary lawInteractive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth)
Federal enforcerACMA
Licensed onlineSports/race wagering, lotteries, keno
Prohibited onlineCasinos, pokies, poker, roulette, blackjack
Crypto paymentsBanned for licensed wagering (since 11 Jun 2024)
Player winnings taxGenerally tax-free for recreational players

Licensed vs offshore operators

Licensed operators you will actually see advertised include Sportsbet, TAB, Ladbrokes, Neds and PointsBet, plus lottery seller The Lott (Tabcorp). These hold state/territory licences and must follow IGA consumer protections.

Offshore “online casino” and “crypto casino” brands that accept Australian sign-ups are operating illegally. They fall outside Australian consumer protection, the ACMA blocks many of them, and players have little recourse if funds are withheld. SlotWhizz does not recommend using them.

Payment methods locals use

Since 11 June 2024, licensed wagering operators are banned from accepting credit cards, credit-related products (including some digital wallets funded by credit) and cryptocurrency, under the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Act 2023. Non-compliant operators face penalties of up to A$247,500. In practice Australians fund licensed betting accounts with:

  • PayID and direct bank transfer
  • Debit cards (Visa/Mastercard debit)
  • BPAY
  • Apple Pay / Google Pay (debit-funded)

The ACMA has reported a very high level of compliance with the ban since it began.

Crypto gambling is not legal through Australian-licensed operators, which are barred from taking digital currency. Crypto casinos still market to Australians from offshore, but they are unlicensed and unlawful under the IGA. Note also that the ATO can treat spending or converting crypto as a capital-gains event on the crypto asset itself, separate from any gambling outcome.

Tax on winnings

Good news for players: under ATO ruling IT 2655, recreational gambling winnings are not usually assessable income - lotto, pokies, sports betting and casino wins are seen as the product of luck, not earnings, so casual players keep them tax-free. The exception is genuinely professional, business-like gambling, which can be assessed. Keep records of large wins, because the ATO expects you to explain the source of unusual deposits.

Safer gambling and help

If gambling stops being fun, help is free and confidential:

  • National Gambling Helpline: 1800 858 858 (24/7)
  • BetStop - the national self-exclusion register at betstop.gov.au, blocking all licensed online/phone wagering for 3 months to life in one step
  • Gambling Help Online (gamblinghelponline.org.au) for chat and counselling

You must be 18+ to gamble in Australia. Gamble responsibly - set limits, never chase losses, and reach out for support if you need it.

Sources