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Australia

Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) ↗Partially regulatedsince 2001verified 2026-08-03

Australia's federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA), enforced by the ACMA, prohibits the provision of most interactive gambling services to people in Australia — including online casino games (roulette, poker, slots/pokies) and in-play (live) betting on sporting events — regardless of where the operator is based. What remains legal online is wagering on sports and races where the bet is placed before the event begins, plus most online lotteries and keno (instant 'scratchie' style products excepted). The 2017 IGA Amendment Act closed the 'click-to-call' in-play loophole, added civil penalties for offshore operators and empowered the ACMA to seek ISP blocking of illegal sites. The IGA itself does not licence operators: corporate online bookmakers are licensed at state/territory level, most under the Northern Territory (NT Racing Commission / Licensing NT), and each state levies its own point-of-consumption betting tax.

Tax

Net wagering revenue (state point-of-consumption tax)

Point-of-consumption tax ~10%–20% of net wagering revenue (varies by state)

Each state/territory sets its own POC tax, e.g. New South Wales and Victoria 15%, Queensland 20% (plus a racing levy); the Northern Territory historically applied lower/capped charges. GST also applies. There is no federal gaming tax because online casino/in-play are prohibited rather than taxed.

Key facts
Licence termSet by each state/territory (Northern Territory sports bookmaker licences commonly issued for multi-year terms)
Regime since2001
Key-person licencesDirectors, associates and key persons undergo probity / fit-and-proper vetting under the relevant state or territory licensing law (e.g. the NT Racing and Betting Act framework).
Online casino & pokerprohibited nationwideIGA 2001 bans supply to people in Australia
In-play (live) bettingprohibited onlinelive bets must be placed by phone or on-course, not online
Wagering licensingstate/territory, mostly Northern TerritoryIGA does not itself licence operators
BetStopnational self-exclusion registeroperating since August 2023; registration mandatory for licensed online wagering providers
Consumer protectionscredit-betting ban, mandatory ID verificationNational Consumer Protection Framework measures phased in 2018–2023
Licence types
Online/corporate sports bookmaker licence — issued by states/territories, most under the Northern Territory Racing CommissionTotalisator (tote) and on-course wagering licences — state-basedOnline lottery and keno licences — state-basedProhibited (cannot be licensed): online casino, online poker, in-play/live sports betting, online instant scratch tickets
Fees
Point-of-consumption betting tax~10%–20% of net wagering revenueset per state/territory (e.g. NSW & Vic 15%, Qld 20%)
Northern Territory sports bookmaker licenceapplication + annual feesset by the NT Racing Commission; NT is the primary corporate-bookmaker licensing base
Change-watch
2017

Interactive Gambling Amendment Act closed the in-play 'click-to-call' loophole and enabled ISP blocking of illegal offshore sites

2023

BetStop national self-exclusion register launched; customer pre-verification ('customer ID') requirements strengthened

2024-2025

Government considering the 2023 Murphy inquiry ('You win some, you lose more') recommendations, including a phased ban on gambling advertising — response pending

Not legal or tax advice. This is a teaching summary; confirm every figure against the primary regulator (Australian Communications and Media Authority) before relying on it.