Gambling Laws and Regulations Report 2026 Australia

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It is, therefore, important for an operator to review the applicable legislation and the regulator’s policy in each state and territory when considering whether it is legal or permitted to offer skill games. Amendments were introduced in NZ in 2024 to include a requirement for offshore online gambling operators providing online gambling services (ie, online casino-type games) to customers located in NZ to pay an offshore gambling duty. These include harm minimisation and consumer protection, advertising and fees. Subject to the parliamentary process, the NZ Online Casino Bill is anticipated to come into effect on 1 May 2026, while the online casino licences will be issued with effect from 1 December 2026. The NZ government announced in July 2024 that it proposed to introduce laws that will result in the licensing of online casino operators to provide services to customers in NZ. Scheduled to conclude in November 2025, this trial represents the initial stage of a broader roll-out of carded play on gaming machines across Victoria. Since September 2025, Victoria has been trialling mandatory account-based play in 43 venues with gaming machines across Monash, Greater Dandenong and Ballarat.
In addition to the compulsory responsible gambling messages and warnings, it is an offence to advertise an inducement to open a betting account or to refer another person to open a betting account and, in some jurisdictions, to gamble or to gamble more frequently. There are comprehensive federal, state and territory advertising restrictions that apply to the lawful advertising of gambling services. In October 2024, the NICC advised that The Star Sydney’s licence would remain suspended until at least March 2025 (with independent supervision also to continue until at least that time) citing that a decision to revoke the licence would have serious economic impacts on staff and connected businesses and stakeholders. The authors note that in January 2024, the Special Manager of Crown Melbourne submitted his final report to the Victorian regulator setting out his assessment of the effectiveness and sustainability of Crown Melbourne’s reforms.
The number of licences available are limited and there are typically only one per state and territory (except in the case of current casino licences held in each of Qld, NT and NSW, the two recently issued Vic keno licences, and potentially for new wagering licences) and the processes are very infrequent. Gaming machine and other equipment manufacturers, software developers and technical services suppliers selling products and/or services used for gambling-related activities are also required to hold a relevant licence (including providers of gaming machine monitoring services). Hotels and clubs hold a venue operator’s licence and a permit/licence to operate each gaming machine within the licensed premises. State and territory lotteries engage in pooling arrangements pursuant to what is known as ‘bloc agreements’, under which jackpots are pooled, making the customer offering more attractive. There is co-mingling of state and territory totalisator pools through pooling arrangements, with three Australian totalisator pools currently in existence. A state or territory licence is typically required to operate a bingo centre in the relevant jurisdiction. Corporate Bookmakers offer fixed-odds betting online and over the telephone on sport, racing and other approved events, whereas On-course Bookmakers offer fixed-odds betting on-course and, subject to approval, also over the telephone and in some instances online on similar events as a Corporate Bookmaker.
In relation to wagering and betting, apart from the NT (where the licences expire in 2035) and WA (where Retail Wagering and betting is operated by the state), the expiry dates of current Retail Wagering Licences are also similarly long-dated and range between 2044 and payid pokies real money 2100. There are often strict local government planning requirements that must be met in relation to gaming machines. Bingo is often regarded as minor gaming and may be conducted for fundraising or charitable purposes, typically by a community or other not-for-profit organisation. In relation to hotels and clubs, a venue requires both a gaming venue licence and also a permit/licence for each gaming machine a venue operates. Casino table gaming and gaming machines, Retail Wagering, lotteries and keno all require an operator licence, which is typically long-dated and is granted by the relevant Australian state or territory.
Prior to joining Senet, Alexander was part of the Solicitors Assisting the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants (Lawyer X), where he worked under intense pressure on a range of intricate legal and procedural issues. His strategic insight and depth of legal knowledge contribute to delivering clear, effective solutions to clients operating in highly regulated environments. She began her legal career at MinterEllison, advising Australian and international wagering operators on complex regulatory and commercial matters. He is an experienced Australian lawyer and trusted adviser, specialising in gambling law and regulation.
The New Zealand (NZ) government proposes the introduction of a regulatory regime to license online casino operators to provide services to customers located in NZ. AUSTRAC alleges serious and systemic non-compliance by Mounties with the AML/CTF Laws. The Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission (NTRWC) has been active in overseeing compliance with the Racing and Wagering Act 2024 (NT) and the Racing and Wagering Regulations 2024 (NT) (together, the “NT Wagering Laws”, which came into effect on 1 July 2024).
Accordingly, online lotteries may be conducted legally as a “regulated interactive gambling service” when offered by an operator that holds a licence granted by an Australian state or territory. The offering of online casinos is prohibited under the IGA and cannot be offered legally to persons physically present in Australia. From 22 September 2024, in accordance with amendments made to the Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games (the “Guidelines”), computer games containing loot boxes or simulated gambling (including social casinos) are subject to mandatory classification requirements.
The amendments were introduced in February 2025 following the findings and recommendations of the Perth Casino Royal Commission, which was conducted in 2022. The Western Australia government introduced amendments to its gambling laws to increase the enforcement powers of the gambling regulator upon Crown and operators who fail to comply with gambling laws and directions issued by the gambling regulator. As part of the review, a public consultation process was conducted between December 2024 and April 2025.