Is online gambling legal in Australia?
Online gambling in Australia is tightly restricted under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). Australian-based operators are banned from offering real-money casino games online to Australian residents. Sports betting and lottery products are permitted with a licence.
What the IGA prohibits
The IGA makes it illegal for companies to operate online casino games (slots, blackjack, roulette, poker, baccarat) for Australian players. In-play sports betting is also restricted. The laws target operators, not players — using offshore casino sites is not explicitly illegal for individual Australians, though offshore operators are banned from actively marketing to Australian residents.
The current state of play
Many Australians access international casinos not covered by the IGA. ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) operates a blocking scheme that blocks unlicensed offshore casino sites, but this is an ongoing effort with many sites remaining accessible. The Australian government has considered reforms to the IGA but no fundamental changes to the casino prohibition had been enacted as of 2024.