Is online gambling legal in Australia?

For recreational players, gambling winnings are tax-free. All licensed Australian operators must integrate with BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register, and you can complain to the licensing regulator if the operator does not resolve a dispute.

1. 1ACMA: Check if a gambling operator is legal (register of licensed interactive gambling providers)
2. 2Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth), Compilation No. 24, 14 Oct 2024 (Federal Register of Legislation C2004A00851; the 2026 Act's amendments are not yet in the compilation)
3. 3ACMA: Blocked gambling websites (list page)

Using a VPN to reach gambling sites from Australia: Legal.

Gambling with crypto: Banned (effective June 11, 2024).

You must be 18 to gamble online in Australia, for online casino, sports betting and lottery alike. Online Casino technically banned federally but available at 18 locally.

Casual gambling winnings are not taxable. Only professional gamblers (those carrying on a business of betting) declare winnings as income.

Rate: 0%: winnings not taxable except for professional gamblers

163 licence holders on the ACMA register of licensed interactive wagering providers (213 entries, 4 November 2026) in Australia, as of 5 Nov 2026.

Racing Victoria (Victoria (Racing Victoria)) also publishes a list of 200 approved companies. Its approval is not a licence to operate, so they are not counted as licence holders here.

Always verify a casino holds a valid ACMA (federal enforcement) + state/territory regulators (licensing). National online bookmakers are licensed mainly by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, Liquor & Gaming NSW and the Northern Territory Wagering Commission (formerly the NT Racing Commission, Racing and Wagering Act 2024 (NT)). licence before depositing.

ACMA (federal enforcement) + state/territory regulators (licensing). National online bookmakers are licensed mainly by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, Liquor & Gaming NSW and the Northern Territory Wagering Commission (formerly the NT Racing Commission, Racing and Wagering Act 2024 (NT)).'s website

Prominent operators in Australia

If a site isn't on the regulator's licensee register, ask the regulator before you play: an unlisted site is usually not licensed here (a register can lag behind a new licence). An unlicensed site is outside the regulator's supervision, so you cannot complain to the regulator about it.

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  Check for a Licence in an Australian State or Territory

  A legitimate site will clearly state which Australian jurisdiction it is licensed by (e.g., 'Licensed and regulated by the Northern Territory Wagering Commission'). If it only mentions a foreign licence (like Curaçao or Malta), it is illegal in Australia.

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  Verify the Operator on the ACMA Register

  The ACMA maintains a public register of all companies legally licensed to provide wagering services in Australia. Before signing up, check that the company's name appears on this official list.

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  Look for the BetStop Logo and Responsible Gambling Tools

  All licensed Australian operators must integrate with BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register. Look for the BetStop logo and ensure the site provides clear, accessible tools to set deposit limits and self-exclude.

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  Confirm They Do NOT Offer Casino Games or Poker

  If a site offers online pokies, roulette, blackjack, or poker to Australian customers, it is operating illegally under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Licensed Australian sites are strictly limited to sports and race betting.

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  Ensure They Do Not Accept Credit Cards or Crypto

  As of June 2024, it is illegal for licensed Australian operators to accept deposits via credit cards or cryptocurrency. A site offering these payment methods is not a compliant Australian operator.

Australia regulates gambling at the state/territory level. Each jurisdiction sets its own rules on online casino, sports betting, taxation and operator licensing.

Official guidance, court decisions and changes to the list of blocked gambling sites in Australia, newest first, each linked to the official text.

Our daily watch reads the official publishers we follow; each item is listed once a person has checked it against the official text, and every sentence is taken from that text. Dates are the official dates where the text gives one, else the day it was published.

1. 1

   1. Contact the Licensed Operator Directly

   The first step is to attempt to resolve the dispute directly with the customer service or complaints department of the licensed wagering operator. Operators are required to have internal dispute resolution processes.

2. 2

   2. Escalate to the Relevant State/Territory Regulator

   If the dispute cannot be resolved with the operator, the player must file a formal complaint with the government body that licensed the operator. For national bookmakers this is usually the Northern Territory Wagering Commission, Liquor & Gaming NSW or the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission.

3. 3

   3. Legal Action

   If the regulatory body cannot resolve the dispute to the player's satisfaction, the final option is to pursue legal action through the civil courts. This is often a costly and time-consuming process.

• Myth

  It's legal for me to play on an offshore online casino because the law only targets the company.
  Reality

  While the Interactive Gambling Act does not penalise individual players, using these services means participating in an illegal activity. The ACMA actively blocks these sites, and players have zero legal recourse or consumer protection for disputes over winnings or funds.

• Myth

  All online betting is legal in Australia.
  Reality

  Only sports and race betting with a state or territory-licensed operator is legal. All forms of online casino games (like pokies and blackjack) and online poker are explicitly illegal to provide in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

• Myth

  My gambling winnings might be taxed if I win a large amount.
  Reality

  For recreational players, gambling winnings are completely tax-free, regardless of the amount. The Australian Tax Office only considers winnings as taxable income for a very small number of individuals who meet the legal definition of a 'professional gambler'.