Australia Gambling License

Online gambling in Australia is regulated by the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA).

The IGA was passed by the Commonwealth Parliament on 28 June 2001 and was given Royal Assent by the Governor-General on 11 July 2001. The passage of the IGA was an important element of the Government’s policy of preventing the escalation of the harmful effects of gambling on the Australian community.

The IGA targets the providers of interactive gambling services, not their potential or actual customers. The IGA makes it an offence to provide an interactive gambling service to a customer physically present in Australia.

Online wagering

Online wagering is not an offence under the IGA, except where wagers are accepted online after a sporting event has started, or use real-time, ‘ball by ball’ betting. Therefore, an online bet on a particular tennis match can be accepted during a tennis tournament but not after that particular match has started. Online bets during a match as to whether the next serve will be an ace are prohibited. Online wagering on a non-sporting event, before or after it has started, is exempt. Telephone betting via a standard voice call is exempt from the IGA.

Online lotteries

Online lotteries and the online sale of lottery tickets are not prohibited by the IGA.

The exception is for online instant and scratch lotteries, which in practice are virtually indistinguishable from other online, player-initiated games. The Minister has the discretion under section 10 of the IGA to make future regulations to ban highly repetitive or frequently drawn forms of keno-type lottery or similar types of lottery that are provided to customers using interactive communications networks or media.

Who to Contact?

Please contact the our specialist who will be pleased to assist with your enquiry:

SENIOR COUNSEL,
Steve Friedman

Steve is experienced in project structuring and fast growth businesses. Having undertaken executive studies in the area of fast growth businesses at Columbia University in New-York, and through his own enterprises, he has overseen and driven many different strategies for fast growth outcomes.

Entrepreneurship is a key area of interest for Steve. He has been involved in a number of start-up businesses and managed these businesses through to trade sale. His areas of expertise include property, information technology, biotechnology, and infrastructure. Along the way Steve has also been involved in a number of residential and retail property developments.