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How casinos are regulated

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. On-course Bookmakers holding an On-course Bookmaker Licence offer fixed-odds betting at racecourses and, where appropriately licensed, over the telephone and via the internet. Corporate Bookmakers offer online and telephone fixed-odds betting on racing, sports and other approved events and totalisator derivative betting on racing. Retail Wagering is offered by state and territory-based totalisator agency boards (TABs) pursuant to sole licences in the relevant state or territory, thereby providing them with a form of ‘retail exclusivity’. Each state and territory has a relevant Casino Control Act (or similar legislation) under which casino licences have been issued. 2.2 Where Licences are available, please outline the structure of the relevant licensing regime. 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.
While the original wording of the IGA banned online casino operators from operating within our borders or from advertising services to Australian players, the laws were filled will all kinds of loopholes that allowed offshore casino sites to continue to service the Australian market. While retail casinos are legal in Australia and regulated, online casinos are a different story, with the updated Interactive Gambling Act officially outlawing them. While there is a want to keep gambling as an enjoyable and clean form of entertainment, there is always the potential for illicit and dangerous betting, so governmental laws are enforced in order to attempt to restrain the negative side-effects of this activity.
Similarly, a skill game with no element of chance is also not considered gambling and does not require any licence, unless it is operated online and falls within certain ‘interactive gaming’ regimes regulated by state and territory gambling regulators. 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. Corporate Bookmakers typically also offer ‘totalisator-derivative’ or ‘tote odds’ type betting. Sometimes an On-course Bookmaker will be licensed to offer fixed-odds betting on racing only. 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. Corporate Bookmakers are commonly licensed in the NT, whereas On-course Bookmakers (which may have online operations) are licensed in the relevant state or territory.
Social gaming (as described) is not generally regulated by gambling regulators; however, age classifications and other restrictions apply to such games. Bingo in land-based venues is regulated by the state and territory gambling regulators detailed below. Online bingo is regulated by the state and territory gambling regulators detailed below. Online casino gaming is prohibited in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth) (Interactive Gambling Act). Casino gaming (including slots and casino table games such as roulette & blackjack) Yes, Queensland players can legally access international online pokies through overseas-licensed platforms.
Casinos are generally subject to periodic Licence reviews (often every five years). Gaming machine permits/licences have typically been perpetual in Australia, other than in certain states such as Vic, which operate for 20 years from August 2022 onwards. In the case of lotteries, aside from Tas (which operates under renewable five-year permits linked to Victorian and Queensland licences) and WA (where lotteries are owned and operated by the state), the expiry dates are generally shorter than in relation to Retail Wagering; however, they still range between 2024 and 2072. The duration of major operator licences depends upon the legislative framework in the relevant state or territory and is subject to possible change upon a licence renewal or new licence being issued. An application for a Corporate Bookmaker Licence issued in the NT, or an application for an On-course Bookmaker Licence, typically takes between three and six months for approval and can be made at any time. Casino licences can typically only be applied for through a competitive tender process run by the relevant state or territory. Any applicant for a licence is generally required to undergo a probity assessment to determine whether such applicant is ‘fit and proper’ to be granted a licence.
By way of example, in Vic, where average revenue per gaming machine is greater than AUS $12,500 per month, the tax rate is 60.67%. State and territory taxes on gaming machine revenue are complicated and vary significantly. State and territory taxation on casinos is determined on a case-by-case basis (typically during negotiations with the relevant state or territory government at the time). Separately, the CCA imposes penalties for, amongst other things, misleading and deceptive conduct (including through advertising). On-course Bookmakers offer substantially the same fixed-odds betting on-course and, subject to approval, also over the telephone and in some instances online. Corporate Bookmakers are licensed to offer fixed-odds betting on racing, sport and other approved events online and over the telephone. 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.
Players must be 18 or over to legally participate in any casino gaming in Queensland, whether at land-based venues or online platforms. Queensland does not have specific laws prohibiting players from accessing these services, though the law prohibits Australian-based companies from offering such services without proper licensing. Yes, under the Commonwealth Interactive Gambling Act of 2001, Queensland residents can legally access online casinos operated by licensed overseas providers.
Any new operator must secure approval through Queensland’s rigorous licensing process, which protects both workers and consumers during ownership transitions." As online options continue growing, land-based casinos must enhance their experiential offerings to remain competitive—a challenge Treasury Brisbane appears well-positioned to meet." On one hand, Treasury Brisbane remains a world-class facility with tremendous potential, especially with the upcoming Olympics. Mr Hughes, an industry analyst, believes Star would likely look to shore up some of its stronger assets, including the Brisbane casino, ahead of the 2032 Olympics—a major opportunity for Queensland’s tourism sector. The venue’s racecourse integration creates a distinctive gambling experience that blends traditional casino gaming with thoroughbred racing excitement—a combination not found at Brisbane’s urban casino locations. brisbane casino hotel casinobettingnow casinos typically feature Australian-developed pokies from industry giants like Aristocrat and IGT. Queensland residents can rest assured they’ll be able to enjoy playing online gambling legally and safely for years to come.
At the time of writing, casino licensees in NSW and Qld have been deemed unsuitable to hold the licences issued in those jurisdictions. Enforcement action by the ACMA is also likely to continue following the implementation of various legislative changes, including in relation to illegal gambling sites and following the recent commencement of the NSER. The use of digital currencies (including cryptocurrency) for gambling purposes is not common in the jurisdiction and, in the case of online wagering and betting, was expressly prohibited following amendments to the Interactive Gambling Act in 2024. Are there any specific licensing or operational requirements for operators accepting digital currencies (including cryptocurrencies)? Under the AML/CTF Act, certain gambling activities are classified as ‘designated services’ and, as such, reporting entities are required, among other things, to register with AUSTRAC, develop and maintain a compliant AML/CTF Program and report certain transactions to AUSTRAC, including by way of TTRs and SMRs. Included in this are restrictions at a state and territory level in relation to gambling advertising and also inducements to open an account and, in some jurisdictions, to gamble or to gamble more frequently.

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