Are Online Casinos & Pokies Legal in Australia?

This is one of the most common questions we get asked at GoBet so we thought we would put together a page that explains the current state of play. Please note that nothing on this page should be taken as legal advice. If you need advice specific to your situation you should speak to a lawyer.

The short version

Australian companies are not allowed to run online casinos or offer online pokies to people in Australia. That has been the case since 2001 when the federal government passed the Interactive Gambling Act. The Act was designed to stop operators from setting up shop and offering casino style games over the internet to Aussie customers.

But here is where it gets interesting. The law only targets the operators. There is nothing in the Act that makes it an offence for a person to actually play on an online casino site. So the company running the site is breaking the law but the person sitting at home having a spin on the pokies technically is not. That has been a grey area in Australian gambling law for over 20 years now and nobody in government has moved to close it.

It is different in New Zealand, however, where online casinos and pokies are legal. NZ punters can claim promotions such as no deposit free spins when joining an online casino.

Online casinos are also legal in South Africa. Betseeker South Africa says that gamblers should also exercise caution when joining an online casino or any of the betting sites in South Africa, and ensure the site is properly regulated in the country.

What about sports betting?

Sports betting online is completely legal in Australia as long as the bookmaker holds the right licences. That is why you can sign up to bookmakers like Bet365, Dabble and Betr without any issues.

They are licensed by state and territory regulators and operate within the law. If you are looking for a legal way to have a bet online in Australia, sports betting and racing are the way to go.

Check out our best online betting sites and top rated betting apps pages for our recommended bookmakers.

Who regulates gambling in Australia?

Each state and territory in Australia has its own body that regulates gambling. In New South Wales it is Liquor & Gaming NSW. In Victoria it is the VGCCC. Queensland has the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation. Every other state and territory has a similar body that oversees everything from pub pokies to licensed online bookmakers.

Tips Writer

Murphy Adams

Murphy is an absolute greyhound racing tragic. If he's not eating or sleeping, he's consuming as much greyhound content as he can get his hands on.

Having worked as a greyhound racing journalist for more than 10 years, Murphy has an astute ability to match up various form lines to find the best value in each race he analyses and he enjoys nothing more than pulling off a huge plunge.

As a greyhound owner himself, Murphy loves cheering home a live winner down the road at Albion Park or at the pub on Sky Racing, and he hopes to tip you a few winners too!