## Australia Online Gaming Licensing & Regulation Licence Triggers — As a general comment, the provision to persons in Australia of online gambling services is complex and should only be undertaken under an appropriate licence. Generally, the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth) (IGA) will apply such that regulated interactive (i.e. online) gambling services cannot be provided to Australian residents without a licence. That includes the offering of online wagering and lottery products. There are also state and territory laws that make certain forms of conduct illegal unless it occurs under licence issued in that or another Australian jurisdiction. These laws also serve as a licensing trigger (e.g Unlawful Gambling Act 1998 (NSW)) Type of licences needed - Online gambling is regulated at a state, territory and federal level in Australia and is a complex area of law. There are broad range of issues associated with online gaming in Australia. Unlike other jurisdictions, only certain types of online gambling is permitted and will only be lawful when conducted under the requisite licence. Licences are only issued by the states and territories. The most common form of online licence for wagering is a sports bookmaking licence issued by the Northern Territory although other forms of licences will also permit online wagering (e.g. a licence to conduct on-course bookmaking at an Australian racecourse will often also permit online or telephone sales). It is also possible to obtain a licence to conduct exchange betting with licences being available in the Northern Territory and also in Tasmania. Lotteries licences (including Keno) will generally also permit online sales, as will internet gaming licences issued by the Northern Territory which have been used by licensees to promote the sale of entries in foreign lotteries in particular. Over the past few years, the Federal government has taken a more functional role in regulating online gaming, in particular the passing of legislation to stop offshore internet gambling sites from providing services to Australian residents. The development of online gaming as a sector has important implications on regulatory mechanisms, taxation revenue and public policy. Apart from exclusive land-based licences (which also permit online sales) and which are typically long-dated, the only licence types available are for a Corporate Bookmaker Licence or an on-course bookmaker licence (which may contain approval to take bets over the telephone and internet) (On-Course Bookmaker Licence). Licence Triggers — Any supply of online betting services to persons located in Australia, irrespective of physical presence in Australia, i.e. remote operators, must occur by a person licensed in the jurisdiction. Significant penalties may be applied to persons who target Australian residents from offshore grey or black market operations and a range of other deterrent actions may be taken by the local regulator. These include ISP blocking but also the taking of action against the directors and principals of offending organisations via Australia’s border protection agency. Type of licenses needed Online and land-based betting is regulated at a state, territory and federal level. Given that the majority of new entrants to the market who wish to offer betting will typically apply for a Northern Territory sports bookmaker licence (Corporate Bookmaker Licence), the key legislation which is relevant is the Racing and Wagering Act 2024 (NT). There is no limit on the number of licences which may be granted by the Northern Territory Wagering Commission (NTWC) and the licence will permit the offering of approved bets on sports, racing and other events (including fixed odds products) into all Australian states and territories, as well as overseas jurisdictions in which it is lawful to do so. It is also possible to obtain a licence to conduct exchange betting with licences being available in the Northern Territory and also in Tasmania. The range of products permitted for betting is broad. Betting is permissible on real and, in some cases, virtual events. Similarly, betting on prescribed e-sports is also permissible. Conversely, betting on the outcome of local lotteries is prohibited and we note that online in-play (or ‘live’) betting on sports is strictly prohibited in Australia. It can only be offered over the telephone or in retail venues. Fantasy betting is generally not prevalent in Australia but licences to undertake this form of betting are also available in the Northern Territory. Pari-mutuel betting may only be offered by the exclusive licensee in each state and territory although totalisator derivative wagering is commonly offered by Corporate Bookmaker Licensees. Domestic licence types — Apart from exclusive land-based licences (which also permit online sales) and which are typically long-dated, the only licence types available are for a Corporate Bookmaker Licence or an on-course bookmaker licence (which may contain approval to take bets over the telephone and internet) (On-Course Bookmaker Licence). Period of licence & renewal process — 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. In relation to retail wagering and betting, apart from Victoria and the Northern Territory (where the licences expire in 2044 and 2035, respectively) and Western Australia (where Retail wagering and betting is operated by the State), the expiry dates of current retail wagering licences are long-dated. The duration of online bookmaking licences is typically 4 to 5 years, after which renewal processes apply. Application timeframe and phases — A licence application may be submitted to Licensing NT for a Corporate Bookmaker Licence by a locally incorporated entity (generally a proprietary limited company) or an overseas entity which is registered in Australia as a foreign body. An application for a Corporate Bookmaker Licence is completed utilising a paper-based form or, alternatively, online. The application form itself is a relatively brief document, however the supporting documentation required is substantial. As part of the application process, the applicant is required to provide information in respect of all persons who are on the Board of Directors of the applicant, shareholders (with probity conducted on those who hold at least 10% of the shareholding) as well as key management who will be associated with the business. The application process typically takes between three to six months but can sometimes take longer, particularly if the applicant is seeking to use their own or a new betting platform which has not been previously approved by the regulator. List of documents & type of information needed to support application — The detailed information required of applicants includes all typical probity information, as well as least three years’ audited financials. Where the applicant is a start-up up company, Licensing NT will require evidence that adequate financial resources / funding are available as required. This will typically involve the applicant demonstrating that it has sufficient financial resources and will fund the applicant in relation to its business operations. Geographical cover — A Corporate Bookmaker Licence will enable the holder to offer fixed odds products into all Australian states and territories as well as overseas jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. Such licence has fairly standard licence conditions, including the requirement to comply with the NT Code of Practice for Responsible Service of Online Gambling 2019 (NT Code of Practice). In addition to this, a licensee needs to comply with the South Australia Code of Practice (which applies in relation to bets taken from South Australian residents) when servicing South Australian residents, as well as other Commonwealth, state and territory laws which typically relate to advertising and other restrictions, which include those introduced as a result of Australia’s National Consumer Protection Framework (which has been rolled out since 2018 as agreed between the Commonwealth and states). A Corporate Bookmaker Licence holder cannot accept online ‘in-play’ bets on live sports events. Live betting on sports can only occur over the telephone or in retail betting outlets. The NTWC welcomes overseas applicants (with a local presence), particularly where they are experienced in the category they are applying for, have a demonstrated track record and come from a well-regulated jurisdiction. There are many examples of overseas applicants establishing highly successful local operations. Mechanics of the licence process — There is no limit on the number of licences which may be granted in the Northern Territory. Similarly, an uncapped number of licences may be issued by race controlling bodies in other states and territories. Licence applications can be made at any time and are not subject to licensing windows. Bad Actor / cooling off periods – There are no prescribed “bad actor” or “cooling off” periods. Regulatory indiscretions in other jurisdictions will need to be disclosed as part of the licensing process (along with other probity assessment-related information) and will factor into the assessment of suitability of the applicant. Applicant considerations – All regulatory authorities are required to assess the suitability of the applicant. For example, in determining whether to grant or refuse a licence, Licensing NT must have regard to whether the applicant: is of good repute, having regard to character, honesty and integrity; is of sound and stable financial background (this is increasingly becoming more important, with enquiries being made by the NTRWC in relation to debt and equity capital arrangements); has or has arranged a satisfactory ownership, trust or corporate structure; has or is able to obtain financial resources that are adequate to ensure the financial viability of the business proposed to be conducted and to obtain the services of persons who have sufficient experience in the management and operation of the business; has sufficient business ability to establish and maintain the business proposed to be conducted; and whether any person to be involved in the management or operation of the business proposed to be conducted has any association with any person, body or association who or which, in the opinion of Licensing NT, is not of good repute having regard to character, honesty and integrity or has undesirable or unsatisfactory financial resources. In addition, Licensing NT will have regard to whether each director, partner, trustee, executive officer and secretary and any other officer or person determined by Licensing NT to be associated or connected with the ownership, administration or management of the operations or business of the applicant is a suitable person to act in that capacity Infrastructure – Taking the Northern Territory as an example, the NTWC will require the applicant to (amongst other things) demonstrate that they will operate an approved betting system and appropriate system of internal controls. Hosting services are readily available and most Corporate Bookmaker Licence holders utilise a cloud services provider (Amazon Web Services being the most popular). Power and other services are available and easily connected. Integrations – Corporate Bookmaker Licence holders must integrate with Australia’s recently introduced national self-exclusion register known as ‘BetStop’. This requires regularly checking customer data against the database maintained by BetStop to ensure that they do not transact with, or market to, a person temporarily or permanently registered on that database. Under anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing legislation which has been increasingly enforced in the sector, it is a requirement for operators to identify and verify their customers before opening a betting account (whereas this could previously occur within a prescribed period following the opening of the account). This requires integration with databases or service providers offering verification services. A number of service providers offer these facilities. Software certification – Software used by licensees needs to meet minimum prescribed technical requirements. Although copies of the prescribed technical standards may not be published online, they are readily available from Licensing NT (for NT licence applicants). A licensee’s betting platform will generally also need to be independently audited by an approved testing facility prior to launch and then also re-evaluated at regular intervals. Player Fund protections – Taking the NT for example, licensees are required to provide a bank guarantee (typically of A$250,000) which will be applied to protect player funds in the event of default. Funds also typically need to be held in segregated bank accounts. Payments – Payment and remittance limitations: Payment and remittance limitations are generally self-imposed by a Corporate Bookmaker Licence holder to manage money laundering and terrorism financing risk in accordance with its AML/CTF Program. A Corporate Bookmaker Licence holder will be providing “designated services” to its customers and will be required to be registered with the Commonwealth AML/CTF regulator, the Australian Transactions Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), as a reporting entity and comply with the requirements set out in the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth) (AML/CTF Act), the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Rules Instrument 2007 No.1 (Cth) (AML/CTF Rules) and any other rules or regulations made pursuant to the AML/CTF Act. Legislation has recently taken effect which bans the acceptance, or offer, of payment using specified payment methods, including credit cards, credit-related products and digital currency, in connection with certain interactive wagering services (including online wagering). Ease of access to banking, hosting, power, and other ancillary services: New entrants applying for a Corporate Bookmaker Licence with no presence in Australia can expect the establishment of a bank account to take up to one month or longer. Some local banking institutions no longer service the sector. Localisation - Licences will permit sales throughout Australia and into overseas jurisdictions where it is legal to do so. Local practice is for all wagering to be transacted in Australian dollars. Capitalisation, bank guarantees — Applicants for a Northern Territory licensee must provide a bank guarantee of generally AU$250,000 and also satisfy the licensing authority that they have satisfactory financial resources available to them. This may be in the form of cash, debt or equity financing (or a combination thereof). The regulator will review this information and interview licence applicants prior to making a decision regarding suitability. Bingo: Online bingo is generally regarded as prohibited in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth) (IGA) and there are limited possible licensing opportunities under state/territory based licensing regimes. It is possible, however, that an applicant could potentially apply for an ‘internet gaming licence’ in the Northern Territory and offer their gaming products to customers outside of Australia in certain circumstances. Casino: Online casino gaming or ‘iGaming’ (including slots, gaming machines or ‘pokies’ and table games such as roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps etc.) is prohibited in Australia under the IGA. It is possible, however, that an applicant could potentially apply for an ‘internet gaming licence’ in the Northern Territory or Queensland and offer their gaming products to customers outside of Australia in certain circumstances. Online casino gaming in Australia is regulated by the ACMA. Lottery: Online and retail lotteries are regulated by state, territory and federal regulators. Online scratch and instant lotteries are prohibited in Australia. Relevant legislation: The following key State and Territory Acts apply to lotteries licensing and regulation: Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic); Public Lotteries Act 1996 (NSW); Lotteries Act 1997 (Qld); Lotteries Act 1964 (ACT); Lottery and Gaming Act 1936 (SA); State Lotteries Act 1966 (SA); Gaming Control Act 1993 (Tas); Gaming and Wagering Commission Act 1987 (WA); and Gaming Control Act 1993 (NT). In addition, at a Federal level the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth) applies, under which online lottery ticket sales are not prohibited. Domestic licence types — Apart from monopolistic land-based licences (which also permit online sales), the predominant licence type available is an internet gaming licence issued in the Northern Territory. Application Process: There is no prescribed application form or application process. A person wishing to apply to Licensing NT for the issuance of an internet gaming licence must approach Licensing NT and put forward a submission for consideration. A licence can be granted if approved by the relevant Minister, with input and approval from Northern Territory treasury. Licence requirements and restrictions: Monopolistic licences have extensive licence conditions and restrictions, details in respect of which are publicly available. In relation to an internet gaming licence issued in the Northern Territory, the licence conditions are negotiable based on a range of factors, including licence term, price, tax rates and other matters. Attitude to overseas licensees: Licensing NT welcomes overseas applicants, particularly where they are experienced in the category, have a demonstrated track record and come from a well-regulated jurisdiction. Payment and remittance limitations: Payment and remittance limitations are generally self-imposed by a licensee. AML/CTF requirements imposed under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth) (AML/CTF Act), the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Rules 2025 (Cth) (AML/CTF Rules) and any other rules or regulations made pursuant to the AML/CTF Act do not apply to lotteries in Australia. Ease of access to banking, hosting, power, and other ancillary services: New entrants applying for a licence with no presence in Australia can expect the establishment of a bank account to take up to one month or longer. Hosting services are readily available. Power and other services are available and easily connected. Existing licensees: Monopolistic licences are predominantly held by entities within The Lottery Corporation Limited, as well as Lotterywest (in relation to Western Australia). The Lottery Office and others hold internet gaming licences in respect of certain forms of lotteries or lottery resales. Poker: Online casino gaming (including poker, slots, gaming machines or ‘pokies’ and table games such as roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps etc.) is prohibited in Australia under the IGA. It is possible, however, that an applicant could potentially apply for an ‘internet gaming licence’ in the Northern Territory or Queensland and offer their gaming products to customers outside of Australia in certain circumstances. Online casino gaming in Australia is regulated by the ACMA. Skill games: Online skill games and competitions with no element of chance are not typically regarded as gambling in Australia, but may still fall within certain ‘interactive gaming’ regimes when operated online and be regulated by state and territory gambling regulators. A number of arcane gambling laws may also still have application notwithstanding the skill-based nature of the activity. Licensing processes are not regularly used and significant costs are involved. There is also uncertainty in relation to marketing and promotion into other States and Territories in relation to some regulatory frameworks. Software/B2B: Gaming machine and other equipment manufacturers, software developers and technical services suppliers selling products and or services used for gaming related activities in Australia are required to hold a relevant licence. Gaming machine manufacturers or suppliers of gaming machines require approval if they intend to create a new gaming machine type or game. Approval will also be required if they intend to vary an existing approved gaming machine type or game. In respect of software suppliers to operators that hold a Corporate Bookmaker Licence or an On-Course Bookmaker Licence, such suppliers need not be licensed, however their software will be subject to stringent and comprehensive technical and compliance requirements before it is approved for use by operators. For example, in the Northern Territory, each prospective holder of a Corporate Bookmaker Licence must use a system approved by the NTRWC which meets prescribed requirements. The system and any material changes to it will be evaluated by the regulator or an approved evaluator. The regulatory regimes in most jurisdictions require the manufacturers or suppliers of other forms of gambling hardware and software to be on a “roll of manufacturers, suppliers and testers” (or similar). The process and timeframes are cumbersome and timeframes for listing can be extensive.
Australia · Question 02 of 11
Licensing and regulation: Can we get a licence?
Mixed · Confirmed · Not reviewed · changed since expert review · 5 post-review updates · Not reviewed · In expert review scope · Back to full Australia report →
Key section parameters
| Jurisdiction | Australia (AU) |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Recorded in register |
| Favourability | Mixed |
| Confidence | Confirmed |
| Review status | Not reviewed · changed since expert review · 5 post-review updates · Not reviewed · In expert review scope |
| Last collected | 18 Oct 2026 |
Summary answer
## Australia Online Gaming Licensing & Regulation Licence Triggers — As a general comment, the provision to persons in Australia of online gambling services is complex and should only be undertaken under an appropriate licence. Generally, the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth) (IGA) will apply suc…
The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 26 August 2026, amending the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, the ACMA Act 2005, the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, the Online Safety Act 2021 and the Privacy Act 1988. Some provisions commenced on assent; the principal reforms commence 1 January 2027, meaning operators face a defined transition window before the new advertising, inducement, commission and payments obligations take full legal effect. The breadth of statutes amended -- spanning gambling-specific law, broadcasting, online safety and privacy -- indicates a whole-of-government approach to the reform rather than a narrow licensing amendment. Operators currently licensed under the pre-reform Interactive Gambling Act 2001 framework continue to operate under existing licence conditions in the interim, but should treat the enacted-not-yet-effective provisions as a fixed compliance target for 1 January 2027 rather than a contingent one, given the Act has already passed Parliament and received Royal Assent.
The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth) — durable primary Commonwealth legislation — was amended this cycle by the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Act 2026, which passed both houses on 19 August 2026 and commences 1 January 2027. The amending Act inserts three new Parts: Part 7C establishing wagering advertising restrictions, Part 7D restricting inducements and loss-linked staff commissions, and Part 7E creating a Wagering Advertising Opt-out Register. Two companion cost-recovery levy bills, the National Self-Exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Amendment Bill 2026 and the Interactive Gambling (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2026, passed alongside the main Act to fund ACMA's administration of the new regime, though this specific levy detail remains at uncertain confidence pending independent corroboration. The statutory basis is confirmed by the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure and corroborated by independent legal analysis, giving the core change high durability even while some implementation detail remains to firm up ahead of commencement.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 passed both houses of Parliament on 19 August 2026, introducing gambling-advertising restrictions and a global opt-out register. This is durable primary legislation, confirmed against a primary Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) source, and it amends the existing federal interactive-gambling framework rather than replacing its licensing architecture. The Bill layers new advertising-conduct and opt-out obligations onto the established framework, which already includes the BetStop national self-exclusion scheme administered federally. No change to licence classes, entry eligibility, or the issuing-authority structure was identified this cycle. State-level regulator instruments (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland) were not individually queried this pass, so this narrative reflects the federal layer only; a complete licensing picture requires state-level review the interpreter has not yet performed.
Australia's licensing framework for interactive gambling continues to operate under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, and the core interactive-gambling-service licensing test is unchanged this cycle. The material development is narrower in scope: the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 targets the trade-promotion exemption long used by subscription-based lottery-style products to operate without a conventional gambling licence, narrowing that carve-out. This is a reform-stage development — the Bill was introduced to Parliament on 2 July 2026 and remains before a Senate committee inquiry rather than enacted — so the exemption remains in its current form until the Bill passes. Products structured around this exemption should treat continued reliance on it as an increasingly exposed position, particularly given the Bill's expected commencement of 1 January 2027. No new licence class or B2B pathway change was identified this cycle beyond this exemption-level adjustment.
The core licensing framework rests on the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth), amended this cycle by the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, introduced into Federal Parliament on 2 July 2026 and set to commence 1 January 2027. The amendment is best characterised as a mixed-durability instrument: it operates within a durable primary statute but introduces new delegated detail as it extends coverage to online content services, including social media and streaming platforms, categories not previously captured by the interactive gambling regime. Most materially, the Bill imposes positive obligations directly on financial institutions and digital infrastructure providers to block illegal gambling services, extending compliance duties beyond licensed operators to the payments and infrastructure layer that services them. This scope expansion signals a shift toward third-party accessory liability for the sector. The core licence-type taxonomy for wagering operators is not itself altered this cycle; the change is one of perimeter and obligated-party expansion rather than a redesign of who may hold a licence.