Australia

In a nutshell, online and in-person sports gambling are entirely legal in Australia as long as the bookmaker operates with a proper license issued by any territorial regulator. So, sports gambling involving, for example, parlays, straight bets, futures, and teasers is perfectly legal in the country. Aussies can also freely participate in online wagering on horse races and eSports.

However, Australia's sports gambling law prohibits in-play sports betting, a popular wagering niche in several other countries, which could generate more revenue for Australia. Interestingly, this in-game betting is only allowed via phone calls but is deemed illegal online.

Aussies have also legally participated in daily fantasy sports for many years, and many of the most popular DFS brands, like DraftKings, are currently operating in the Australian market.

Recent updates from the Australian sports betting scene

• November 11, 2024: Australian sports betting giant PointsBet denies reports of M&A talks with an unnamed Asian company. The Australian claimed earlier a source revealed a $197.1 million offer for the ASX-listed operator, subject to regulatory approval, including the Foreign Investment Review Board. PointsBet dismissed the speculation.

• November 5, 2024: Australian lawmakers consider a ban on in-stadium electronic gambling ads and possibly remove gambling and sports betting-related sponsor logos from player jerseys. The move follows rising pressure from Labor backbenchers who argue that highly visible sideline ads, especially at major events like AFL and NRL games, pose a significant risk by normalizing gambling.

• November 4, 2024: Donations from major horse race betting companies to Australian political parties have surged 632% between 2013 and 2023, according to Australian Electoral Commission data. Over the past decade, eight major betting companies have contributed $2.7 million, with Labor receiving $1.49 million, Liberals $952,500, and Nationals $263,300.

• October 30, 2024: The Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission sides with Ladbrokes, owned by Entain, in a dispute over AU$30,000 (US$19,726) in unpaid winnings on a bet made online. Ladbrokes argued the customer breached its terms by involving a third party in the account, leading to the regulator's January 2023 ruling in the operator's favor.

• October 28, 2024: Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers criticizes gambling companies for claiming nearly $90 million in R&D tax credits in one financial year, according to ATO data. Speaking Monday, Chalmers questioned the ethics of government-funded tax support for betting and poker machine operators, sparking broader debate on the issue.

• October 15, 2024: Sportsbet, Australia's largest online betting platform, stops offering novelty bets on events like the Grammys and reality shows, likely due to increased regulatory scrutiny and concerns about high-risk bettors. While no official reason was given, insiders link the move to a probe by the South Australian Liquor and Gambling Commissioner. A Sportsbet representative hinted that novelty bets could return in the future.

None of the licensed Australian gambling operators can offer online casino and poker games to their customers, as the Gambling Act forbids operators from offering these gambling services to AU citizens. In brief, the Australian government permits the following gambling activities under relevant licenses.

• Lotteries (both online and in-venue)

• Sports betting (online and in-person)

  • Includes horse racing, greyhound racing, harness racing, and eSports betting

• Pokies, slot, and table gaming (in-person only)

• Betting on fantasy sports

• Bingo (online and in-person)

Other gambling-related news & stories from AU

• August 23, 2024: A woman from Brisbane wins the top Powerball prize worth around AUD 100 million ($68m). The win is the third-largest prize in the history of the AU gambling market and the biggest-ever win in Queensland.

• August 20, 2024: PlayUp Interactive receives a record AUD 586,000 ($395,100) fine in New South Wales for a total of 33 gambling-related advertising breaches concerning the company's owned DraftStars website.

• August 19, 2024: The Australia Institute proposes a 2% levy on all gambling operators' revenue to compensate for the over $200 million losses the planned complete gambling ad ban would cause for the media companies nationwide.

• August 15, 2024: According to the documents received by a local media outlet, 9News, the proposed total ban on gambling advertising in the country would cut the Australian Football League's annual funding by AUD 120 million ($80m).

• August 6, 2024: The Albanese government is criticized for reportedly "watering down" a proposed gambling ad ban. Instead of a full ban, the plan includes capping TV ads and banning ads around live sports. A complete ban on social media and digital platforms is expected. Critics argue this betrays the late Peta Murphy's call for a total ban.