Australia

Online sports betting in Australia - A strictly regulated landscape

Since 2001, Australia has been one of the leading nations in the world in terms of sports betting, and all punters in the country can wager on popular sports events. However, even though all kinds of gambling activities are pretty popular, Australian law forbids unregulated online wagering. Still, fortunately, this ban does not affect operators who offer online sports betting, provided they have a government license. Therefore, AU bettors have a wide selection of betting apps and sites to wager legally.

However, the AU's gambling sector is one of the most strictly regulated in the world, and there are some significant restrictions on what bettors can actually wager in the country. For example, in-play betting is legal in the country only if the wager is placed over an actual phone call. In addition, gambling-related advertising guidelines and regulations are very restrictive in the country, and multiple operators are fined yearly for ad-based rule breaches.

In 2001, the Australian government enacted the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA), which, in a nutshell, banned all unlicensed online gambling in the country. Therefore, if any operator wishes to offer their gambling-related services to Aussies, it must acquire a valid gambling permit from an appropriate state or territory. Once licensed, they are authorized to deliver their services across all regions within Australia.

On a federal level, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is the overseeing body that regulates online gambling and monitors advertising guidelines. Yet, individual states and territories in Australia autonomously oversee online gambling within their borders, adhering to the policies outlined in the IGA. Consequently, each state maintains its own regulatory agency tasked with duties such as issuing licenses to sports betting operators.

Sports betting legislation in 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

• April 8, 2024: Victoria, Australia, has enforced stricter rules for sportsbook player statements to improve transparency around gambling activities. The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) mandates clearer monthly reports from licensed operators, detailing players' deposits, bets, and winnings to help them make informed decisions. The new standards, effective April 1, 2024, aim to eliminate confusion and standardize reporting, with penalties for non-compliance.

• January 15, 2024: VGCCC instructs Tabcorp to transition its electronic betting terminals (EBTs) in Victoria, Australia, to cashless systems with ID verification checks due to concerns about underage gambling.

• December 19, 2023: Australia's largest gambling company, Tabcorp, secures exclusive rights to provide sports betting services in Victoria, Australia, for the next 20 years, succeeding its existing license since 2012. In return, Tabcorp will pay the Victorian government over AU$1 billion during this period.

• December 15, 2023: ACMA finds four major online gambling companies, Ladbrokes, Neds, bet365, and Sportsbet, to have violated in-play betting regulations in Australia by using "Fast/Quick codes." These codes allowed for in-play betting on sports, which is generally prohibited except for specific limitations.

• November 29, 2023: Picklebet, an online sports betting operator based in Australia, successfully raises AU$15 million in a Series A funding round. The company, already licensed in Australia, plans to expand its operations further in 2024.

• November 25, 2023: ACMA has directed Australian ISPs to block access to Wild Blaster and BetUS for offering illegal gambling and sports betting services within the country.

• November 21, 2023: Six major Australian online betting companies, including Bet365 and Sportsbet, commit over AUD 3 million to fund financial counseling services for three years. This initiative, led by Responsible Wagering Australia, aims to enhance consumer protection in the industry.

All legal gambling options in Australia - Online casinos still prohibited

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

• April 23,2024: This week in Australia, Crown Sydney successfully retained its casino license after substantial compliance efforts, while Star Entertainment faced scrutiny due to controversial comments from its chairman amid a licensing inquiry. The contrasting situations underscore differing approaches to regulatory compliance within the country's leading casino operators.

• April 19, 2024: Jessica Mellor, CEO of Star Gold Coast, will step down in May 2024, with Ian Brown stepping in as interim CEO. Mellor, who joined as COO in 2019 and became CEO in 2023, played a crucial role in developing the property into a major tourism destination. The search for a new permanent CEO is underway, and Mellor will assist with the transition until September 2024.

• April 17, 2024: Inspectors from Liquor & Gaming NSW uncovered discrepancies at The Star Sydney, suggesting employees falsified records of responsible gaming interactions, a significant breach involving many staff members. Additionally, a defect in gaming machines led to AU$3.2 million in losses over two months in 2023. These issues highlight deep-rooted problems in culture and control within the company.

• April 15, 2024: The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) fined BlueBet $32K for illegally advertising gambling products on digital billboards across public roads in Victoria, Australia. The ads were displayed between August and September 2022, leading to a public complaint and subsequent charges against BlueBet for violating the Gambling Regulation Act 2003.