Are Online Casinos & Pokies Legal in 2024? Uncovering Legal Online Casinos in Australia 2024

Edna Boykin
August 14, 2024

As online casinos continue to grow in popularity, Australian players are wondering if online gambling is legal in the country. This article explains the existing landscape of the Australian online casino market to help our readers determine the rules and regulations behind Legal Online Casinos in Australia.

Legal Landscapes of Online Casino Australia

When it comes to legal gambling matters, Australia is known for its complex regulations for online casinos. The Government has introduced different laws to address the concerns and challenges associated with online gambling.
The Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) prohibits gambling services to its players unless the casinos hold a valid license issued by Australian territories or states.

The Impact of the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA)

The Australian online casino industry is heavily influenced by the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA). It aims to safeguard the residents from the potential effects of excessive gambling. Gamblers can access offshore legal online Casinos in Australia and participate in gambling activities. Under the IGA, offshore online casinos cannot provide gambling services to Australians, but their targets are the operators and not individual players.

Challenges Faced by Online Casinos

The complicated legal structure brings many challenges for Australian online casinos. The constantly changing nature of the casino industry and technology advancements pose difficulties for online casinos to implement and adapt the current Australian gambling laws and address newer forms of gambling. Domestic casino operators are often restricted by the IGA. Therefore, they often fail to compete with overseas casinos that are not subject to the country’s regulations.

The Rise of Offshore Online Casinos

Australian players naturally turn to international online casinos for gambling because of the above-mentioned IGA-restrictions. Offshore online casinos serve players worldwide with the biggest selection of games and bonuses. This poses both an opportunity and risk for Australian gamblers.
Therefore, we recommend our readers to carefully choose their offshore casinos and make sure they are licensed and secured to protect their personal information and funds.

Bodies Affected Due to Australian Gambling Laws

The compliance requirements are the same in every state or territory in Australia. The nature of online gambling activity also differs significantly. Gambling activities, therefore, need to follow the regulations mentioned below –
Online Casinos – All Legal online casinos in Australia must adhere to strict regulatory and licensing requirements imposed by the state authorities.
Gaming Machine Operators – Operators of slot machines and pokies must comply with the state or territory regulations, including the Australian gambling laws.
Online Sportsbooks– All sports betting platforms in Australia must comply with the rules set by state or territory authorities and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
Keno and Lottery Operators – The operators of keno and lotteries must adhere to the regulations related to their respective state or territory.
Gambling and Betting Suppliers and Manufacturers—Platforms that service, supply, or manufacture gambling equipment, such as betting terminals, software, and gaming machines, must comply with the rules and regulations at the state or territory levels.

Why Are Online Casinos & Poker Banned for Australian Residents?

Certain games, such as virtual slot machines and online poker, are banned by the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA). They are considered highly risky, even in legal online casinos in Australia, as they may lead to gambling harm and addiction.
Through this limitation, the Act aims to reduce the adverse impacts of online gambling on vulnerable players. But it also led to a limited range of games available for Australian players.
The popular casino games that players commonly enjoy worldwide are no longer accessible due to the IGA-restriction. Therefore, there is less diversity and engagement for Australian players.

Future of Online Gambling in Australia

There are many discussions related to the future of online gambling in Australia. Many argue that the limitations on online casinos and online pokies in Australia have driven players to offshore casino websites. This poses more significant risks due to a lack of regulation.
There is also the issue of tax revenue that Australian governments could collect by legalizing online gambling services within the country. Rumors about the Australian government reevaluating the IGA and introducing new legislation are in the air. But there has not been any concrete proposal for such amendments. Players therefore should be aware of the online gambling Australia legalities before registering on the platform.

Conclusion

The future of online gambling in Australia is still uncertain. The gambling community is constantly making efforts to find ways to legal gambling within the country.
The most natural alternative is to select online casinos and pokies with top services, a variety of online casino games, and poker rooms. Engage in gambling at legal online casinos in Australia as there is no concrete information in the IGA that mentions that it is illegal to play games at offshore casinos. Nevertheless, as gamblers seek entertainment and convenience in the virtual realm, online casinos and pokies will continue to play their significant roles in the gambling landscape of Australia.