The maximum penalty for this offence is 50 penalty units and/or 12 months’ imprisonment. If you feel that these requirements have not been upheld, you should contact the venue management or wagering operator to make a complaint in the first instance. If you are still dissatisfied, you can make a complaint to Liquor & Gaming NSW or seek legal advice for further assistance. Sign up for our latest report releases and our newsletter straight to your inbox.

2.3 Gambling causes harm

Online casinos have become a popular form of entertainment worldwide, but in Australia, their legality is heavily restricted under stringent gambling laws designed to minimise harm and regulate online gambling activities. The federal government should assemble a National Taskforce and consider financial and other incentives to bring everyone to the table. For example, the federal government could take full responsibility for regulating online betting, while still enabling states to collect online betting revenue through their point-of-consumption taxes.

• This blog examines the legality of online casinos in Australia including the federal prohibition on online interactive gambling services, state and territory approved exceptions and the legality of overseas based online casino operators.
• Many video games include gambling-like features that familiarise children with gambling and can be a gateway to other gambling.
• Further, under section 15AA of the Act it is an offence to provide a regulated interactive gambling service with an Australian-customer link without holding a valid license issued under the law of a state or territory that authorises that service.
• People who gamble, their families, and the broader community pay the price in their finances, health, and wellbeing.
• Most prominently, the federal government has taken more than 14 months to respond to the Murphy Inquiry into online gambling, which handed down 31 recommendations in 2023 with multi-partisan backing.

5 The structure of this report

Australia must get serious about preventing gambling harm and implement a package of reforms to make gambling less pervasive and safer. Meanwhile, online betting has surged, particularly among young men, spurred by a barrage of gambling advertising. You should note that some of the live dealer games are exclusive to this gambling site, Victorious Online Pokies is a great choice for players in Australia who are looking for a safe. “The new carded playsystem will provide an additional safeguard queen of the nile pokies min dep for people at risk of gamblingharm.

It’s also worth noting that individual states may have their own laws regarding gambling, so players should verify that they are compliant with local regulations. This blog examines the legality of online casinos in Australia including the federal prohibition on online interactive gambling services, state and territory approved exceptions and the legality of overseas based online casino operators. Overseas gambling websites with online casino games and slot machines using real money are illegal in Australia. These sites are extremely risky to use and you should be aware that people who use them have very few or no consumer protection rights at all. The federal government should establish a national mandatory pre- commitment system for online gambling, and state governments should implement state-wide mandatory pre-commitment schemes for pokies.

And disquiet about the proliferation of online gambling harm triggered the 2023 Murphy Inquiry, which made 31 recommendations supported by multi-partisan consensus – a rare feat. Preventing gambling harm will reduce the gambling industry’s profits, so governments need to be prepared to stand up to strong vested interest pushback. The industry has a track record of thwarting reforms, including by stoking community fears about unintended consequences. Most prominently, the federal government has taken more than 14 months to respond to the Murphy Inquiry into online gambling, which handed down 31 recommendations in 2023 with multi-partisan backing. The delayed response has left big gaps in consumer protection, and demonstrates once again how politically challenging it is to achieve good policy in this space. Choosing a reliable online gambling site requires considering several factors.