Online Gambling Laws and Regulations in Australia

Gambling is a famously entertaining activity. It has a long history. People have been doing it and playing in casinos for a long time. However, it is also known that it can cause addiction. Although fun, interactive, and lucrative, there are many risks to it.

• History of gambling laws and restrictions in Australia
• Current status of gambling laws and regulations in Australia
• Australia Gambling Laws by Territory
• How Australian online gamblers avoid regulations
• What payment methods are used for gambling in Australia?
• Do online gambling operators work in Australia?
• FAQ

That’s why there are gambling laws all over the world. At the end of the day, it’s all about protecting the players. However, we are no longer talking exclusively about land-based casinos. We are now in the digital era.

Online casinos have been around for a while. And they are only becoming more and more popular. This means that there should exist regulation methods for online gambling too. And these laws and regulations are very specific. They can change in each country.

This includes Australia. This is a country where gambling operations are regulated. But so many people are still interested in it. That’s why we at Best.Bingo wrote this article.

History of gambling laws and restrictions in Australia

The history of gambling in the case of Australia is long. We can say that it’s more than a hundred years old. Here you will find all the highlights:

• In 1913 the first automatic totalisator was invented in Australia
• The first lottery, the Golden Casket, was held in Queensland in the year 1916
• Ainsworth Consolidated Industries presents the Clubman machine for playing poker in 1956
• In the fifties, pokies are introduced in New South Wales
• The first one in the country is opened in 1973, at the Wrest Point Hotel Casino in Tasmania
• Pokie machines are approved in the Australian Capital Territory in 1976, in Victoria and Queensland in 1991, in South Australia in 1992, in Tasmania in 1997, and in the Northern Territory in 1998
• Betting in interactive sports is legalized in the year 1996 in the Northern Territory
• Finally, in 2001, the Interactive kind of Gambling Act was passed.

Current status of gambling laws and regulations in Australia

The regulations on the subject are always a little complicated. There is a lot to consider. There are land-based casinos, as well as off-shore options. And sometimes online casinos have their own separate set of rules.

In this case, we can say that gambling operations are legal. Not completely. There are always some regulations you need to be aware of. It even depends on which part of Australia you find yourself in. But, in general terms, we can say that it, in general, is legal.

This includes online gambling too. Which also involved gaming in its digital version. However, it’s always important to double-check this kind of stuff. Make sure to check the terms and conditions of every one you visit digitally or not. Before gaming on a virtual platform, review the site’s licenses. It is a piece of great advice for Australians in particular.

Australia Gambling Laws by Territory

As we previously explained, laws on this subject may change by territory. This includes the case of Australia. This is something very important for Australians. Here we find eight territories and their state on the matter, and including gaming in all digital platforms: 

• Australian Capital Territory: the center for gambling operations is Casino Cabrera. Other than that there are about five thousand pokie machines in the region
• New South Wales: one of the best territories for gambling and for gaming.
• Northern Territory: specialized in virtual permissions for sports betting.
• Tasmania: although it has many limitations, but it has the first of these establishments in Australia.
• Queensland: another of the best options for this and for gaming in physical spaces and digitally.
• Western Australia: some restrictions, but great for gaming opportunities with pokies.
• South Australia: good options, especially the Adelaide Casino.
• Victoria: a good spot for playing, includes some specialties, has about thirty thousand machines, and the Crown Melbourne Casino.

How Australian online gamblers avoid regulations

Avoiding regulations is a tricky subject. On one hand, it can be very risky. However, it is more and more common nowadays. Especially considering the digital factor. Because so many regulations don’t include online casinos. So here what you need to know about legal online casinos in Australia.

When gaming is done virtually it can be very different. And playing digitally means the whole world opens up.  Gambling operations done on the internet have many advantages. This way you can be playing at off-shore and international options that work online. The most important part is that it includes legal online casinos.

This is the most common way to avoid laws on gambling. It’s very important in this country. This is a country with very complicated laws on this theme. Players mostly avoid them by gaming in the online world.

What payment methods are used for gambling in Australia?

Payment methods are a very important part of gambling in the online style. This is an essential thing to be aware of. Your deposits and your withdrawals depend on the payment methods available at the casino. It is also something that can change in each casino you sign up for.

So it’s always recommended to check the payment methods of each casino in particular online. For people from this country, these are the best payment methods available in almost every casino:

• Credit or debit cards: they are the most common payment method in the world. The most popular options are always Visa and Mastercard
• E-wallets: this is an online payment method that keeps getting more and more popular. It’s very safe and highly recommended. For example, Neteller and Skrill.
• Others: Some other payment methods online that are accepted in these sites, include Poli Internet Banking and Citadel Commerce. They are popular here, but also in the rest of the world in gaming.

Do online gambling operators work in Australia?

Gambling in Australia has its regulations. Some operations are completely legal. Meanwhile, some other gaming activities are strongly regulated. There are many details to consider.

It changes in every region. It can change in every casino. It can even depend on the type of gaming activity. And the most important difference is that it varies from land-based options to other online versions.

In this case, we can say these operators work in Australia. Under some regulations, but it works. For example, all operators have to work under the Interactive kind of Gambling Act of 2001. It regulates types of games such as gambling on every online platform.

So it’s important to be aware of all laws on gambling in each region. It is something necessary to understand Australian operators in activities like gaming and of course, gambling. Especially in virtual casinos.

FAQ

How old do you have to be to gamble in Australia?

The legal age to gamble changes in every country. It is something well known worldwide. In the Australian case, the age is 18. This means that every person interested in gambling needs to be 18 years old or older.

For activities in this area, people need to be legal adults. This includes signing up for online casinos and visiting a regular casino. 

In what year was Australian gambling legalized?

Australia has a long history of gambling. It’s an interactive business that makes a lot of profit. But there are also many regulations. Still, the first Australian casino opened up in 1973 in Tasmania.

This changed the world of gambling in Australia forever. It was the official legalization of gambling. Everything thanks to that first one in 1973

How are gambling regulations made in Australia?

The Australian country has an interesting law system. When it comes to gambling rules and regulations it’s a little complicated. Because Australia is divided into approximately eight territories. Each territory, like each place, has original rules and laws. So it’s an interactive situation.

However, there are still some federal laws for gambling regulation. This means laws that apply to the entire Australian territory. This involves every establishment in the country and digital ones too.

What are the best payment methods for online gambling in Australia?

Payment methods depend on every Australian. It depends on every person to pick a favorite. As someone interested in gambling, you have to pick what best suits you. In Australia, there are some favorites though. For your deposits and withdrawals, there are a few options.

Credit cards and debit cards like Visa and Mastercard are very common in gambling sites. But the best and most popular method online is e-wallets, such as Skrill and Neteller. Then it’s all just a matter of picking the one that works best for you. Remember to always check in advance if the site you want accepts your choice.

Is online gambling legal in Australia?

The short answer is yes. If you’re looking for a quick response, you should know this. Visiting online websites to play for money in this country is not illegal. Making deposits, placing bets, using bonuses, and making money online is not a crime. Gambling is relatively lawful.

However, it is highly encouraged to check the online legal status of the casinos. And to double check the regulations on gambling in the region you find yourself in. It’s a matter of safety for players and gamblers, for the casinos and for the country.