Australia has long been synonymous with fair and regulated online gaming, offering its citizens plenty of legal sites to play, bet, and win on. However, if you want to stay on this side of legal down under, you’ll have to maneuver through a complex web of national and local gaming laws in Australia, each regulating different but equally important parts of the Aussie scene.
But don’t fret. By the end of this article, you’ll get a handle on the subject. Without further ado, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of complex gaming laws in Australia.
The State of Gaming Down Under
The main gist of online casinos in Australia is the dual nature of its regulation. Casinos that operate within the country must adhere to both federal and state laws. Luckily, the primary Act regulating the casino scene doesn’t prohibit Aussie players from joining overseas casinos. Sites like Betsquare.com look high and low to find the most Aussie-friendly international casinos available, regardless of where they are registered. But before we touch on that matter, let’s take a quick look into the ins and outs of legal gambling down under.
Key Legislation Governing AU Online Gambling
The cornerstone of the Australian gaming scene is the 2001 Interactive Gambling Act (IGA), a legislation that governs all gambling services in the country, land-based or otherwise. The Act ensures your security and safety, enforcing the gaming industry standards on the federal level. Other pieces of legislation governing gaming in Australia include:
- The National Gambling Reform Act: Introduced in 2012, it allows you to limit the amount of money you’re willing to lose;
- National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Gambling: Introduced in 2019, it regulates areas of concern such as self-exclusion and advertising restrictions.
These three combined are responsible for regulating most casino services, officiating sports betting, and issuing licenses to online casinos. The last point is also crucial, as only licensed operators are allowed to offer gaming services to Aussie players. As for licenses, they can be issued and renewed only by the state or local regulator.
State vs. Federal Regulations
And therein lies the most challenging part of legal gambling down under. The IGA provides the federal legislative framework, while the licenses are issued by regulatory bodies in each individual state. Therefore, to operate within legal means across the whole country, casinos must apply for licenses at multiple regulatory bodies separately. Here’s a complete list of Australian states and territories, together with their corresponding gambling regulatory bodies:
- New South Wales: The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA);
- Victoria: The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR);
- Queensland: The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR);
- South Australia: The Independent Gambling Authority (IGA);
- Western Australia: The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSCI);
- Australian Capital Territory: The ACT Gambling and Racing Commission;
- Northern Territory: The Northern Territory Racing Commission (NTRC);
- Tasmania: The Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission.
Your gaming experience won’t be the same if you play from Victoria compared to, say, Queensland. Such a system does bring more security to Aussie players, but it also leaves room for legislative complexities and potential roadblocks. As a result, many casino operators decide to skip the hassle, register overseas, and offer their services to Aussies regardless.
The Role of International Operators
As stated above, the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) doesn’t prevent you from joining and playing at the manifold international casinos that accept Australian players. These operators have taken the other route: instead of applying for the official license to operate from within Australia, they went for more freedom by offering more casino games, more competitive bonuses, and more flexible payment methods.
That doesn’t mean that you should run off and register with the first overseas casino you.come across. They still need to be regulated and have licenses from some other, equally notable regulators such as Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) or UKGC. Websites like Betsquare can help you zero-in on the most trustworthy overseas casinos available to Aussie players.
Conclusion
Gaming in Australia floats between federal and state governments, with each level having its own set of responsibilities. The federal government sets the overall framework, while state and territories issue licenses to local operators. Such dual nature of gambling laws in Australia presents challenges, easily avoidable by trying your hand at any of the internationally licenced casinos available down under. Choose wisely, though, and only stick to oversea casinos that have a reputable licence under its belt.
