Is it Legal to Gamble Online in Australia?
You are allowed to gamble online in Australia, provided that you play at a licensed casino that is legally permitted to operate in the country. The gambling laws in Australia do not allow local casino operators to provide gaming services. On the other hand, AU players can place a wager on the internet without facing legal action.
It is legal for Australian players to play online casino games for money at gambling sites with a permit. The license handed to land-based casinos and internet gambling operators stipulates the number of games that can be on the gaming floor, software providers that supply the games, and ensures that the gaming is fair.
Are Online Casinos Legal in Australia?
Since Australian casino operators are not allowed to offer online bets to AU gamblers, players choose to play at offshore casino sites that have a license to provide the services. In order to operate in any country, casinos have to comply with the legislation of the jurisdiction under which they fall.
The Australian government strictly regulates the gambling industry to protect gamblers. Players have to perform their due diligence by checking the license number of the casino operator to ensure that they are a safe and secure gambling site.
Some of the trusted gambling commissions that provide gambling licenses to offshore casinos include the government of Curacao, Malta Gambling Commission, UK Gambling Commission, and many others.
Online Gambling Laws in Australia
The legislation that describes how the gambling industry is governed in Australia is covered under the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) passed in 2001. The IGA prohibits locally-based and offshore online casino operators from providing gambling games to players within the Australian jurisdiction.
That means that you cannot get a license to offer AU players real money pokies online from any Australian state. The only exception to this rule only allows online wagers on sports and racing betting.
The gambling laws do not penalise Australian players that place bets at offshore sites. Most players find alternative gambling sites to play at using a VPN connection that disguises their location. That is the grey area that players take advantage of. The only legal action that the Australian government can take is to penalise offshore online casinos.