Australian Online Gambling Regulations in 2022

Alright so Australia has this weird reputation as a gambling-obsessed nation and… honestly its kind of earned? Australians lose more money per capita on gambling than literally any other country on earth. Were talking like $1,200 per adult per year. Thats insane.

But the regulatory landscape is actually pretty complicated, especially when it comes to online gambling. So lets break down whats legal, whats not, and what changed in 2022.

The main federal law is the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, which was updated significantly in 2017. The basic deal is: online casinos, online poker, and in-play sports betting are all illegal if theyre offered by offshore operators. But sports betting and horse racing through licensed Australian operators? Totally fine. Lotteries? Also fine.

Its this weird middle ground where the government basically said “gambling is okay but only if WE can regulate it and tax it.”

So what actually changed in 2022? A few things.

First, the National Consumer Protection Framework continued rolling out new measures. All online wagering providers now have to send monthly activity statements showing your wins, losses, and total spending. This started July 2022. The idea is that if people actually see how much theyre losing, maybe theyll slow down a bit.

Second, consistent messaging requirements kicked in. Every gambling site has to use the same standardized warnings about risks and harm. No more burying the disclaimers in size 8 font at the bottom of the page.

Third—and this is the big one coming in 2023—BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register, is finally launching. Basically you can sign up once and get banned from every single licensed gambling service in Australia. One form, done, youre out. Previously you had to self-exclude from each operator individually which was honestly a joke.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has also been going after illegal offshore sites pretty aggressively. They’ve got the power to block websites, refer company directors to border control, and issue massive fines. According to their reports, the amount Australians are losing on offshore sites has actually dropped since the 2017 crackdown.

But heres the thing—enforcement only goes so far. Plenty of offshore casinos still accept Australian customers. VPNs exist. Crypto casinos exist. If someone really wants to gamble online at an unlicensed site, theyre gonna find a way.

The bigger issue is the stuff thats perfectly legal. Australians placed $244 billion in bets in 2022-23. Thats not a typo. $244 BILLION. Most of that is pokies (slot machines), which are everywhere—in pubs, in clubs, in dedicated gambling halls. Australia has something like 200,000 poker machines, which is more per capita than almost anywhere else.

And the advertising. Oh my god, the advertising. If youve ever watched an Australian sports broadcast, you know. Every break is wall-to-wall betting ads. “Multi Mondays!” “Odds boosts!” “Cash out now!” Its relentless. There have been calls to ban gambling advertising entirely, similar to what happened with cigarettes, but so far the government hasnt gone that far.

The 2022 regulations are a step in the right direction I guess? Activity statements and standardized warnings and easier self-exclusion are all genuinely helpful for people trying to control their gambling. But when the underlying culture is built around gambling as a totally normal leisure activity, slapping some warning labels on it feels a bit like putting a band-aid on a broken leg.

Anyway. If youre gambling online in Australia, just make sure youre using a licensed operator. ACMA maintains a register of legal sites. And maybe set a budget before you start because the house always wins eventually.