It is no secret that gambling is big business in Australia. According to the Australian Gambling Research Centre, Australians spend an average of $1,285 per person on gambling yearly – more than any other nationality. This figure includes both land-based and online gambling.
With such a vast amount of money being gambled each year, strict regulations must be in place to protect both the punters and the casinos themselves. In this article, we will take a look at how online casinos are regulated in Australia.
All forms of gambling in Australia are regulated by state and territory governments. The governing body for each state or territory is responsible for issuing licenses to operators and ensuring that they comply with local laws.
The four primary regulators in Australia
There are currently four primary regulators in Australia:
- The Northern Territory Gambling Commission is responsible for regulating gambling in the Northern Territory.
- The New South Wales Office of Liquor, Gaming, and Racing are responsible for regulating gambling in New South Wales.
- The Victoria Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation is responsible for regulating gambling in Victoria.
- The Queensland Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation regulates gambling in Queensland.
In addition to these four central regulators, there is also the Australian Gambling Authority (AGA). The AGA is a federal body that works with state and territory governments to develop national policies and regulations around gambling. They also provide advice and support to help problem gamblers.
The AGA Review
The AGA Review was conducted in 2014 by the Australian Gambling Authority (AGA). The review looked at the state of casino regulation in Australia and made recommendations for improvements.
One of the key recommendations from the review was the introduction of a national self-exclusion register for problem gamblers, which would allow punters to ban themselves from all online and land-based casinos in Australia.
The review also recommended changes to how online gambling is regulated. At the time of the review, only two states, Victoria and New South Wales had laws regulating online gambling. The other states and territories relied on general gaming laws not designed for online gambling.
The AGA recommended that all states and territories introduce specific laws targeting online gambling. They also recommended that the federal government develop a national strategy for regulating online gambling.
The Interactive Gambling Act
In response to the National Casino Review, the federal government introduced the Interactive Gambling Act in 2016. The act made it illegal for online casinos to offer gambling services to Australian residents.
The act was designed to protect problem gamblers by preventing them from accessing online casinos. It also aimed to prevent young people from gambling and live betting on sporting events.
Despite the intentions of the act, it has been largely ineffective. There are still many offshore casinos that accept Australian players. These casinos are not subject to Australian laws and can offer whatever services they like.
There have also been calls for the act to be amended to allow online poker. Poker is a popular game not offered by any online casinos in Australia. Many people believe online poker should be exempt from the Interactive Gambling Act as it is a game of skill rather than chance.
The future of online casino regulation in Australia
Currently, the future of online casino regulation in Australia is uncertain. The Interactive Gambling Act has failed to protect problem gamblers and has only served to drive casinos offshore.
There have been calls for the act to be amended or repealed, but no action has been taken. The federal government may introduce new legislation to regulate online gambling. However, it is unclear if this will happen any time soon.
In the meantime, offshore casinos will continue to accept Australian players. These casinos are not subject to Australian law and can offer whatever services they like, which means that problem gamblers can still access online gambling services.
How to find the most reputable online casinos in Australia
If you are looking for the most reputable online casinos in Australia, look at these sites.
National Casino Review
The National Casino Review will help you find Australia’s most reputable online casino. The National Casino Review is a government-run website that provides information about casinos and gambling in Australia.
The website includes a list of all the casinos in Australia and information about their services and facilities. The National Casino Review also includes a section on problem gambling, with advice and support for anyone who needs it.
Victoria Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation
The Victoria Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation is Australia’s second most reputable online casino. The Victoria Commission is a state government body that regulates gambling in Victoria.
The website includes a list of all the casinos in Victoria and information about their services and facilities. The Victoria Commission also has a section on problem gambling, with advice and support for anyone who needs it.
Conclusion
Online casinos are regulated in Australia by the federal government and state governments. The National Casino Review and the Victoria Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation are Australia’s most reputable online casinos. The Interactive Gambling Act is designed to protect problem gamblers but has failed to do so. There are calls for the act to be amended or repealed, but no action has been taken. In the meantime, offshore casinos will continue to accept Australian players.