Gambling Laws in Australia: Legality, Regulators and What Chinese Citizens Should Know

The short answer: in Australia it is legal for adults to play at licensed casinos, use poker machines (“pokies”) in clubs and pubs, buy lottery tickets, and bet online on racing and sport with a licensed bookmaker. What is not legal is offering real-money online casino games – online pokies, roulette, blackjack, electronic scratchies – to people located in Australia, and online “in-play” sports betting (bets placed after an event has started) is also prohibited. As of October 2026 this line has not moved.

That is very different from mainland China, where essentially only the welfare and sports lotteries are legal. Australia runs a two-layer system – the states license, the Commonwealth polices the internet – and gambling is everywhere: in 2024–25 Australians lost about A$33 billion on legal gambling, roughly A$1,528 per adult. If you are a PRC citizen arriving in Australia, you should know what is legal, how winnings are taxed, where to get help, and what Chinese law says about cross-border gambling. This page is for readers aged 18 and over only.

Is gambling legal in Australia? One table

Australia has no single gambling act. The states and territories issue licences and regulate casinos, poker machines, lotteries and bookmakers; the Commonwealth regulates online and phone gambling through the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA), enforced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

The federal layer: what the Interactive Gambling Act bans

The federal government’s official guidance lists casino-style games such as online blackjack and roulette, and online pokies, among prohibited services. The Act also excludes electronic instant lotteries (such as online scratchies) from the permitted lottery category, and treats sports betting accepted after an event has started (“in-play”) as outside the permitted wagering exemption.

The penalties target providers. Under section 15 of the IGA, intentionally providing a prohibited service to Australian customers carries up to 5,000 penalty units, with a separate offence for each day it continues; the civil penalty is up to 7,500 penalty units. Offering racing or sports betting without an Australian licence is also unlawful. ACMA publishes a register of licensed online wagering providers and can require internet providers to block illegal sites.

State and territory regulators

Casinos, poker machines and lotteries are regulated under each state’s or territory’s own laws, so rules on opening hours, entry checks and cash limits differ. NSW amended its law on 5 September 2022 to create the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC), and Victoria set up the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) on 1 January 2022. Many online bookmakers hold Northern Territory licences.

For casino locations and entry rules, see our guide to casinos in Australia; for the big picture on moving there, see the Australia country overview.

The numbers: how much Australians lose each year

Australian Gambling Statistics, 41st edition (released 11 August 2026 by the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office), puts net losses on legal gambling (amount wagered minus winnings) at A$32,999 million in 2024–25, about 55% more than the A$21,259 million of 2019–20. At the RMB central parity of 23 October 2026 (A$1 = CNY 4.6982), that is roughly CNY 155 billion; the average per adult was about A$1,528, or roughly CNY 7,180. The figures cover legal, regulated gambling only and include spending by visitors.

Age, identity checks and payment limits

• 18 and over: casinos, gaming venues and betting accounts are for adults only; you will be asked for ID at the door or when opening an account.
• Account verification: under the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering, online bookmakers must verify customers’ identity and offer voluntary deposit limits and activity statements.
• Credit card ban: since 11 June 2024 licensed online wagering providers may not accept credit cards, credit-related products or digital currencies (such as cryptocurrency); the federal government page cites fines of up to A$247,500 for companies (750 penalty units at the old A$330 unit value); since the Commonwealth penalty unit rose to A$364 on 1 July 2026, the maximum for later breaches is about A$273,000 (about CNY 1.28 million).

Are winnings taxed?

The Australian Taxation Office says prizes from ordinary lotteries, such as lotto draws and raffles, do not need to be declared as income. For individuals who gamble occasionally, gambling wins are generally not taxable income either, but someone who makes money from gambling regularly may be treated as a professional gambler and taxed (this point comes from a legal handbook, a secondary source). Tax is levied on operators instead: every state and territory except the Northern Territory charges bookmakers a point of consumption tax. If you are still a Chinese tax resident, get advice on how foreign income should be reported.

New advertising rules from 1 January 2027

The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 26 August 2026; its main provisions start on 1 January 2027:

• Between 5:00 am and 8:30 pm, no wagering ads in live sport coverage from 15 minutes before the start to 5 minutes after the end (including breaks);
• In the same hours, no more than 3 wagering ads per TV channel in any 60-minute period;
• No wagering ads on radio on weekdays from 8 to 9 am and 3 to 4 pm, the school drop-off and pick-up times (dedicated racing and wagering programs are exempt);
• No wagering ads on sports uniforms or at sporting venues, no promotion of odds, no athletes or celebrities promoting betting;
• Online wagering ads only for users who are logged in, confirmed 18+ and have not opted out; banks and payment providers must, as far as reasonably practicable, block payments to illegal gambling services.

Responsible gambling: BetStop and helplines

BetStop is a free national self-exclusion register run by ACMA. It launched on 21 August 2023 and lets you exclude yourself for anywhere from 3 months to life. Once you register, no licensed Australian online or phone wagering provider may take your bets, open new accounts for you or send you marketing.

1. Go to the official sitebetstop.gov.au, free of charge
2. Verify your identityenter your personal details
3. Choose a periodminimum 3 months, maximum life
4. Takes effectlicensed bookmakers must close your accounts and stop marketing

The national helpline 1800 858 858 is free, confidential and open 24/7. For Chinese-language help, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask to be connected to 1800 858 858; GambleAware NSW offers support in more than 40 languages. You can also chat online via Gambling Help Online.

For PRC citizens: Criminal Law Article 303

FAQ

Is gambling legal in Australia?

Licensed casinos, poker machines, lotteries and licensed online racing and sports betting are legal; offering online casino-style games to customers in Australia is not.

Can Chinese visitors enter Australian casinos?

Yes, if they are 18 or over and carry valid ID; specific entry requirements are set by each casino and state regulator.

Are winnings in Australia taxed?

Ordinary lottery prizes need not be declared; occasional gambling wins are generally not taxed, unless you are a professional gambler.

How do other countries regulate it?

Compare gambling laws in New Zealand, Singapore and Canada.

Sources

1. Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth), Compilation No. 24 – Federal Register of Legislation (accessed October 2026)
2. Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Act 2026 (No. 72, 2026) – Federal Register of Legislation (accessed October 2026)
3. Interactive gambling – Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts (accessed October 2026)
4. Credit card ban – Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts (accessed October 2026)
5. BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register – Department of Infrastructure (accessed October 2026)
6. BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register (official site) (accessed October 2026)
7. Gambling reforms – Department of Social Services (accessed October 2026)
8. Australian Gambling Statistics, 41st edition (1999–00 to 2024–25) – Queensland Government Statistician’s Office (accessed October 2026)
9. Australian Gambling Statistics, 41st edition – Explanatory notes (QGSO) (accessed October 2026)
10. Amounts you do not include as income – Australian Taxation Office (accessed October 2026)
11. Non-taxable income – The Queensland Law Handbook (Caxton Legal Centre; secondary source) (accessed October 2026)
12. Casinos: regulating bodies and roles – NSW Government (accessed October 2026)
13. Marking the start of Victoria’s new regulator – VGCCC (accessed October 2026)
14. Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation – Queensland Government (accessed October 2026)
15. Gaming and Wagering Commission – Government of Western Australia (DLGSC) (accessed October 2026)
16. Sports bookmakers and betting exchange operators – Northern Territory Racing Commission (accessed October 2026)
17. Gambling Help Online (accessed October 2026)
18. Help in other languages – GambleAware NSW (accessed October 2026)
19. 中华人民共和国刑法修正案（十一）全文（广东省商务厅网站转载） (accessed October 2026)
20. RMB central parity rates – China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS) (accessed October 2026)