Gambling Legislation Victoria
Is online gambling legal in Australia?
The Australian Capital Territory covers just under a half-million residents. Its gambling offerings include Casino Canberra, which opened in 1994. There are nearly 5,000 pokies in the region, ok’d by the Gaming Machine Act of 2004. The machines are in hotels, clubs, and taverns with limits. A list of laws and regulations affecting gaming in B.C. Learn about laws, regulations, and policies governing gambling in British Columbia including those related to lotteries, gambling facilities, gambling industry workers and companies, and more. The Gaming Act 1968 liberalised the law, paving the way for more commercial casinos. The first very popular game was Chemmy, popularised by the Clermont Club, in London. The Gambling Act 2005 paved the way for larger resort style casinos to be built, albeit in a controlled manner with one being built every few years until the Act is fully.
Some forms of online gambling are legal in Australia, but others are not.
Only licensed gambling providers can legally offer online gambling products in Australia. And some online gambling products are banned.
Illegal online gambling products include:
- online casinos
- casino-style games (like poker, blackjack and roulette)
- slots (pokies)
- in-play sports betting
- sports betting services which do not hold an Australian licence
- scratchies
- betting on the outcome of a lottery.
Which online gambling providers are legal in Australia?
A list of licensed online gambling services is available through the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) register of Australian-licensed interactive gambling providers.
Before you use any online gaming or betting service, make sure it is on the register. If it is registered in Australia, it is bound by Australian laws and protections and you have redress to Australian laws if you have a dispute with the gambling company.
Sites based outside Australia are acting illegally if they offer you gambling.
How do I make a complaint about a licensed online gambling provider?
If a licensed provider is offering credit or in-play betting, you can make a complaint to ACMA because these are banned through Commonwealth law, which ACMA regulates.
For other complaints about licensed providers, contact the relevant state licensing authority. To find out which licensing authority you need to contact, check the register.
If a gambling provider is not on this register, you can make a complaint to ACMA.
What’s the risk of using illegal online gambling providers?
If you gamble online using a company that operates illegally, you run a higher risk of losing your money. They will not give you the same customer protection as a licensed service.
These services sometimes refuse to return deposits or pay winnings to the customer. As the services are operating illegally, there is little recourse for Australian customers.
There is also a risk that, because they are illegal, these websites will be blocked in Australia when identified. This means you may not be able to log in from Australia and access your existing account.
Many sites exist in countries where gambling laws offer little protection to gamblers. Even in countries where better consumer laws and regulation exist, pursuing a complaint from Australia is likely to be difficult and expensive.
Are illegal gambling websites blocked in Australia?
ACMA asks Australian internet service providers to block access to online gambling websites if serious criminal or civil offences are involved.
Find out more about this and see the list of currently blocked illegal gambling websites on the ACMA website.
Can I report or complain about an illegal gambling website?
You can make a complaint to ACMA if you think a website offers illegal gambling services. You do not have to give your name.
If you have problems recovering money from an overseas gambling website, your options are to:
- seek independent legal advice
- complain to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
- contact the relevant licensing authority.
These are the key pieces of legislation that govern how gambling is conducted in Victoria and Australia.
Gambling legislation
Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation Act 2011
The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation Act 2011 provides for the creation of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.
Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation Act 2011
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation Act 2011 provides for the creation of the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) to regulate the gambling and liquor industries in Victoria.
Gambling Regulation Act 2003
The Gambling Regulation Act 2003 governs the conduct of gambling activities in Victoria, other than the casino. The objective of the Act is to foster responsible gambling in order to:
(i) minimise harm caused by problem gambling, and
(ii) accommodate those who gamble without harming themselves or others.
Casino Control Act 1991
The Casino Control Act 1991 governs the conduct of gambling activities at casinos in Victoria. To date, Crown Melbourne is the only casino operator approved in Victoria.
Casino (Management Agreement) Act 1993
The Casino (Management Agreement) Act 1993 details the agreement entered into between the State of Victoria and Crown Melbourne, in particular the intended management of the casino.
Gambling regulations
Gambling Regulations 2015
The Gambling Regulations 2015 prescribe detailed regulations on the operation of different forms of gambling, including gaming machines, wagering and betting, trade promotion lotteries, raffles and bingo.
Gambling Regulation (Pre-commitment and Loyalty Scheme) Regulations 2014
The Gambling Regulation (Pre-commitment and Loyalty Scheme) Regulations 2014 prescribe matters in relation to pre-commitment and the conduct of loyalty schemes at gaming machine venues, including the casino.
Casino Control (Fees) Regulations 2015
The Casino Control (Fees) Regulations 2015 prescribe the fees to accompany various applications, including an application for a casino special employee licence.
Other regulatory elements – gaming venues
There are also Ministerial directions, guidelines and orders from the Minister for Gaming and Liquor Regulation that venues must comply with. Included in these are ministerial directions for the creation of responsible gambling codes of conduct and self-exclusion programs.
As part of its powers provided under the Gambling Regulation Act 2003, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation has approved VCGLR directions and guidelines that commercial licensees, equipment manufacturers and their associates and nominees must follow.
A list of approved Responsible Gambling Codes of Conduct is available from VCGLR.
In addition, there are specific technical standards the VCGLR has provided to assist in the evaluation of gaming equipment for operation in Victoria.
Online gambling
Interactive Gambling Act 2001
Online gambling is regulated by the Australian government under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. This Act is regulated by the Department of Communications and the Arts, and prohibits online gambling, with the exception of Australian licensed companies providing race and sports betting services, and supplying lottery tickets.
Gambling advertising
Gambling advertisements during live sport
Gambling advertising during the broadcast of live sport in Australia is covered by a number of rules approved by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
Gambling Legislation Victoria County
These Codes of Practice prohibit gambling advertisements being shown during the broadcast of live sport on free TV, pay TV and radio. The ban applies from five minutes before the live sports event commences, during the event and for five minutes after the event has concluded. The ban applies between 5 am and 8.30 pm. After 8.30 pm, gambling advertisements can be shown but the promotion of live odds remains prohibited. Advertisements for racing and lotteries are exempt from these restrictions.
ACMA is also responsible for prohibiting gambling advertisements during the online streaming of live sport.
The Broadcasting Services (Online Content Service Provider Rules) 2018 prohibits gambling advertising during live sport that is streamed online between 5 am and 8.30 pm. These rules bring online services in line with television and radio broadcasting services and create a safe zone for children and families to watch live sport across a variety of platforms.
Content of gambling advertisements
The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) has a self-regulatory communication code (the AANA Wagering Advertising and Marketing Communications Code) on wagering advertising and marketing that covers Australian licensed wagering operators, such as TABs and online bookmakers.
ACMA approves the codes while complaints about breaches of the code are determined by the Ad Standards Community Panel which forms part of the self-regulatory structure.
Static betting advertisements
In Victoria, betting advertisements are banned on roads, public transport, and within 150 metres of schools. These laws apply to all static betting advertising, including outdoor billboards, on public transport, roads and associated infrastructure such as stations, bridges, noise walls and embankments. These betting advertising bans are enforced under section 4.7.1 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003.
Gambling legislation and regulation news
Gambling Legislation Victoria Secret
- New 14-day verification rules for online betting accounts — 28 Feb 2019
- Cashless gaming commences at Victorian venues — 14 Feb 2019
- Feedback sought on Victorian keno licence — 28 Nov 2018
- Australian government completes inquiry on loot boxes — 28 Nov 2018
- Post-2022 gaming machine entitlements allocated — 26 Oct 2018