About the Interactive Gambling Act

The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 makes it illegal for gambling providers to offer some online services to people in Australia. Banned services include:

• online casinos
• in-play sports betting
• sports betting services which do not hold an Australian licence
• betting on the outcome of a lottery

Banned services must not be advertised in Australia. They also must not promote or offer credit for online betting.

If you believe someone has broken a rule in the Interactive Gambling Act, you can make a complaint.

On 19 August 2026, the Australian Parliament passed the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, introducing a range of reforms, including: 

• restrictions on gambling advertising, including on TV, radio, online and in sports venues
• a global opt-out register for gambling advertising 
• restrictions on direct marketing of inducements for new account holders for the first 14 days, individuals who have deregistered from BetStop in the last 3 months and all customers identified as at risk of gambling-related harm
• a ban on commissions to staff or affiliates based on customer activity
• boosting enforcement action against illegal gambling services including the ability to takedown advertisements and illegal gambling services
• strengthening the operation of BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register
• addressing harmful and emerging online lottery products.

The Government also passed legislation which allows the ACMA to recover its costs for administering BetStop, the National Self Exclusion Register, inducements and opt-out register elements of the reforms. 

Most of the reforms commence on 1 January 2027. The ACMA will be publishing more information in the lead up to commencement.

The law changed in 2019 to allow us to bring in the National Self-Exclusion Register. 

The law changed in 2017 to combat groups from outside Australia that provide illegal gambling services over the internet.

Following the reforms in the Interactive Gambling Amendment Act 2017:

• We publish a register of Australian-licensed interactive wagering service providers.
• Some operators are not allowed to offer or enable lines of credit to Australians.
• We have new tools to make people follow the rules.
• We can refer the directors and principals of offending companies to the Australian Border Force.

Since the reforms:

• Over 220 online gambling services have withdrawn from the Australian market
• Reports show that the amount of money people lost on gambling services based outside Australia has reduced

An industry code supports the Act. It sets out how internet service providers can follow the rules.

BetStop - the National Self-Exclusion Register^TM lets you exclude yourself from all Australian licensed online and phone wagering services in a single step. The government introduced the register under the National Consumer Protection Framework. 

You can find out more and register at betstop.gov.au. 

Free, professional and confidential support is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can contact the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 or visit Gambling Help Online for helpful resources and free 24/7 chat and email counselling and support.

Documents that explain the change and the review into illegal betting services.

• Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 Explanatory Memorandum
• Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 Supplementary Explanatory Memorandum
• Interactive Gambling Amendment (Lottery Betting) Bill 2018 Explanatory Memorandum
• Interactive Gambling (Sporting Events and Excluded Wagering Services) Determination 2017
• 2016 Review of Illegal Offshore Wagering
• Australian Government's response to the Review of Illegal Offshore Wagering