Are Online Pokies Legal in Australia?

Are online pokies legal in Australia? The short version

The key law is the federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001, usually called the IGA. It splits online gambling into two groups. Online wagering on sport and racing can be offered by companies licensed in an Australian state or territory. Online casino-style games, including online pokies, roulette and blackjack, are "prohibited interactive gambling services" and cannot be offered to customers in Australia by anyone, local or offshore.

The offences in the IGA are aimed at the businesses that provide or advertise those services. The Act does not make it a crime for an individual Australian to play. That is why the honest answer to "are online pokies legal in Australia" is: the sites are not allowed to offer them here, and players are not prosecuted under this law for using them.

What the IGA pokies rules mean for you

The IGA pokies rules have a practical side that matters more to players than the legal theory.

The middle rows are the important ones. Because online pokies sites that accept Australians are offshore, any dispute is handled under the casino's foreign licence, in a foreign process. Australian bodies cannot step in to force a payout. That is not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to read terms, test a small withdrawal and keep deposits modest.

The role of ACMA

The Australian Communications and Media Authority, or ACMA, is the federal regulator responsible for the Interactive Gambling Act. It investigates complaints about prohibited online gambling services, and its enforcement action is directed at the companies that offer or advertise them, not at individual players. ACMA also runs BetStop, the national self-exclusion register for licensed Australian wagering providers.

What ACMA does not do is supervise offshore casinos day to day. It does not licence them, check their games or handle disputes about bonuses and withdrawals. So while ACMA is the regulator that matters for the law, the body that matters for your account at an offshore site is the casino's own licensing authority.

Why the offshore setting matters

Because online pokies cannot be offered legally from inside Australia, every site that takes Australian players for casino games is licensed somewhere else. That licence, not Australian law, sets the rules for your account: how disputes are handled, what identity checks apply and what happens to dormant balances. Australian regulators and ombudsmen cannot step in to resolve a dispute with an offshore casino.

For players, the takeaway is simple: keep only what you plan to play in your account and withdraw wins promptly. This is also why we tell readers on every page that the casino's own terms and licence are what govern their account.

Protections you have, and the ones you don't

Playing at an offshore casino means some protections Australians take for granted are missing.

• BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register, covers licensed Australian online and phone wagering providers. It does not cover offshore casinos.
• Australian dispute bodies cannot rule on an offshore casino's decisions. Complaints go through the casino and then its licensing body.
• Account limits at offshore casinos are set by the casino. Most of the sites in our database offer deposit and session limits, but they are not required by Australian law.
• Free counselling is available to everyone: Gambling Help Online works whatever site you used.

We think readers deserve to know this before they sign up, which is why our best aus pokies sites list shows each casino's operator and licence where our database names them, and flags where it does not.

Pub pokies, online wagering and recent changes

It helps to see casino games against the rest of Australian gambling law. Poker machines in pubs and clubs are licensed and regulated by each state and territory, which set things like venue caps, opening hours and, in some states, pre-commitment or cashless trials. Online sports and race betting is licensed by the states and territories too, and federal law adds national rules on top.

Two of those national rules are worth knowing. BetStop, the national self-exclusion register, has covered licensed online and phone wagering since 2023. And credit cards can no longer be used to fund licensed online wagering accounts, a ban that took effect in June 2024. Neither applies to offshore online pokies sites, because those sites are outside the licensed system altogether. That gap is part of why the IGA pokies rules and the wider safety net look so different for casino games compared with sports betting.

What about tax on winnings?

For recreational players in Australia, gambling winnings are generally not treated as taxable income, because gambling is seen as a hobby rather than a business. That is a general position, not personal advice: if gambling is a large or business-like part of your income, or you have questions about your situation, check with the Australian Taxation Office or a registered tax agent. Whatever the tax position, keep records of deposits and withdrawals; they help with budgeting as much as with paperwork.

Practical steps before you play

1. Know the site's licence. Check the footer and terms for the operator name and licensing body.
2. Read the restricted-countries list. If Australia is on it, do not sign up; winnings can be refused.
3. Start small and test a withdrawal. It is the best way to see how a casino behaves.
4. Keep your balance low. Withdraw wins instead of leaving them in the account.
5. Set limits and know where help is. Gambling Help Online is on 1800 858 858.

Once you know the rules, our real money pokies guide covers deposits, verification and cash-outs. Unsure about terms like wagering, RTP or KYC? Our pokies glossary explains them in a line or two.

About this guide

This page is general information written by our editorial team, not legal advice. Laws and enforcement change, so check official government guidance or get advice for your own situation. For an overview of games, RTP and payments, see the aus online pokies home page.

Online pokies legality FAQ