Queensland casinos to have cash limits, new penalties in gambling reforms prompted by Star report

There is co-mingling of state and territory totalisator pools through pooling arrangements, with three Australian totalisator pools currently in existence. Retail Wagering is offered by state and territory-based totalisator agency boards (TABs) pursuant to sole licences in the relevant state or territory, thereby providing them with a form of ‘retail exclusivity’. Each state and territory has a relevant Casino Control Act (or similar legislation) under which casino licences have been issued. 2.2 Where Licences are available, please outline the structure of the relevant licensing regime. Similarly, a skill game with no element of chance is also not considered gambling and does not require any licence, unless it is operated online and falls within certain ‘interactive gaming’ regimes regulated by state and territory gambling regulators. Bingo is often regarded as minor gaming and may be conducted for fundraising or charitable purposes, typically by a community or other not-for-profit organisation. In relation to hotels and clubs, a venue requires both a gaming venue licence and also a permit/licence for each gaming machine a venue operates.
Corporate Bookmakers typically also offer ‘totalisator-derivative’ or ‘tote odds’ type betting. There are many pieces of legislation that are incidental to gambling activity (for example, legislation setting the applicable gambling tax rates). For completeness, the authors note that the list of gambling- related legislation below is not an exhaustive list. The relevant regulatory bodies are the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission (NTRWC) and Licensing NT. Betting on fantasy sports in Australia is offered by some corporate bookmakers licensed in the NT (Corporate Bookmakers). Poker is typically played within casinos and is regulated as a table game by the state and territory gambling regulators detailed below.
Sumsub helps businesses verify users, prevent fraud, and meet regulatory requirements anywhere in the world, without compromises. The breaches included insufficient training for staff on safe responsible gambling in brisbane gambling practices and the unauthorized sending of direct marketing material to a customer who had opted out. Stricter fines have also been issued as a clear warning to gambling operators that failure to comply with responsible gambling regulations will result in significant financial penalties. These problems have led to the gambling industry being closely monitored and regulated to keep a balance between consumer protection, responsible gambling, and economic interests. This resulted in the introduction of credit card betting ban legislation in Australia, which aims to prevent people in Australia from betting with money they don’t have. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, “gambling is a major public policy issue in Australia, affecting the health and wellbeing of individuals and families in a range of ways.”
This section covers the differences between federal and state laws, pokies regulations, and private gambling rules. Individuals caught gambling on these sites may face warnings, account suspensions, or loss of funds, as these platforms often lack consumer protections. The 2017 IGA amendment further tightened rules by targeting offshore operators, ensuring only licensed betting services operate legally. Totalisator betting (pari-mutuel) and fixed-odds betting are both legal, offered by licensed bookmakers or state-run TABs. These bets are available online, over the phone, or at retail venues, such as TAB outlets.
Gamblers will be required to set limits for how long they play, how much they spend and lose, and will no longer be able to play when they reach any of these benchmarks. Mandatory carded play will require patrons to swipe or tap a card before they can gamble, even if playing with cash. Identity verification, cash limits and a compulsory code of conduct for “safer gambling” are among sweeping reforms to Queensland casinos, passed this week.
The ACMA has a range of enforcement tools available to it which include directing internet service providers to block sites which are deemed to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act. The ACMA has been particularly active in taking action against illegal gambling operators offering or promoting their services to Australians. Further, the ACMA has also been very active in engaging with overseas regulators and other parties concerning the illegal offering of online gambling products in Australia. It is worth noting also that significant fines in the hundreds of millions have been levied against the Vic, NSW and Qld casino licensees to date and other fines are possible as regulatory processes continue. Separately, SkyCity Group (SA) was ordered by the Federal Court to pay a $67 million penalty in June 2024, after AUSTRAC launched civil penalty proceedings against it for breaches of the AML/CTF legislation. In Vic, a ‘special manager’ was appointed to assess and report on remediation efforts of the licensee of Crown’s Melbourne casino. The ACMA has also been particularly active in relation to enforcement action in connection with spam legislation where infringements by a number of wagering operators have been identified.
The NICC did, however, impose a fine of AUS $15 million on account of four breaches of regulatory requirements. The authors also note that the NICC issued The Star Sydney with a show cause notice in September 2024 after a report found that it was not fit to hold a licence. The Victorian regulator subsequently announced in March 2024 that it was satisfied that Crown Melbourne was suitable to operate the casino and that it was in the public interest for the casino licence to remain in force. The authors note that in January 2024, the Special Manager of Crown Melbourne submitted his final report to the Victorian regulator setting out his assessment of the effectiveness and sustainability of Crown Melbourne’s reforms. Gaming machine and other equipment manufacturers, software developers and technical services suppliers selling products and/or services used for gambling-related activities typically have perpetual licences, which are often administrative in nature and remain on issue, subject to the payment of periodic fees. The number of gaming machines available in each state and territory is strictly regulated.
There are no laws targeting individual players for joining or playing at offshore casinos. Aussies are not breaking the law by playing at offshore online casinos. Instead, it prohibits companies from offering certain types of online gambling (like casino games and poker) to people in Australia, unless they are licensed and regulated. Loads of pokies and other games by many different providers, including live dealers and exciting game shows. Ripper Trusted online casino for Australia offering 20 free spins at sign-up, no deposit required. This restriction has not dissuaded all offshore betting sites or all Australian players, as you can see by the handful of online gambling destinations that still welcome players from this country. When it comes to casino games such as slots and pokies, or poker games for real money, players can no longer legally access offshore online casinos or poker sites unless said site applies for and is granted an Australian gaming license as well.