Australian Communications and Media Commission (ACMA) and its oversight
ACMA is a key federal regulator enforcing the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and protecting the minimum age of 18 for online gambling.
1. ACMA authority
Oversight of IGA
The ACMA ensures that all interactive gambling available to Australian residents complies with the law: no betting by under-18s and no "in-play" betting on non-licensed platforms.
Investigations and reception of complaints
Consumers and other market participants can file complaints with the ACMA about admittance of minors, violations of age restrictions, or bypassing locks.
Issuance of instructions (remedial directions)
If systemic violations are detected, ACMA issues mandatory instructions for the operator to eliminate deficiencies in KYC procedures and protect age.
2. Audits and inspections
1. Scheduled audits
- Annual checks of operators: analysis of registration logs, verification through DVS, integration with BetStop and ACIP.
2. Unscheduled inspections
- If a complaint is received or anomalies are detected, ACMA can request detailed reporting or conduct a "hidden" platform check, including test registrations.
3. Sanctions mechanism
| Violation | Sanctions from ACMA |
|---|---|
| Admission of persons <18 years to interactive games | Fines up to 1.1 million AUD per day for the company, up to 220,000 AUD per day for the responsible person |
| Ignore KYC adjustment orders | Enforceable undertakings; on retry - license revocation |
| Failure to report cases of admission of minors | Infringement notices, additional fines |
Enforceable undertaking - an official agreement with ACMA to eliminate violations on time: published publicly and controlled by the regulator.
4. Interaction with other bodies
AUSTRAC
Jointly monitors compliance with ACIP (AML/CTF requirement) and age threshold through banking APIs.
State/Territory Regulators
ACMA coordinates with regional commissions (Liquor & Gaming NSW, VIC Commission, etc.) for the unified application of age rules.
5. Tools and recommendations from ACMA
1. Operator's Manuals
- Step-by-step instructions for implementing ACIP, DVS checks, integration with BetStop and logging failures.
2. Educational Web Resources
- Publication of cases, checklists and age control FAQs on the official ACMA website.
3. Public reports
- Quarterly and annual reports on the level of industry compliance with age standards, the number of complaints and measures taken.
Result
The ACMA plays a central role in protecting Australia's minimum age of 18 in online gambling through oversight of compliance with the Interactive Gambling Act, conducting scheduled and unscheduled audits, issuing prescriptions and imposing multimillion-dollar fines, and coordinating with AUSTRAC and regional regulators.
