What regulates the age threshold in Australia
Federal Regulation: Interactive Gambling Act 2001
The minimum age of 18 years to participate in any online gambling is set by the federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). The law prohibits operators from offering interactive gambling (online casinos, poker, slots) to persons below the established threshold and imposes a duty on them to verify the age of customers. For violation of IGA standards, fines of up to 1.1 million AUD per day are provided for the company and up to 220,000 AUD for responsible persons within the operator.
Regional laws and authorities
Despite the single federal threshold, each of Australia's six states and two territories has its own legislation and gambling regulators. All retain an age minimum of 18, but the licensing and supervision procedures vary:
Local acts clarify the requirements of the IGA, but always refer to a single age threshold of 18 years.
Verification Procedures and KYC
To confirm age, operators are required to require one or more documents from players:
Since 2020, a separate "identity verification regime" has been in effect in the field of online betting, aimed at checking age as part of measures to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. In case of doubts about the reliability of the data provided, the service is suspended until reliable confirmation is received.
Operator liability and sanctions
Operators who allow minors to play face:
The very fact of an attempt to register a player under 18 is not punished for him, but exclusively for the operator, whose KYC procedures turned out to be unreliable.
Additional measures: self-exclusion and registries
To strengthen the protection of vulnerable categories, the legislation introduces self-control tools:
Result
The age threshold of 18 in Australia is protected by an extensive legal system:
The complex of these mechanisms ensures strict control of the minimum age and reduces the risks of involving minors in gambling.
The minimum age of 18 years to participate in any online gambling is set by the federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). The law prohibits operators from offering interactive gambling (online casinos, poker, slots) to persons below the established threshold and imposes a duty on them to verify the age of customers. For violation of IGA standards, fines of up to 1.1 million AUD per day are provided for the company and up to 220,000 AUD for responsible persons within the operator.
Regional laws and authorities
Despite the single federal threshold, each of Australia's six states and two territories has its own legislation and gambling regulators. All retain an age minimum of 18, but the licensing and supervision procedures vary:
- NSW: Liquor & Gaming NSW
- Виктория (VIC): Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation
- Queensland (QLD): Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR)
- Western Australia (WA): Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
- South Australia (SA): Consumer and Business Services
- Tasmania (TAS): Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission
- Northern Territory (NT): Northern Territory Racing Commission
- Australian Capital Territory (ACT): ACT Gambling and Racing Commission
Local acts clarify the requirements of the IGA, but always refer to a single age threshold of 18 years.
Verification Procedures and KYC
To confirm age, operators are required to require one or more documents from players:
- driver's license or passport
- birth certificate
- national ID card or certificate of citizenship
Since 2020, a separate "identity verification regime" has been in effect in the field of online betting, aimed at checking age as part of measures to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. In case of doubts about the reliability of the data provided, the service is suspended until reliable confirmation is received.
Operator liability and sanctions
Operators who allow minors to play face:
- Large fines: up to 1.1 million AUD per day for the company and up to 220,000 AUD for responsible persons.
- Suspension or cancellation of the license by local regulators for repeated violations.
- Reputational risks: blacklisting ACMA and states.
The very fact of an attempt to register a player under 18 is not punished for him, but exclusively for the operator, whose KYC procedures turned out to be unreliable.
Additional measures: self-exclusion and registries
To strengthen the protection of vulnerable categories, the legislation introduces self-control tools:
- National Self-Exclusion Register Act 2019 - allows the player to block himself from all licensed platforms for a period of three months to life exclusion.
- Credit restrictions: Under Credit and Other Measures Act 2023, it is illegal to use credit cards and cryptocurrencies for interactive betting.
- Data exchange with banks: automatic blocking of transfers to gaming platforms when the limits are exceeded.
Result
The age threshold of 18 in Australia is protected by an extensive legal system:
- 1. Federal level - Interactive Gambling Act 2001 establishes age and KYC procedures.
- 2. Regional level - State/territory laws and licensing authorities clarify and monitor compliance.
- 3. Technological and social measures - identity verification, self-exclusion register and credit restrictions.
The complex of these mechanisms ensures strict control of the minimum age and reduces the risks of involving minors in gambling.
