Legal differences between Australian states (NSW, VIC, QLD, etc.)
Although the federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001 establishes a single age threshold of 18 for all interactive gambling, each Australian jurisdiction has its own laws, licensing regimes, geolocation requirements and lists of permitted products. Below is a comparative summary of the main states and territories.
1. New South Wales (NSW)
Regulator: Liquor & Gaming NSW
Licensing:
- Only "off-course" sports betting (prior to the event) through the online TAB, online casinos are prohibited for residents without a state license. Geolocation:
- Mandatory IP and GPS verification: live bets ("in-play") are available only on the territory of clubs and pubs with a license.
- Age: 18 + for all types (casino, betting, lottery).
- POS-allowed sports betting through regional bookmaker Sportsbet AU; online casinos are not.
- Fantasy sports contests are framed as "skill games," but age and verification are like gambling. Geolocation:
- Live bets through the application require confirmation of being in a state cluster.
- Age: 18 +.
- Online casinos and "poker machines" slots are prohibited; sports and betting only through Neds, TAB. Geolocation:
- In-play betting in betting clubs requires checking the exact location via GPS.
- Age: 18 +.
- WA does not license interactive games; residents have access to interactive "off-course" rates only from the local TABWA provider.
- Lotterywest lotteries are available from the age of 16; bingo and casino machines - 18 +. Geolocation:
- Any attempt to bypass local restrictions via VPN is blocked at the DNS provider level.
- Age: 18 + for casinos and betting; 16 + for lotteries.
- Online casinos are not licensed; sports betting through SA TAB, fantasy sports contests under "skill" status. Geolocation:
- In-play bets are possible only in ground clubs and hotels, not via the Internet.
- Age: 18 +.
- Online sports betting (BetEasy) is allowed, all types of online casinos are not.
- Lotteries and bingo online: under the general rules "lottery" with 18 +. Geolocation:
- Hard binding to IP; VPN traffic is detected and blocked.
- Age: 18 +.
- NT gives "on-line" licenses to betting and fantasy gaming platforms, but no interactive casinos. Geolocation:
- Guaranteed tracking through the operator API; "in-play" rates are limited in mobile applications.
- Age: 18 +.
- Online sports betting and lotteries are allowed; interactive casinos are not.
- Fantasy sports contests are classified as "skill betting" with the same age norms. Geolocation:
- Live bets require "location services" on the smartphone.
- Age: 18 +.
2. Victoria (VIC)
Regulator: Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation
Licensing:
3. Queensland (QLD)
Regulator: Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR)
Licensing:
4. Western Australia (WA)
Регулятор: Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
Licensing:
5. South Australia (SA)
Regulator: Consumer and Business Services
Licensing:
6. Tasmania (TAS)
Regulator: Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission
Licensing:
7. Northern Territory (NT)
Regulator: Northern Territory Racing Commission
Licensing:
8. Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Regulator: ACT Gambling and Racing Commission
Licensing:
Summary table
| State/Territory | Online Casinos | Slots (poker machines) | Online Sports Betting | Lotteries Online | Age, General Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | No | No (onsite only) | Off-course | Yes | 18 + |
| VIC | No | No (onsite only) | Limited live geofence | Yes | 18 + |
| QLD | No | No (onsite only) | Off-course | Yes | 18 + |
| WA | No Licenses | No (onsite only) | Via TABWA | Yes (16 +) | 18 + (Lotteries 16 +) |
| SA | No | No (onsite only) | TAB | Yes | 18 + |
| TAS | No | No (onsite only) | Yes | Yes | 18 + |
| NT | No | No (onsite only) | Yes | Yes | 18 + |
| ACT | No | No (onsite only) | Yes | Yes | 18 + |
Result
Regardless of local licensing differences and geolocation requirements, the minimum age for all forms of online gambling under the Interactive Gambling Act is 18 years. The only exception is the WA (16 +) lottery product. Each jurisdiction establishes its own verification, geoblocking and control mechanisms, but the single threshold of majority remains unchanged.
