The Australian government's role in regulating the responsible game
1. Legislative framework and industry standards
The Australian government has set strict norms through the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) and the Gambling Legislation Amendment Act, requiring operators to implement responsible play (RG) tools. The ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) oversees IGA compliance in online betting, with states responsible for offline gaming.
2. BetStop National Self-Exclusion Registry
Since February 2021, BetStop has been operating - a centralized register of self-exclusion from betting bets on sports and horse racing. Any player can voluntarily block himself for 6 months, a year or three years. After registration, BetStop obliges all licensed operators to block access and acceptance of bets.
3. State-level licensing and oversight
Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR), NSW Gambling Regulator and other bodies issue licenses, check compliance with RG requirements:
4. Federal coordination and data sharing
Federal Gambling Advice under the auspices of ACMA and COAG (Council of Australian Governments) create uniform recommendations for RG tools. Operators are required to report quarterly on the number of activated limits, self-exclusions and self-assessment tests (PGSI).
5. Mandatory requirements for operators
All online casinos and bookmakers overseen by the ACMA or states must provide:
6. Monitoring and enforcement actions
ACMA can impose fines of up to 250,000 AUD for IGA violations, block unlicensed sites, and require the removal of ads for banned games. The states audit casinos and bookmakers, checking the implementation of RG tools and conduct field inspections in clubs and pubs.
Conclusion
The Australian government provides multi-level oversight of responsible gambling: federal laws and ACMA regulate the online sphere, states control offline formats, and national and local self-exclusion registries, strict limits and regular reports ensure that players are protected from the risks of gambling.
The Australian government has set strict norms through the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) and the Gambling Legislation Amendment Act, requiring operators to implement responsible play (RG) tools. The ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) oversees IGA compliance in online betting, with states responsible for offline gaming.
2. BetStop National Self-Exclusion Registry
Since February 2021, BetStop has been operating - a centralized register of self-exclusion from betting bets on sports and horse racing. Any player can voluntarily block himself for 6 months, a year or three years. After registration, BetStop obliges all licensed operators to block access and acceptance of bets.
3. State-level licensing and oversight
Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR), NSW Gambling Regulator and other bodies issue licenses, check compliance with RG requirements:
- mandatory deposit and rate limits
- timeouts and reality check
- eCOGRA/GLI Compliance Reports
- States coordinate "earth" machines, lotteries and clubs.
4. Federal coordination and data sharing
Federal Gambling Advice under the auspices of ACMA and COAG (Council of Australian Governments) create uniform recommendations for RG tools. Operators are required to report quarterly on the number of activated limits, self-exclusions and self-assessment tests (PGSI).
5. Mandatory requirements for operators
All online casinos and bookmakers overseen by the ACMA or states must provide:
- Limits of deposits, rates and losses with 24-48 hour "freeze" for increase
- Reality checks: notifications every 15-30 minutes
- Self-exclusion local and centralized (BetStop and Self-Exclusion Register)
- Risk information and links to Gamblers Help Online hotlines
6. Monitoring and enforcement actions
ACMA can impose fines of up to 250,000 AUD for IGA violations, block unlicensed sites, and require the removal of ads for banned games. The states audit casinos and bookmakers, checking the implementation of RG tools and conduct field inspections in clubs and pubs.
Conclusion
The Australian government provides multi-level oversight of responsible gambling: federal laws and ACMA regulate the online sphere, states control offline formats, and national and local self-exclusion registries, strict limits and regular reports ensure that players are protected from the risks of gambling.
