Australian legislative initiatives to restrict access to games
1. Introduction
In recent years, Australia has been actively improving the legal framework to deal with the negative effects of gambling. Federal and state authorities are introducing new requirements for online operators, banks and players themselves to restrict access to games and reduce the risks of addiction.
2. Federal legislation
2. 1. Interactive Gambling Act (2001) and amendments
Ban on live online poker and casinos: Operators with overseas jurisdiction cannot legally offer interactive casino games to Australian residents.
Mandatory domain blocking: ACMA gets the right to require providers to block unlicensed sites.
Ad content requirements: Limit gambling ads to time and content.
2. 2. Code of Responsible Advertising and ACMA
The Voluntary Operators Code governs marketing, mandatory risk information and hotlines.
Plans for mandatory pre-commitments: bills provide for a system where the player sets individual limits in advance, but until 2025 this mechanism was not finally implemented.
3. State and Territory Initiatives
3. 1. Northern Territory (NT) - pre-commitment system
Voluntary Pre-commitment Scheme: Players can register, set daily and weekly betting and time limits.
Carded-play technology: access cards, without which you cannot participate in slot machines offline and online.
3. 2. NSW and Victoria - self-exclusion
Centralized registries: since 2023, the combined Face-to-Face Self-Exclusion Register covers ground and online games.
Mandatory integration: Licensed operators must check each player against the roster before registering.
3. 3. Queensland and Western Australia - banks ordered
Gambling Transaction Block: since 2020, the largest banks offer customers automatic blocking of payments in the "gambling" category.
Legislative amendments: in a number of states, the banking industry has received the obligation to inform the client about the availability of such a service.
4. Banking and financial instruments
1. Gambling Block
A free option in NAB, Commonwealth, ANZ and Westpac mobile apps is to instantly block all transfers to gaming platforms.
2. Prepaid cards
Recommended individual products (paysafecard) for deposit control.
3. Payment limits
Banks are required to provide setup of day/week limits on online transactions.
5. Latest bills and proposals
Mandatory pre-commitment: Senator Dianny Petrick has proposed introducing a mandatory limit preset system for all online players; Senate debate expected in late 2025
Expanding self-locking: it is planned to combine public and private registries into a single national "Stop Gambling" for instant data synchronization.
Tighter advertising: A bill to completely ban gambling advertising on TV after 8pm and on digital streams.
6. How a player can take advantage of initiatives
1. Register a pre-commitment card (for NT residents) through the official portal.
2. Connect Gambling Block in a mobile bank or order a service in a branch.
3. Add yourself to the self-exclusion register of your state on the website of the local regulator.
4. Set limits on the websites of licensed operators (daily deposits, bets, losses, time) through your personal account.
5. Track terms and conditions: most restrictions require "cooling" 24-72 hours before changing the limits.
7. Conclusion
Australian legislative initiatives form a tiered system of protections, from federal bans on unlicensed products to bank locks and self-exclusion registries. The player just needs to use the available tools - banking Gambling Block, pre-commitment and self-exclusion systems, as well as built-in limits from operators - to ensure reliable control of access to gambling.
In recent years, Australia has been actively improving the legal framework to deal with the negative effects of gambling. Federal and state authorities are introducing new requirements for online operators, banks and players themselves to restrict access to games and reduce the risks of addiction.
2. Federal legislation
2. 1. Interactive Gambling Act (2001) and amendments
Ban on live online poker and casinos: Operators with overseas jurisdiction cannot legally offer interactive casino games to Australian residents.
Mandatory domain blocking: ACMA gets the right to require providers to block unlicensed sites.
Ad content requirements: Limit gambling ads to time and content.
2. 2. Code of Responsible Advertising and ACMA
The Voluntary Operators Code governs marketing, mandatory risk information and hotlines.
Plans for mandatory pre-commitments: bills provide for a system where the player sets individual limits in advance, but until 2025 this mechanism was not finally implemented.
3. State and Territory Initiatives
3. 1. Northern Territory (NT) - pre-commitment system
Voluntary Pre-commitment Scheme: Players can register, set daily and weekly betting and time limits.
Carded-play technology: access cards, without which you cannot participate in slot machines offline and online.
3. 2. NSW and Victoria - self-exclusion
Centralized registries: since 2023, the combined Face-to-Face Self-Exclusion Register covers ground and online games.
Mandatory integration: Licensed operators must check each player against the roster before registering.
3. 3. Queensland and Western Australia - banks ordered
Gambling Transaction Block: since 2020, the largest banks offer customers automatic blocking of payments in the "gambling" category.
Legislative amendments: in a number of states, the banking industry has received the obligation to inform the client about the availability of such a service.
4. Banking and financial instruments
1. Gambling Block
A free option in NAB, Commonwealth, ANZ and Westpac mobile apps is to instantly block all transfers to gaming platforms.
2. Prepaid cards
Recommended individual products (paysafecard) for deposit control.
3. Payment limits
Banks are required to provide setup of day/week limits on online transactions.
5. Latest bills and proposals
Mandatory pre-commitment: Senator Dianny Petrick has proposed introducing a mandatory limit preset system for all online players; Senate debate expected in late 2025
Expanding self-locking: it is planned to combine public and private registries into a single national "Stop Gambling" for instant data synchronization.
Tighter advertising: A bill to completely ban gambling advertising on TV after 8pm and on digital streams.
6. How a player can take advantage of initiatives
1. Register a pre-commitment card (for NT residents) through the official portal.
2. Connect Gambling Block in a mobile bank or order a service in a branch.
3. Add yourself to the self-exclusion register of your state on the website of the local regulator.
4. Set limits on the websites of licensed operators (daily deposits, bets, losses, time) through your personal account.
5. Track terms and conditions: most restrictions require "cooling" 24-72 hours before changing the limits.
7. Conclusion
Australian legislative initiatives form a tiered system of protections, from federal bans on unlicensed products to bank locks and self-exclusion registries. The player just needs to use the available tools - banking Gambling Block, pre-commitment and self-exclusion systems, as well as built-in limits from operators - to ensure reliable control of access to gambling.
