Until recently, Australia was an ideal place for fans of online gambling. In this country, there were no laws prohibiting such activities. Therefore, any operators could work completely freely, and players did not need to put in a VPN, nor resort to cryptocurrency and other complex workaround strategies. Now the situation is changing. Let's take a look at what is currently happening in the Australian gambling market.
The main gambling laws in Australia
This country has passed many laws regarding gambling. Gambling itself has existed here since the founding of settlements - it was brought from the UK and other countries. The state tried to minimally interfere in the entertainment industry. However, there are regulatory practices:
- The Gambling Act 2001 (Gambling Act 2001) is a federal law that sets out the basic principles for the regulation of gambling in Australia. It includes provisions on licensing, advertising, underage gambling, and other important aspects of gambling.
- Gaming Machine Licensing Act 1991 (Gaming Machine Act 1991) - State laws that regulate the use of gaming machines in various states and territories in Australia. These laws set the rules for legal gambling machines and provide oversight of them 3. Casino Control Act 1997 (Casino Control Act 1997) are law that regulate casinos and casino gambling in various states. They set standards for licensing and oversight of casinos and regulate activities in casinos.
- The Interactive Gambling Advertising Act of 2008 (Interactive Gambling Act of 2001) is a federal law that regulates online gambling and advertising on the Internet. This act prohibits the provision of interactive gambling services in Australia and regulates gambling advertising.
- Consumer and Competition Act 2010 - This Act includes provisions on unfair and deceptive advertising of gambling services and consumer protection.
- In addition, there is an important point to consider. Gambling laws can vary from state to state in Australia, so it is important to consider the specific regulations in place in a particular jurisdiction.
Tax laws on gambling
Until recently, Australia was a paradise for casino operators, including online casinos. The fact is that this country offered a zero tax base on profits. The rules changed in 2016 when the South Australian government proposed to increase taxes on the budget at the expense of gambling.
The tax affected local operators. It began to bring in about 7 million dollars a year. It was made like those that operate in the UK. However, the UK, too, refers to the "positive" gambling state: there you can get official licenses for online casinos.
The tax is charged depending on where the bet is placed, not on the location of the company.
Tougher gambling laws in 2023
In 2023, there will be a new restriction for gambling on the Internet. It concerns the ban on the use of credit cards. Also, digital currencies will be banned, thus introducing a restriction for cryptocasinos, which have become very popular. And among which, of course, a lot of unscrupulous players have appeared.The restriction applies only to "credit" amounts. As articulated by Michelle Rowland, a member of the Australian Parliament, "People should not bet on money they don't have."
Violation of this ban will be followed by a $150,000 fine.
A complete ban on online gambling?
Increasingly, there are calls for a complete ban on gambling in Australia. The recent proposal is linked to the statistics that have emerged: 80% of Australians bet at least once a year, and 40% play regularly. It is true that even this law, if passed, would only ban gambling for Australian residents. Operators will still be able to place their jurisdiction in the country, taking advantage of quite favorable conditions. And foreigners will be able to play online games.
