Gambling Laws and Regulations Report 2026 Australia
Treasury Brisbane stands as Brisbane’s crown jewel in casino gaming, offering a remarkable blend of historic elegance and modern entertainment options. Understanding Queensland’s gambling regulations is essential for anyone looking to enjoy casino gaming in the state. Concerns have been raised about the potential impact on employees should the company enter voluntary administration. Recent headlines indicate that Star’s partners in the Queen’s Wharf development—Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium—have offered to buy out its share of the project. The company employs approximately 9,000 people across these states, including 3,000 in Brisbane alone, making its stability crucial to the local economy. Star is currently seeking a financial lifeline to stave off potential collapse after becoming embroiled in scandals involving criminal infiltration and money laundering across its Queensland and New South Wales properties. Star Entertainment Group serves as the primary operator of casino gaming in Brisbane, managing Treasury Brisbane as well as properties on the Gold Coast and in Sydney.
State and territory lotteries engage in pooling arrangements pursuant to what is known as ‘bloc agreements’, under which jackpots are pooled, making the customer offering more attractive. On-course Bookmakers holding an On-course Bookmaker Licence offer fixed-odds betting at racecourses and, where appropriately licensed, over the telephone and via the internet. Corporate Bookmakers offer online and telephone fixed-odds betting on racing, sports and other approved events and totalisator derivative betting on racing. Retail Wagering is offered by state and territory-based totalisator agency boards (TABs) pursuant to sole licences safe craps in brisbane the relevant state or territory, thereby providing them with a form of ‘retail exclusivity’. Each state and territory has a relevant Casino Control Act (or similar legislation) under which casino licences have been issued. 2.2 Where Licences are available, please outline the structure of the relevant licensing regime. Gaming machine and other equipment manufacturers, software developers and technical services suppliers selling products and/or services used for gambling-related activities are also required to hold a relevant licence.
Any new operator must secure approval through Queensland’s rigorous licensing process, which protects both workers and consumers during ownership transitions." As online options continue growing, land-based casinos must enhance their experiential offerings to remain competitive—a challenge Treasury Brisbane appears well-positioned to meet." On one hand, Treasury Brisbane remains a world-class facility with tremendous potential, especially with the upcoming Olympics. Mr Hughes, an industry analyst, believes Star would likely look to shore up some of its stronger assets, including the Brisbane casino, ahead of the 2032 Olympics—a major opportunity for Queensland’s tourism sector. The venue’s racecourse integration creates a distinctive gambling experience that blends traditional casino gaming with thoroughbred racing excitement—a combination not found at Brisbane’s urban casino locations. Brisbane casinos typically feature Australian-developed pokies from industry giants like Aristocrat and IGT. Queensland residents can rest assured they’ll be able to enjoy playing online gambling legally and safely for years to come.
It’s important to note that licensed online casinos must adhere to strict rules and regulations set by their country of jurisdiction, including adhering to minimum gambling age requirements. There has been significant growth in this area with various business models implemented (including ‘membership-style’ businesses) which have been investigated by regulatory authorities and are the subject of litigation in the SA. In a land-based context, the Victorian regulator has been particularly active in targeting underage gambling in pubs and clubs in particular – a practice that is illegal in all Australian jurisdictions. Despite these efforts, it is understood that Australians continue to transact in high volumes with offshore licensed and unlicensed gambling operators using virtual private networks and similar technologies.
At the time of writing, casino licensees in NSW and Qld have been deemed unsuitable to hold the licences issued in those jurisdictions. Enforcement action by the ACMA is also likely to continue following the implementation of various legislative changes, including in relation to illegal gambling sites and following the recent commencement of the NSER. The use of digital currencies (including cryptocurrency) for gambling purposes is not common in the jurisdiction and, in the case of online wagering and betting, was expressly prohibited following amendments to the Interactive Gambling Act in 2024. Are there any specific licensing or operational requirements for operators accepting digital currencies (including cryptocurrencies)? Under the AML/CTF Act, certain gambling activities are classified as ‘designated services’ and, as such, reporting entities are required, among other things, to register with AUSTRAC, develop and maintain a compliant AML/CTF Program and report certain transactions to AUSTRAC, including by way of TTRs and SMRs. Included in this are restrictions at a state and territory level in relation to gambling advertising and also inducements to open an account and, in some jurisdictions, to gamble or to gamble more frequently.
Brisbane casino gaming centers around Treasury Brisbane, a heritage-listed complex that spans two beautifully restored historic buildings in the heart of the city. Games like roulette, blackjack and poker are thoroughly enjoyable, and when cash is on the line, it often makes it all that more exciting. Australia is consistent with it’s laws and rules relating to activities and actions considered to be adult-based, such as drinking alcohol, gambling, voting and being prosecuted by the law – actions which are widely accepted to have the need to be regulated based on age. In Britain, the age limit is also set at 18, although exceptions do exist for national lotteries and scratch-cards, where those who are 16 or older can partake in such betting. With many foreign casinos choosing to continue to service the Australian market, there are still choices available to Aussie residents who want to play online, with the risk completely on the operator. The technicality here is there is nothing in the IGA amendments that punishes Australian players who continue to frequent offshore casino sites.
While the original wording of the IGA banned online casino operators from operating within our borders or from advertising services to Australian players, the laws were filled will all kinds of loopholes that allowed offshore casino sites to continue to service the Australian market. While retail casinos are legal in Australia and regulated, online casinos are a different story, with the updated Interactive Gambling Act officially outlawing them. While there is a want to keep gambling as an enjoyable and clean form of entertainment, there is always the potential for illicit and dangerous betting, so governmental laws are enforced in order to attempt to restrain the negative side-effects of this activity.
The introduction of the power for particular regulators to issue penalty infringement notices for certain gambling-related offences as an alternative to commencing court action has been a recent development in this jurisdiction. State and territory licensees are expected to have appropriate controls in place to ensure that they comply with their licence obligations, including relevant laws and any conditions attaching to their licence. Have fines, licence revocations or other sanctions been enforced in your jurisdiction? Legislation prohibits bets being taken by a Corporate Bookmaker on the outcome of a lottery (that is, ‘synthetic lotteries’).
