Gambling reforms

Ban on the use of credit cards for online wagering

The ban will apply to Australian licensed wagering services. The ban will extend to credit cards and credit payments made via digital wallets.

The announcement implements recommendations from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services (the Committee) from November 2021. The Government response to the Inquiry.

Consistent with the Committee’s recommendations, lottery services, both for-profit and not-for-profit, will be excluded from the ban as they present a low‑risk to gambling harm.

The ban will be enacted under the Commonwealth’s Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) and will be regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)

The National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering

The Australian Government, together with the state and territory governments, has introduced the National Framework, a suite of minimum consumer protections for people who gamble online.

The National Framework provides, for the first time, stronger consumer protections for Australians gambling online.

The National Framework consists of 10 measures to empower individuals and minimise the harm from online gambling. The measures provide easy-to-use tools and information to support people to better control their gambling. These tools include a voluntary opt-out pre-commitment scheme and BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register^TM.

The National Framework applies to all licensed online wagering service providers and will offer protection to all active account holders.

Measure 1: Prohibition of lines of credit

Online gambling service providers cannot provide credit to people who gamble on their site or app (with limited exemptions). Visit the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) website for more details.

Implementation status: Implemented 17 February 2018

Regulated by: Australian Communications and Media Authority via the Interactive Gambling Amendments Act 2017

Measure 2: Payday lenders

Restricting the use of small amount credit contracts (payday lending) for online gambling to better protect consumers.

Implementation status: Implemented 17 February 2018

Regulated by: Australian Communications and Media Authority via the Interactive Gambling Amendments Act 2017

Measure 3: Customer verification

The maximum customer verification period has been reduced from 14 days, to 3 days, to when a customer registers for a new account and before they can place a bet.

Underage gamblers and those who have self-excluded are more vulnerable. Quicker identiy and age verification is critical in reducing harms to these groups.

Implementation status: Implemented 26 February 2019, updated 2 May 2022, updated 29 September 2023

Regulated by: Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) via the Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Rules Instrument 2007 (AML/CTF Rules)

Measure 4: Restrictions on inducements

Online gambling providers cannot offer any incentives to open an account or to refer another person to open an account.

This measure protects consumers from incentive-based marketing and strengthens standards for direct marketing.

Implementation status: Implemented 26 May 2019 (all jurisdictions except NSW) and 26 November 2019 (NSW)