Australia Gaming License
Australia has no single national gambling licence. An Australia gaming license, Australia betting license, Australia sportsbook license and Australia bookmaker license all describe the same thing: a state or territory authorisation sitting under the federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). Online casino games remain prohibited for customers in Australia.
Online wagering operators that serve Australian residents almost always licence in the Northern Territory. Land-based casinos, gaming machines and lotteries are licensed state by state. For general licensing options outside Australia, see our gambling license overview.
Key facts
| Is there a national licence? | No. The federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) sits over separate state and territory licensing regimes |
|---|---|
| Federal regulator | ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority), which enforces the IGA |
| Online casino, poker and pokies | Prohibited for customers in Australia |
| Legal online products | Pre-match sports wagering and race wagering |
| Route for online bookmakers | NT sports bookmaker or betting exchange licence |
| Northern Territory regulator | Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission, administered by Licensing NT |
| Northern Territory statute | Racing and Wagering Act 2024 (NT), commenced 1 July 2024 |
| Licence fee | 20,000 revenue units, A$29,800 at the 2026-27 revenue unit value of A$1.49, payable on application, on renewal and every year |
| Licence term | Up to 20 years, with an annual licence fee |
| Northern Territory wagering tax | 5% of wagers minus payouts, monthly, capped at 2,000,000 revenue units (A$2,980,000) a year |
| State point-of-consumption tax (POC) | 15% to 25% of net wagering revenue, depending on the customer's state. The Northern Territory levies none |
| Company tax | 30% full rate, or 25% for a base rate entity |
| Processing time | Licensing NT publishes none |
Sources: Racing and Wagering Act 2024 (NT) and Racing and Wagering Regulations 2024, as in force 22 June 2026; NT.GOV.AU revenue unit table; state revenue offices.
Is there an Australia gambling license?
No. Australia issues no single national gambling licence. Two layers apply instead: the federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA), enforced by ACMA, and a separate licensing regime in each state and territory. An operator picks the jurisdiction that matches the product, then licences there.
Any vendor offering "an Australian licence" as one product is describing something that does not exist. Ask which state or territory instrument they mean before paying anything.
The practical consequence is narrow. For online wagering aimed at Australian residents, the Northern Territory is the working answer. For online casino aimed at Australian residents, there is no answer, because the product is prohibited.
What can you legally be licensed for in Australia?
Australia licenses six gambling activities. Online sports and race wagering for Australian residents runs on an NT sports bookmaker or betting exchange licence. Online gaming aimed at customers outside Australia runs on an NT internet gaming licence. Land-based casinos, gaming machines, lotteries and retail wagering are licensed at state level.
Online sports and race wagering for Australian residents sits on an NT sports bookmaker or betting exchange licence under the Racing and Wagering Act 2024 (NT).
The NT internet gaming licence under the Gaming Control Act 1993 (NT) covers internet gaming businesses whose customers are outside Australia.
Land-based casinos hold a casino licence issued by the relevant state or territory.
Gaming machines, known locally as pokies, are licensed venue by venue under state gaming machine legislation.
Lotteries and keno each require a separate state licence. The IGA treats a lottery service as an excluded lottery service under section 8D, but not electronic scratch or instant lotteries.
Retail wagering outlets operate under state wagering licences, several of which are exclusive to a single operator.
Online casino games, online poker and online pokies aimed at Australian residents fall outside this list. No Australian licence authorises them, because the IGA prohibits supplying them.
Who regulates gambling in Australia?
Two tiers regulate Australian gambling. ACMA enforces the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 federally, blocks illegal offshore sites and maintains the public list of licensed interactive wagering providers. Each state and territory licenses operators separately, so the regulator depends on the product and the jurisdiction chosen.
| Federal | ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) |
|---|---|
| Northern Territory | Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission, administered by Licensing NT |
| Victoria | Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) |
| New South Wales | Liquor & Gaming NSW and the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority |
| Queensland | Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) |
| South Australia | Consumer and Business Services |
| Tasmania | Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission |
| Western Australia | Racing, Gaming and Liquor |
| Australian Capital Territory | ACT Gambling and Racing Commission |
Victoria's regulator is the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC). Older guides still name the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR), which the VGCCC replaced.
What is the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA)?
The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) is the federal law governing online gambling in Australia. The IGA prohibits supplying online casino games, online poker and online in-play sports betting to customers in Australia. ACMA enforces the IGA against operators. Pre-match sports wagering and race wagering stay permitted.
Section 15 of the IGA prohibits providing a prohibited interactive gambling service to customers in Australia. Section 15AA extends the prohibition to unlicensed regulated interactive gambling services.
Two amendments shape the current regime. The Interactive Gambling Amendment Act 2017 added a civil penalty regime, widened ACMA's enforcement powers and closed the in-play "click-to-call" workaround by narrowing the telephone betting exemption to services conducted wholly by voice call. Schedule 1 commenced on 13 September 2017.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Act 2023 then banned credit cards, credit-related products and digital currency for online wagering. That ban took effect on 11 June 2024.
Penalties are steep and accrue daily. Section 15(1) carries 5,000 penalty units and section 15(2A) carries a civil penalty of 7,500 penalty units, with each day treated as a separate offence or contravention. The Commonwealth penalty unit rose to A$364 on 1 July 2026, so any dollar figure published before that date understates current exposure.
ACMA also asks internet providers to block illegal offshore gambling sites and refers operators for enforcement.
Why are Australian bookmakers licensed in the Northern Territory?
The Northern Territory is where Australia's corporate online bookmakers licence. The Racing and Wagering Act 2024 (NT) commenced on 1 July 2024 and repealed the Racing and Betting Act 1983. Licences come from the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission, administered by Licensing NT, and run for up to 20 years.
Two features explain the concentration. The NT built a wagering-specific regime with a long licence term and a published fee, and a Territory licensee can accept bets from residents of other states.
That second point rests on constitutional law, not on any recognition agreement. In Betfair Pty Limited v Western Australia [2008] HCA 11, the High Court struck down Western Australian provisions that banned betting exchanges and shut out interstate operators, holding them a protectionist burden on interstate trade contrary to section 92 of the Constitution. States cannot fence out an interstate wagering operator, but no statute declares licences mutually recognised.
How it works
How do you get a Northern Territory sports bookmaker licence?
Navigating the gaming license process can be complex. Here's a streamlined guide to each step.
Five stages take an applicant from company formation to a live NT sports bookmaker licence: corporate setup in the Territory, application to Licensing NT with the prescribed fee, probity and due diligence on key persons, wagering control system approval, and a decision by the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission. Licensing NT publishes no processing time.
What are the requirements for an NT bookmaker licence?
An NT sports bookmaker licence turns on eight requirements: premises in the Territory, an NT-resident nominee, probity clearance for key persons, an AML/CTF program, approval of the wagering control system, financial capacity, security of up to A$250,000, and registration with BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register.
Premises in the Northern Territory, registered with ASIC as the principal place of business, under section 152(1).
An individual resident in the Territory acting as nominee, under section 132(2), with an alternate for periods of absence.
Probity clearance for the company, its directors, its ultimate beneficial owners and each key person licence holder.
An AML/CTF program under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006, with AUSTRAC enrolment.
Wagering control system approval by the Director under section 163 before operations begin.
Financial capacity evidence, plus security that regulation 12 caps at A$250,000, commonly given as a bank guarantee.
Registration with BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register, and working processes to honour exclusions.
Responsible gambling obligations, including identity verification and advertising limits.
How much does an Australian gambling license cost?
No single price exists, because Australia has no single licence. An NT sports bookmaker licence costs 20,000 revenue units, A$29,800 at the 2026-27 revenue unit value, and that same amount falls due on application, on renewal and every year. Security of up to A$250,000 sits on top, and taxes are separate.
| Licence or item | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| NT sports bookmaker or betting exchange licence, application | 20,000 revenue units (A$29,800 in 2026-27) | Racing and Wagering Regulations 2024, reg 9(d) |
| NT sports bookmaker or betting exchange licence, renewal | 20,000 revenue units (A$29,800 in 2026-27) | reg 10(d) |
| NT sports bookmaker or betting exchange licence, annual fee | 20,000 revenue units (A$29,800 in 2026-27) | reg 13(d), payable from year two |
| NT security | Up to A$250,000, commonly a bank guarantee | reg 12 |
| Queensland interactive gambling licence, application | A$2,220 for applicants authorised under the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999, A$22,180 for all other applicants | Business Queensland |
| Queensland key person licence | A$641.40 | Business Queensland |
Three cautions on cost. Revenue unit fees move every 1 July, so any dollar figure carries a financial year. Application fees are not taxes, and the tax layers below are the larger number for a trading operator. Queensland is not an open route: no interactive gambling licence is currently on issue there, and Queensland wagering is exclusive to UBET QLD Ltd with no new applications until 30 June 2044.
What taxes apply to Australian gambling operators?
Three tax layers hit an Australian online wagering operator. The Northern Territory charges a 5% wagering tax on wagers minus payouts plus a 0.05% racing levy. Each state charges point-of-consumption tax (POC) on bets from its own residents, between 15% and 25%. Company tax then applies at 30%.
| Layer | Rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| NT wagering tax, sports bookmaker | 5% of total wagers minus total payouts in the preceding month, capped for the financial year at 2,000,000 revenue units (A$2,980,000 in 2026-27) | Racing and Wagering Act 2024 (NT) s 145(3) and s 145(4) |
| NT wagering tax, betting exchange | 5% of commission | s 145(2) |
| NT wagering tax, on-course bookmaker | 0.33% of wagers | s 145(1) |
| NT racing levy | 0.05% of wagers minus winnings, monthly. The Director may allow a deduction for donations or sponsorship to a Territory community organisation, up to A$250,000 a year | Racing and Wagering Regulations 2024, reg 14(2) to reg 14(4) |
| Point-of-consumption tax, ACT | 25% of net betting revenue above A$150,000 | ACT Revenue Office |
| Point-of-consumption tax, Queensland | 20% of taxable wagering revenue above A$300,000 | Queensland Revenue Office |
| Point-of-consumption tax, Victoria | 15% of net wagering revenue above A$1 million | Victorian State Revenue Office |
| Point-of-consumption tax, New South Wales | 15% of net wagering revenue above A$1 million | Revenue NSW |
| Point-of-consumption tax, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania | 15% of net wagering revenue, thresholds around A$150,000 | state revenue offices |
| Point-of-consumption tax, Northern Territory | None | No NT point-of-consumption tax |
| Company tax | 30% full rate. Base rate entities with aggregated turnover under A$50 million and no more than 80% passive income pay 25% | ATO |
The annual cap on NT wagering tax doubled from 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 revenue units when the Revenue Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (NT) commenced on 1 July 2025. Guides still quoting a cap near A$1.4 million are two changes out of date.
One figure travels badly. Victoria taxes casino table games at 21.25% and gaming machines at 31.57%, and those rates apply to Victoria land-based casino operations under a Victorian state licence. Neither rate applies to online wagering or to any other state.
Can you offer an online casino in Australia?
No. Supplying online casino games, online slots, online poker or online in-play sports betting to customers in Australia is prohibited by the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. No Australian online casino licence exists to apply for. The NT internet gaming licence under the Gaming Control Act 1993 (NT) is a licence for serving customers outside Australia.
The distinction matters commercially. An operator can hold a valid NT internet gaming licence, run a compliant casino product and still be barred from a single Australian customer, because the prohibition is federal and attaches to the customer's location.
Note where that restriction lives. The Gaming Control Act 1993 (NT) itself does not confine internet gaming to offshore customers. Sections 15 and 15AA of the federal IGA do the work, which is why the lawful market for that licence is outside Australia.
How does an NT licence compare with offshore licences?
An NT sports bookmaker licence buys access to Australian residents for wagering, at Australian tax rates and with local substance. Curacao, Anjouan and Malta cost less to hold, permit online casino and require no Australian presence, but none of them authorises taking bets from customers in Australia.
| Feature | Northern Territory | Curacao | Anjouan | Malta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customers you can serve | Australian residents, wagering only | International, excluding restricted markets | International, excluding restricted markets | International, per licence conditions |
| Online casino product permitted | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Regulator fee | A$29,800 on application and each year | EUR 4,592 application, EUR 47,450 a year for B2C | From EUR 17,828 a year | EUR 5,000 application, EUR 25,000 a year |
| Gaming tax | 5% NT wagering tax, plus 15% to 25% state point-of-consumption tax | 0% | 0% | 5%, rising to 15% for Type 1 and 10% for Types 2 to 4 on 1 October 2026 |
| Licence term | Up to 20 years | Indefinite | Renewed annually | Multi-year, set by the MGA |
| Local presence | Premises in the NT plus an NT-resident nominee | Local company, office and resident key person | None | Maltese company |
| Timeline | Not published by Licensing NT | 3 to 6 months | 4 to 8 weeks | About 12 months |
Read the table as two different businesses rather than a price comparison. Wagering to Australians is a licensed, taxed, high-value market with a compliance floor. Offshore licences serve international traffic and carry no right of access to Australian customers.
Details on each alternative sit on our Curacao, Anjouan and Malta pages.
What are the advantages of an Australian (NT) gambling licence?
An NT sports bookmaker licence gives lawful access to Australian residents for sports and race wagering, a term of up to 20 years, a named regulator with published rules, and a route to Australian banking and payment rails. States cannot shut out an interstate licensee, so one Territory licence reaches customers nationally.
Access to Australian residents for wagering is the commercial driver. Australia is a high-value wagering market and the NT licence is the practical way in.
A term of up to 20 years removes the renewal cycle that shorter offshore licences impose.
The Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission is a genuine regulator with published standards, which changes how banks and payment providers assess the operator.
Australian banking and card acquiring become realistic once the licence and local premises exist.
Interstate reach follows from section 92 of the Constitution as applied in Betfair Pty Limited v Western Australia, so a Territory licensee can take bets from residents of other states.
Two limits belong with these advantages. Every one of them applies to wagering on sports and racing, not to online casino, which stays prohibited for Australian residents. The separate NT internet gaming licence serves only customers outside Australia.
What are the disadvantages of an Australian (NT) gambling licence?
Six constraints weigh against an NT sports bookmaker licence: online casino, poker and pokies stay prohibited, compliance is heavy, the tax stack reaches roughly 20% to 30% of net revenue before company tax, local premises and a nominee cost money, online in-play betting is banned, and credit cards and crypto cannot be accepted.
Product is capped at wagering. Online casino games, online poker and online pokies for Australian residents remain prohibited under the IGA, so a casino-led operator has no Australian route.
Compliance load is real: probity on every key person and beneficial owner, an AML/CTF program, wagering control system approval before launch, and BetStop integration.
Tax stacks rather than substitutes. A 5% NT wagering tax and a 0.05% levy sit alongside state point-of-consumption tax of 15% to 25%, then 30% company tax on profit.
Local substance costs. Premises in the Northern Territory and an NT-resident nominee are licence conditions, not optional structure.
Online in-play sports betting is prohibited, which removes a product line that competitors in other markets rely on.
Credit cards, credit-related products and digital currency cannot fund online wagering accounts, following the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Act 2023.
Fee timing adds a further point. The 20,000 revenue unit fee is annual, not a one-off, so the cost of holding the licence is closer to an offshore annual fee than the single application fee suggests.
Why choose MGL for Australian gambling licensing?
MGL scopes the Australian question correctly before any money moves: whether the target market makes an NT sports bookmaker licence the right instrument, whether an NT internet gaming licence for offshore customers fits better, or whether the intended product is prohibited outright. MGL has secured 300+ licences across jurisdictions.
Scoping first. Most Australian enquiries arrive as "we want an online casino licence for Australia", which does not exist. Establishing that early saves months.
Northern Territory setup. Company formation, premises in the Territory and appointment of a resident nominee are handled as one workstream rather than three.
Probity and compliance. Key person applications, ultimate beneficial owner disclosure, AML/CTF programs and wagering control system evidence are prepared to the standard the Director publishes.
Regulatory monitoring. Point-of-consumption rates, revenue unit indexation, advertising reform and BetStop obligations all move, and each one changes an operator's cost base.
Tell us the markets you intend to serve and the products you plan to run, and we will map the licensing route. Start at our contact page.
FAQ
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Yes. Foreign owners hold NT sports bookmaker licences through an Australian company with premises in the Northern Territory and an NT-resident nominee. Probity checks apply to directors, key persons and ultimate beneficial owners regardless of where they live.
Licensing NT publishes no processing time for a sports bookmaker licence. Duration depends on probity checks on key persons and on wagering control system approval. Licensing NT will not review an application until the prescribed fee is paid.
Yes, for wagering. An NT sports bookmaker licensee may accept bets from residents of other states and territories. Section 92 of the Constitution, applied in Betfair v Western Australia [2008] HCA 11, bars states from imposing protectionist bans on interstate betting operators. Point-of-consumption tax is payable in each customer's state.
No. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 prohibits online in-play betting on sports for customers in Australia. In-play bets placed by telephone remain lawful. In-play betting on horse, harness and greyhound racing sits outside the prohibition.
BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register, lets Australian residents block themselves from all licensed online wagering. Licensed interactive wagering providers must register with BetStop and enforce exclusions under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and the Register rules.
No. The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Act 2023 banned credit cards, credit-related products and digital currency for online wagering in Australia from 11 June 2024. ACMA enforces the ban against operators.
No. The Gaming Control Act 1993 (NT) licenses internet gaming businesses, but the federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001 bans supplying online casino games to customers in Australia. An NT internet gaming licence therefore serves customers outside Australia.
Heading: Find out what you can actually licence in Australia
Body: Online casino games stay prohibited in Australia, and wagering runs through a Northern Territory licence. Tell us your product and your markets, and we will confirm what the regulator will licence.
Online casino games stay prohibited in Australia, and wagering runs through a Northern Territory licence. Tell us your product and your markets, and we will confirm what the regulator will licence.