A better bet: How Australia should prevent gambling harm

This blog examines the legality of online casinos in Australia including the federal prohibition on online interactive gambling services, state and territory approved exceptions and the legality of overseas based online casino operators. Mr Costello said the federal government has not implemented any of the recommendations of the landmark 2023 Murphy Report into gambling harm, which included recommendations for a national gambling regulator and a ban on online gambling ads. Our proposed reforms do not curtail the availability of legal gambling websites. Setting a pre-commitment limit will add only a small friction to the sign-up process, and most people’s spending already falls under our proposed maximum limits. It is unlikely that there would be a major exodus to offshore providers to avoid these minor inconveniences.

Improper Use of Emergency Call Service Offence

Cashless gaming is currently a major focus for NSW, and is an important part of tackling money laundering via pokies,211 but is not an essential pre-cursor for mandatory pre-commitment. NSW https://www.blackcomblodgedirect.com/blog/2025/07/16/online-blackjack-australia-real-money-or-free-at/ stands out in having banned political donations from gambling businesses because of the potential for influence and perception of influence.167 But gambling interests in NSW still can and do donate at the federal level. Casinos have been the subject of recent Royal Commissions and major inquiries.115 State governments should follow through on these reforms. Chapter 4 explores how governments can ensure reforms stick, by standing up to the vested interests, rebutting their self-interested claims, and coordinating reform efforts across jurisdictions. Pokies are in our suburban pubs and clubs, and betting is constantly available at our fingertips. And a flood of advertising, even in the most obviously inappropriate places,6 continually prompts us to gamble.

Public office misconduct

But, under current regulations, legal websites are not much safer than illegal ones for heavy gamblers. Many legal gambling operators do not have effective safeguards in place to prevent harm (Chapter 2). Gambling normalisation starts young, and sports betting advertising is a major culprit. The federal government should ban all gambling advertising, sponsorships, and inducements.

• These recommendations would make gambling much safer, but they will take several years to implement.
• In virtually every other country, if you want to play a poker machine, you have to go to a casino,” he told news.com.au.
• In 2022, the operator was found “unsuitable” to hold casino licences in NSW and Queensland.
• Chapter 2 shows that governments have failed to take the necessary steps to prevent gambling harm, mainly because of the political risks of taking on the industry and its allies.
• Most gamblers’ spending will be unaffected by our proposed maximum limits (Figure 4.4).

This will be especially important given the roadmap will take several years to fully implement. Recent Royal Commissions, reviews of Australian casinos, and the NSW Crime Commission’s inquiry into money laundering through pokies have collectively sparked outrage around the country. A universal system may need to be administered by a national agency (as it is in Germany and Norway) to keep track of people’s nominated limits and spending across providers.

A last-minute $300 million rescue deal, hinging on the sale of Star’s 50 per cent stake in Brisbane’s Queen’s Wharf casino and hotel complex, broke down this week. But rapidly changing gambling habits, a string of brutal regulatory crackdowns and the loss of high-roller VIPs from China have now left those casino giants facing new challenges to survive. There was a time in Australia when the casino was the crown jewel of each of our capital cities. There was a time in Australia when the casino was the crown jewel of each capital city. A Tax Calculator is provided below to assist shareholders in calculating the Australian capital gains tax cost base allocation for Tabcorp shares and The Star Entertainment Group shares.