Casino Licensing Authorities Full List Of Licenses
When support struggles to resolve an issue, follow the framework’s dispute path. White-label arrangements can be legitimate, but they add a layer. If a site displays a regulator logo without a traceable entry on the authority’s register, assume the worst until proven otherwise. Strong authorities typically publish plain-language guidance, enforcement actions, and up-to-date registers showing status changes—active, suspended, surrendered. The regulator writes the rulebook, but each operator decides how to execute within that framework. In many implementations, player-fund handling is governed by conditions—sometimes requiring segregated accounts or safeguarding statements—though approaches vary by jurisdiction. Some cover remote casino only; others exclude sports or specific game types. Names must align exactly; trading names can differ, but the underlying company should be identical.
Senet keeps clients informed about changes in existing regulations or the introduction of new ones. This includes support for joint ventures, shareholder agreements, due diligence for investors, software agreements, e-commerce contracts, security arrangements and privacy considerations. Senet provides counsel on corporate structuring and compliance with regulatory requirements. The firm also assists in matters related to responsible gambling, social gaming products, virtual currencies and advertising compliance. The firm has consistently earned recognition from Chambers and Partners Global and Chambers and Partners Asia Pacific as a leading authority in gambling and gaming law. Senet acts for some of the leading online gambling and gaming operators, regularly working with entrepreneurs, start-ups, investors, and international operators seeking to diversify and establish business operations in Australia.
The regulator responsible for enforcing the Interactive Gambling Act, the ACMA, has consumer protection responsibilities and powers relating to the enforcement of prohibitions on providing or advertising illegal interactive gambling services. For operational and risk reasons, other gambling sector participants (e.g. land-based casinos) do not permit the use of cryptocurrency for gambling. Are there any specific licensing or operational requirements for operators accepting digital currencies (including cryptocurrencies)? For example, in 2017, a large Australian gambling company paid an AUS $45 million civil penalty to AUSTRAC for the failure to comply with certain requirements under the AML/CTF Act. Failure to comply with the AML/CTF Act, including by not maintaining a compliant AML/CTF Program, and not filing TTRs and/or SMRs (or filing them late), can result in large civil penalties and possible criminal exposure. By way of example, in Vic, where average revenue per gaming machine is greater than AUS $12,500 per month, the tax rate is 60.67%. State and territory taxes on gaming machine revenue are complicated and vary significantly.
Supervisory Authority
A casino licence permits the relevant casino to typically offer traditional table games and gaming machines. Set out below is a list of the primary legislation governing gaming, betting, lotteries and social/skill arrangements for each Australian state/territory, as well as at the federal level. For completeness, it is worth noting that, to a lesser extent, local government bodies in most states and territories also regulate gambling from a local government and town planning perspective, but typically only as it relates to gaming machines and their operation within the relevant municipal district. Unlike other jurisdictions, sweepstakes models which involve redemptions outside the platform are not operated in this jurisdiction (at least in any overt manner). Some jurisdictions supervise tightly and publish detailed enforcement records; others operate as remote hubs with lighter touch. Anjouan Gaming operates under the authority of the Anjouan Offshore Financial Authority, established under the laws of the Autonomous Island of Anjouan, Union of the Comoros.
Terms, KYC thresholds, and withdrawal rules can shift with the governing permit, so re-check if the jurisdiction changes. Geolocation or domain settings can route you to a version regulated by a different authority. A valid authorisation typically enforces identity checks, certified games, AML controls, and a documented complaint path (often via an approved ADR). Names should align exactly—brand names can differ, but the operating company must match. Open the casino’s page, scroll to the footer, and match the legal entity and licence number (if shown) to the authority’s public register. Build your play around frameworks you understand and can trace.
The ACMA has a range of enforcement tools available to it which include directing internet service providers to block sites which are deemed to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act. Separately, SkyCity Group (SA) was ordered by the Federal Court to pay a $67 million penalty in June 2024, after AUSTRAC launched civil penalty proceedings against it for breaches of the AML/CTF legislation. The Star’s Sydney, NSW casino licence has been suspended and a manager has been appointed to oversee operations while the suspension is in force and reforms to achieve suitability can be assessed. This has included action taken by AUSTRAC in relation to casino licensees in Vic, NSW, Qld, WA and also SA examining money laundering issues (including those concerning ‘junket operators’). The ACMA has also been particularly active in relation to enforcement action in connection with spam legislation where infringements by a number of wagering operators have been identified. 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.
Verifying The Authorisation
Senet is an Australian boutique law firm headquartered in Melbourne, specialising in gambling law and regulatory compliance in Australia and New Zealand and advising a diverse range of clients across the globe. Casino licences provide that casinos are only permitted to offer casino games and gaming machines to patrons present within the casino. In the case of lotteries, aside from Tas (which operates under renewable five-year permits linked to Victorian and Queensland licences) and WA (where lotteries are owned and operated by the state), the expiry dates are generally shorter than in relation to Retail Wagering; however, they still range between 2024 and 2072. 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 (including providers of gaming machine monitoring services). Retail operations are typically conducted using authorised agents and licensing distribution arrangements.
This is a departure from the previous ‘point of supply’ regime, under which states and territories derived no betting tax revenue from Corporate Bookmakers and other licensed betting operators taking bets online in the relevant jurisdiction. The state and/or territory taxes that apply to gambling products depend upon the relevant licence under which the product is being offered, the type of product and also the jurisdiction in which the product is offered. Separately, the CCA imposes penalties for, amongst other things, misleading and deceptive conduct (including through advertising). On-course Bookmakers offer substantially the same fixed-odds betting on-course and, subject to approval, also over the telephone and in some instances online. With the exception of virtual/simulated racing (which is generally only offered in retail venues including hotels and clubs), this betting is generally offered at racecourses, retail venues, online and by telephone. The Victorian regulator subsequently announced in March 2024 that it was satisfied that Crown Melbourne was lmct+ casino login australia suitable to operate the casino and that it was in the public interest for the casino licence to remain in force. An application for a Corporate Bookmaker Licence issued in the NT, or an application for an On-course Bookmaker Licence, typically takes between three and six months for approval and can be made at any time. The number of licences available are limited and there are typically only one per state and territory (except in the case of current casino licences held in each of Qld, NT and NSW, the two recently issued Vic keno licences, and potentially for new wagering licences) and the processes are very infrequent.