Central Consumer Protection Authority issues guidelines on betting and gambling endorsements

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However, the NZ government has recently announced plans to increase the gambling duty to 16%, with the additional 4% to be directed towards community contributions. On 19 August 2025, the VGCCC announced that it had formally censured Crown Melbourne for breaching mandatory pre-commitment rules on its poker machines. As of June 2025, 30,032 people had active exclusions under the BetStop scheme and, as this number grows, the ACMA has been engaged in investigations relating to potential breaches.
In relation to wagering and betting, apart from the NT (where the licences expire in 2035) and WA (where Retail Wagering and betting is operated by the state), the expiry dates of current Retail Wagering Licences are also similarly long-dated and range between 2044 and 2100. There are often strict local government planning requirements that must be met in relation to gaming machines. Bingo is often regarded as minor gaming and may be conducted for fundraising or charitable purposes, typically by a community or other not-for-profit organisation. In relation to hotels and clubs, a venue requires both a gaming venue licence and also a permit/licence for each gaming machine a venue operates. Casino table gaming and gaming machines, Retail Wagering, lotteries and keno all require an operator licence, which is typically long-dated and is granted by the relevant Australian state or territory.
Affiliate services and white-label operators are likely to require approval by the NTRWC to provide services to bookmakers and/or betting exchanges licensed in the Northern Territory (see 6.3 Affiliates and 6.4 White Labels). The application process is likely to also require that fingerprinting be provided for the purposes of conducting background checks and providing police certificates. A personal licence is required in the Northern Territory for individuals that are deemed key individuals in relation to the payid pokies online australia sports bookmaker licence. A personal licence may be required at the state and territory level, for example in respect of gambling operators/venues that are in the land-based market (eg, gaming machine technician licences). In NSW, for example, a one-off payment of AUD256 million was paid in 1995 for a 12-year exclusivity period for a casino licence, and a further AUD100 million was paid in 2007 for a 12-year extension of the exclusivity period.
The Victorian regulator subsequently announced – in March 2024 – that it was satisfied that Crown Melbourne was suitable to operate the casino and that it was in the public interest for the casino licence to remain in force. The Star recently announced (in August 2025) that it has agreed binding arrangements with Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium for the disposal of its interest in the much-vaunted Brisbane Queen’s Wharf development, in light of financial challenges faced by the group. Large-scale remediation programmes remain in-flight for the largest Australian-licensed casino operators, including under government-mandated supervision arrangements in some cases.
This book has been carefully reviewed, edited and audited by Oliver Chang, a member of ICLG in-house editorial team to ensure relevance and house style. This includes insights into developments such as the Point of Consumption Tax and the National Consumer Protection Framework. Senet keeps clients informed about changes in existing regulations or the introduction of new ones. The firm offers guidance during regulatory investigations by local gambling authorities, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the Australian Transactions Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), law enforcement agencies and other statutory bodies. Senet advises on competition and antitrust laws, particularly in relation to new product offerings, advertising campaigns and marketing policies. Senet provides counsel on corporate structuring and compliance with regulatory requirements.
The processes are generally quite extensive, and it can sometimes take up to 12 months or longer for state and territory gambling regulators to complete in relation to new applicants seeking major licences. Such licences often require the licensee to comply with complex national standards, as adopted by the relevant state or territory. Retail Wagering is offered by state and territory-based totalisator agency boards (TABs) pursuant to sole licences in the relevant state or territory, thereby providing them with a form of ‘retail exclusivity’.
This process commenced around seven years ago with the implementation of the National Consumer Protection Framework (NCPF) (for online wagering operators) and reviews of various aspects of the business conducted by leading casinos. Retail operations are typically conducted using authorised agents and licensing distribution arrangements. Australian casino operators continue to face intense regulatory scrutiny and a challenging operating environment following the implementation of significant regulatory reforms, including mandatory carded play on electronic gaming machines. Permits or approvals must be granted by the regulatory body in most states or territories to operate gaming machines in licensed premises. The games that may be offered under a casino licence are table games (including poker) and gaming machines.
More recently, AUS $450 million and AUS $67 million civil penalties have been applied to two operators in the casino sector. The regulator made a determination that the licensee has returned to suitability to hold the Melbourne casino licence. At the time of writing, casino licensees in NSW and Qld have been deemed unsuitable to hold the licences issued in those jurisdictions. Other regulatory action has been taken for responsible gambling, advertising-related and other matters. 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.
This includes advice on business strategies for international gambling projects, both inbound into Australia and outbound to international markets. Addisons has a gambling team that advises businesses on all aspects of gaming and gambling law and regulation. The advisory has been issued under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which grants the CCPA the authority to regulate and prevent misleading advertisements and endorsements. The authority is empowered to regulate matters related to consumer rights violations, unfair trade practices, and misleading advertisements.