Australia

Australia was a pioneer in establishing a well-regulated internet betting environment and today regulates the provision and advertising of interactive gambling services at federal level through the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001. Gambling that falls outside the Federal Act is the individual responsibility of each of the Australian States and Territories to the extent that local legislation does not conflict with federal legislation.

While for casino gaming, most Australian States and Territories had to develop new and specific legislations, internet sports betting is usually regulated by the States and Territories Governments through modified versions of pre-existing bookmaking legislations.

Specific online betting legislations exist in Tasmania and Western Australia. While the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Norfolk Island and Northern Territory have amended pre-existing sports bookmaking legislations to enable wagering over the internet.

In Queensland, the Office of Gaming Regulation under the Wagering Act 1998 regulates the activities of UniTab, which holds an exclusive race and sports wagering license to operate fixed odds wagering.

In South Australia, the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner is responsible to the Independent Gambling Authority for the scrutiny and the licensing of bookmaker betting operations. Although the Bookmakers Licensing Rules 2000 were amended in January 2003 to allow betting by other telecommunications devices other than a telephone, we're not aware of any South Australian sports bookmaker operating online.

In Victoria, licensed bookmakers are currently allowed to accept sports bets from punters over the internet only when they are phisically present at a racetrack. On 13 March 2007, the Minister for Gaming introduced the Gambling and Racing Legislation Amendment (Sports Betting) Bill 2007 into the Legislative Assembly. The purpose of the bill is to amend the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 and the Racing Act 1958 to create a new regime for betting on sports and other events (excluding horse and greyhound races) in the state of Victoria.