The legal position
Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, online casino-style games, including pokies played for real money on a phone, cannot legally be offered to people in Australia. ACMA enforces the law and has blocked many illegal gambling sites. See the ACMA guidance on online gambling.
Free-to-play "social" pokies apps, which do not pay out real money, are a different category, though they can still encourage spending on in-app purchases.
Scam warning signs
Scamwatch warns about gambling scams. Common signs include:
- Unsolicited messages offering bonus credits or free spins
- Sites asking for payment by cryptocurrency, gift cards or bank transfer to an individual
- Withdrawals delayed by repeated new "fees" or verification demands
- No clear operator name, address or licence information
- Pressure to deposit quickly to "lock in" an offer
Phone tools that help
- Bank gambling blocks: many Australian banks let you block gambling transactions in their app.
- Screen-time limits and app restrictions on iOS and Android.
- Blocking software designed for gambling sites.
- BetStop, the national self-exclusion register for licensed Australian online wagering providers.
Compare before you decide
A phone is always with you, which removes the natural breaks a venue provides. Our land-based vs online comparison sets out the differences in regulation, protections and payouts side by side.