Western Australia (Australia): gambling regulation and licensing

Western Australia regulates gambling through the Racing, Gaming and Liquor function of the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. There is no standalone gaming commission website; the function sits within a broad departmental portfolio. Western Australia is the outlier among Australian states on gaming machines. Electronic gaming machines are not permitted in pubs and clubs, and are confined to the state's single casino, which makes it the only Australian jurisdiction without machines in community venues. That one restriction shapes the whole market and is the reason the state's per-capita gambling losses sit well below the national pattern. This profile records the regulating department and leaves the substantive detail as honest gaps. Vertical status, licence types, fees, tax treatment, advertising rules and compliance obligations have not yet been verified against primary sources. The machine restriction is frequently misreported as a general prohibition on gambling in the state, which it is not: racing, wagering, lotteries and casino gaming all operate, and residents can access nationally licensed online wagering in the same way as anyone else in Australia.

Regulator

Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Racing, Gaming and Liquor

Regulator type

Sub-national body

Headline tax

Not yet verified

Licence required

Not yet verified

Minimum age

Not yet verified

Tax base

Not yet verified

Advertising permitted

Yes

Watershed

There is no clock-based watershed in force today. Broadcast codes restrict gambling advertising around live sport, and from 1 January 2027 the federal reforms ban wagering advertising during live sport coverage from 15 minutes before until five minutes after events shown between 05:00 and 20:30.

Affiliate rules

Affiliates are not separately licensed. From 1 January 2027 the federal reforms ban commissions to affiliates calculated on customer activity, which removes revenue share as it is commonly structured.

Sponsorship rules

Sponsorship is permitted today, with arrangements varying by sporting code. The federal reforms commencing on 1 January 2027 prohibit wagering advertising in sports venues.

Celebrity and influencer rules

Advertising must not be directed at minors. From 1 January 2027 the ban on commissions to staff or affiliates based on customer activity removes a central part of the influencer and affiliate model.

Social media rules

Online advertising is within scope of the Interactive Gambling Act where the service advertised is prohibited. From 1 January 2027 the reforms extend restrictions to online advertising generally and add an opt-out register.

Bonus advertising rules

Inducements are restricted, and the position varies by state. From 1 January 2027 the federal reforms restrict direct marketing of inducements to new account holders for 14 days, to people who left BetStop within three months, and to any customer identified as at risk.

Mandatory warnings

Wagering advertising must carry one of the mandated rotating taglines introduced on 30 March 2023, which replaced the single "gamble responsibly" message with stronger and more specific wording.

Penalties for breach

ACMA enforces the federal regime and can issue formal warnings, infringement notices and civil penalty proceedings. From 1 January 2027 its powers expand to include taking down advertisements. State regulators act against licensees separately.

1. Racing, Gaming and Liquor

   Government of Western Australia

   Tier 1Accessed 27 Aug 2026
2. Interactive Gambling Act 2001

   Federal Register of Legislation (Australia)

   Tier 1Accessed 29 Aug 2026Published 11 Jul 2001