Skip to content
iGaming Times

Independent industry intelligence in your inbox. Unsubscribe any time - every newsletter carries a one-click link.

Sub-national
Oceania

Western Australia (Australia): gambling regulation and licensing

Part of Australia

  • Online casinoProhibited
  • Online pokerProhibited
  • Online sports bettingRegulated
  • Land-based (reference)Regulated
Regulator
Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Racing, Gaming and Liquor
Headline tax
Not yet verified
Licence required
Not yet verified
Last verified
30 Aug 2026

Summary

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.

Key facts

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

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.

Restrictions

  • Western Australia is the most restrictive Australian state on gambling generally, and its state framework applies alongside the federal advertising regime.
  • Wagering advertising in Australia is governed principally at federal level. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 bans the advertising of prohibited services, and broadcast codes restrict gambling advertising around live sport.
  • Since 30 March 2023 wagering advertising must carry one of a set of rotating safer-gambling taglines, including "Chances are you are about to lose", replacing the former "gamble responsibly" line.
  • Parliament passed the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 on 19 August 2026. Most of its reforms commence on 1 January 2027 and are not yet in force.
  • From commencement the federal reforms restrict wagering advertising on television, radio, online and in sports venues, ban advertising during live sport coverage from 15 minutes before until five minutes after events shown between 05:00 and 20:30, create a global opt-out register, restrict direct marketing of inducements, and ban commissions to staff or affiliates based on customer activity.

Sources

  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

Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.

This page is industry reference information and not legal advice.

Cookie Preferences

Choose which cookies you want to accept. Essential cookies are required for the website to function properly.

Required

Necessary for the website to function. Cannot be disabled.

Help us understand how visitors interact with our website.

Used to deliver relevant advertisements and track ad performance.

Remember your preferences and settings for a better experience.