Australia's regulated gambling industry is bracing for a significant tightening of the rules, as the federal government prepares to tackle two of the sector's
Australia’s regulated gambling industry is bracing for a significant tightening of the rules, as the federal government prepares to tackle two of the sector’s most contentious issues: advertising and anti-money laundering (AML). A new bill to restrict gambling ads is expected before the end of the year, while a separate, comprehensive set of new AML rules is already slated to come into force in early 2026.
This two-pronged approach signals a new era of tougher federal oversight for a sector that has been plagued by regulatory scandals and intense public scrutiny in recent years.
The push for advertising reform has been a central political issue since a parliamentary inquiry in 2023 delivered 31 recommendations, the most significant of which was a call for a complete, phased-in ban on all online gambling advertising.
However, the government appears to be leaning towards a more moderate approach. Communications Minister Anika Wells has been leading consultations with the industry, and it’s widely expected that the forthcoming legislation will focus on a “capping” of ads-such as limiting them to a certain number per hour on television-rather than an outright prohibition. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has publicly stated he is hesitant to enact a complete ban, citing concerns that it could make it harder for licensed operators to compete and would inadvertently strengthen the unregulated offshore black market.
While the advertising debate continues, a separate and equally significant regulatory change is already locked in. A new, more stringent set of AML and Counter-Terrorism Financing ( CTF) rules was tabled in Parliament in August 2024 and is due to take effect from March 2026.
The country’s financial intelligence agency, AUSTRAC, has confirmed that the gambling industry is a key focus of the reforms. The new rules are designed to modernise Australia’s defences against financial crime and will require operators to implement stronger AML programs, conduct more stringent customer due diligence, and comply with the international “ travel rule,” which mandates the sharing of payer and payee information on digital transactions.
The message to the industry is clear: the cost and complexity of compliance in Australia are set to increase significantly. Operators will soon have to navigate a new, more restrictive national framework for advertising while simultaneously overhauling their AML/CTF systems to meet a higher standard. This is the next phase of Australia’s regulatory “clean-up” following the high-profile scandals at its major casino operators, and it confirms that the era of light-touch regulation is definitively over.
