No, under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA), it is illegal to provide or advertise real money online interactive gambling services – like online pokies or casino games- to Australian residents.
The IGA was designed to stop operators from setting up shop and offering casino-style games over the internet to Aussie customers.
But here is where it gets interesting. The law only targets the operators. There is nothing in the Act that makes it an offence for a person to actually play on an online casino site.
So the company running the site is breaking the law but the person sitting at home having a spin on the pokies technically is not. That has been a grey area in Australian gambling law for over 20 years now and nobody in government has moved to close it.
While it is not illegal for Australians to play online pokies or casino games, there are serious risks in using these services, with the biggest risk being that you may never see your winnings – especially if you win big. So you can spend money in the hope of winning, but you are likely to never receive your winnings if you actually do win.
ACMA is very active in blocking online casino sites that illegally target Australians.
Other forms of online betting are legal in Australia – like betting on racing and sports.
Please note that nothing on this page should be taken as legal advice. If you need advice specific to your situation, you should speak to a lawyer.