How to start an online casino business in Australia in 2025

Australians have a well-documented love of gambling. The country is among the world’s leaders in gambling participation — and revenues — with Australian adults spending more per year on gambling than residents of any other country. But the online sector is very tightly controlled, with most forms of online gambling prohibited. Keep reading to find out what investors and entrepreneurs can open a casino in Australia to break into the iGaming industry in this region — and how Slotegrator can help.

Are online casinos legal in Australia?

If any country has a national passion for gambling and betting, it’s Australia. You can see the country’s love of gambling in the staggering amounts of money spent on the activity every year — and also by the high levels of regulation.

Gambling is a significant part of many Australians' lives. In 2022, 72.8% of adults in Australia had gambled in the previous 12 months, with 80.5% of men and 66.2% of women reporting this activity. Additionally, 38% of adults gambled weekly, including 48% of men and 28% of women. In 2017, Australia held the global lead in terms of gambling losses per capita. Furthermore, Australians allocate a higher proportion of their expenditure to online gambling compared to residents of any other country.

However, despite (or perhaps because of) the widespread interest, the Australian market is heavily regulated at both the state and the federal level. Most regulations are at the state level — each state has its own gambling commission or other authority — but states must stay within the confines of federal law. Perhaps the most wide-sweeping federal law is the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, which prohibits companies and individuals from offering online gambling services to Australian citizens.

In Australia, accessing and using interactive gambling services is not considered a criminal offense. Companies based in Australia are permitted to offer their services to players outside the country, with the exception of those states that are included in the list of designated countries.

As of September 29, 2024, all online gambling providers operating within Australia will be obligated to adhere to customer identification procedures (ACIP) prior to account opening or the provision of specific services. This new mandate, initiated by the Australian Transaction Reporting and Analysis Center (AUSTRAC), aims to deter criminal activity and ensure adherence to the National Self-Exclusion Register.

Australian investors and entrepreneurs are unable to open online casinos for Australian players (who often visit offshore casinos regardless of the ban). But sometimes, when one door closes, several more open; Australia is far from the only gambling market in the world. Investing in offshore gambling operations that target other markets is a perfectly viable option, as is starting an offshore casino platform. In fact, the Northern Territory even issues Internet Gaming Licenses to Australia-based operations that face foreign markets. Licenses are issued through the Department of Industry, Tourism, and Trade instead of a separate gambling commission, and applicants must satisfy a range of requirements pertaining to reputation and business ability. To remain compliant, operators must ensure they do not accept players from Australia or a list of “designated countries” which have specifically requested Australian operations do not target their citizens (to date, the designated countries list is empty).

How to get a gambling license in Australia?

In Australia, online gambling in most forms is considered illegal under federal law, meaning there is no specific online gambling license in Australia. The exception to this is the license issued by the Northern Territory. However, it is important to note that even with this license, operators are not permitted to offer their services to Australian citizens.

If your goal is to reach Australian players, it will be necessary to obtain a license from another reputable jurisdiction. It is recommended to consider licenses from reputable regions such as Malta, Curaçao, or the Isle of Man, as they provide international recognition and access to a broad market, including players from countries with more restrictive jurisdictions.

How to get into the gambling industry in Australia?

The first — and perhaps most important — thing that Australian investors and entrepreneurs have to keep in mind is that they are prohibited from targeting or accepting Australian players, regardless of the jurisdiction where their casino is licensed and registered. However, they are not specifically prohibited by law from offering gambling services to audiences in foreign markets, as long as the country in question has not requested the Australian government to place it on a list of excluded markets.

Become a gambling investor

One option for getting involved in the iGaming industry is investment. Whether they’re just getting started or entering a new phase of development, online casino and sports betting projects often need injections of cash. Investing in an existing project can get you started on learning the ropes of the industry — and bring in revenues, provided the project is run well.

Launch your own offshore casino

For a more hands-on approach, entrepreneurs can start their own online casino or sportsbook. There are a number of established and emerging markets around the globe that offer good opportunities for online casino and sportsbook businesses. For instance, the following countries have established regulatory frameworks for gambling:

Asia: Philippines and India

Africa: Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania

South America: Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil

Europe: UK, Malta, Greece, Bulgaria, Germany, Spain, Czechia, Slovakia and many more

Why invest in online gambling?

Part of what makes iGaming such a good investment is that gambling is one industry that will never go out of style. Between gambling’s enduring popularity and rapid advances in technology, the industry’s overall value is exploding; worldwide iGaming revenues hit $86 billion in 2023, and they’re expected to keep rocketing upwards for the foreseeable future, rising above $125 billion by 2027.

Part of what’s driving iGaming revenue growth could be the changes rippling through modern society. Between social media, streaming services, and online gaming, it’s hard to think of a form of social interaction or entertainment that hasn’t moved online.

Another of the industry’s strengths is its flexibility. Online gambling is a natural home for innovation, and this drive towards creative solutions enabled the industry to handle the unpredictable events of 2020 better than many other sectors. While land-based casinos were closed and sporting events were cancelled, online casino games, live dealer games, and betting on virtual sports saw huge increases in activity.

With its consistent demand and constant technological innovations, iGaming promises to be a solid choice for investment.

How to start an online casino in an offshore jurisdiction?

The launch of an online casino is a complex process that requires attention to many details. It is essential to choose the appropriate jurisdiction for licensing, to select reliable software, to establish convenient payment systems, and to choose games that will suit audiences in different regions.

Target market analysis

Potential operators should carefully research their target markets. First, they should look at regulations — whether gambling is regulated, unregulated, or prohibited. In fully regulated markets, authorities provide clear rules and requirements for operators, so they always know where they stand in relation to the law. Countries with no gambling legislation, or with different laws in each region, can seem tempting, as operators may not be forced to pay taxes; however, sometimes a government which has long tolerated offshore operators decides to crack down by introducing high taxes or even blocking gambling sites.

Population size is important, as is the state of the overall economy. Levels of disposable income will give you an idea of how much players will be able to spend on gaming. Social factors matter, too — countries with a well-documented love of sports (and betting on them) probably have more potential players than countries where gambling is viewed as a social ill and repressed.

Demographic research will help you form a picture of who your players are, which will in turn help you choose what gambling products to offer. In addition to age and gender, find out the average income and education levels of the target audience, as well as which forms of gambling are preferred by each group of people.

One effective research method is competitor analysis. Studying your competitor’s platforms will help you make decisions about how to calibrate your own. You can examine established platforms to get an idea of common minimum and maximum bet limits, as well as which games are the most popular. Does the target audience like slots? Poker? Baccarat? Sic Bo? When it comes to sports betting, do they like to wager on football, basketball, cricket, or something else? You can also see what payment methods, such as credit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets, that players expect to be able to use. After carefully studying your competitors, you’ll see why the target audience goes to their site — as well as how you might bring them to yours.

Registering a company and acquiring a license

Having a license has a few benefits for an online casino project. Many game content and software providers won’t cooperate with unlicensed operators, and players look for proof of a license when choosing a casino to play on, as it signals the platform is trustworthy. There are jurisdictions around the globe that issue licenses to gambling operations. Curacao, Malta, The Isle of Man, and the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake are all well-regarded licensing jurisdictions, with operators frequently choosing Curacao due to its lower taxes and fees and comparatively simpler application process.

However, in a period of substantial changes to the gambling licensing status quo due to the reforms of the Curaçao license regime, Anjouan's licensing decision appears to be a timely one.

Casino Software

Premium-quality casino platform software is an absolute must for an online gambling project. Entertaining and innovative games from the industry’s leading developers will keep players engaged, and payment systems from certified providers will ensure smooth and secure deposits and withdrawals. New operators would benefit by planning ahead and choosing a powerful and flexible platform capable of future adaptations; what starts out as just an online casino might benefit from the addition of a sports betting module in the future.

A customizable frontend will give you control over your website’s design so you can tailor it to your players’ tastes. If you’re planning on facing more than one market — a definite possibility — there’s a great benefit in casino software that can create a separate page for each target audience, in their own language and according to their preferences.

Marketing

An online casino or sportsbook will need to quickly build a base of loyal players — and then keep them happy as long as possible. Affiliate programs are a common choice. Affiliate partners run blogs or other websites and direct their followers towards a gambling project in exchange for a fee, which is very often a portion of the revenue the players generate. Once players are on the platform, operators need to keep them coming back, so they frequently employ loyalty or VIP programs. These offer increasing rewards for players the longer they stay on the platform.

How can Slotegrator help?

There are a lot of different bases to cover when starting an online casino business. From registering the company and acquiring a license to setting up a platform and filling it with quality game content, experienced help can prove invaluable — and Slotegrator has plenty of experience. We offer a range of services and solutions for every aspect of your online casino business.

Licensing and jurisdictional services

Our legal team’s expertise in the world of gambling licenses extends to jurisdictions around the world. Instead of trying to navigate a complicated bureaucratic process yourself (and risking the rejection of your application) let us handle the paperwork while you focus on developing your business model.

Platform software

There’s no substitute for premium-quality online casino platform software. As the engine that drives your business, you need a powerful, reliable platform that will give your players the experience they need. Trying to build one from the ground up will turn into a waste of time and money — as well as creating more technical problems than you can handle — but with readymade solutions, you can get a high-performing, versatile platform up and running fast. Our Turnkey and Casino Kit solutions offer customizable frontend designs and effective management tools. Our White Label solution lets established businesses operate under our license.

For potential sportsbook operators, our Sportegrator solution offers a complete bundle for an online sports betting business. Our sportsbook software has a wide range of sports betting data feeds and a bespoke design.

Game integration

Online casinos need an endless variety of gaming content to keep players engaged. Aside from slots, roulette, and baccarat, there are live dealer versions of almost every game imaginable — not to mention the innovative new forms of gaming that developers are constantly releasing. Our APIgrator solution can equip your platform with over 15,000 gaming titles from the industry’s leading game developers, as well as regularly updating your game selection.

Payment system integration

Deposits and withdrawals need to be fast and secure in order to ensure smooth operations and a good reputation. To maximize your player base, you’ll also need to support transactions in a variety of different fiat and cryptocurrencies. Our Moneygrator solution bundles together over 140 payment methods from more than 20 certified payment service providers, ensuring your players can always make their deposits and withdrawals.

The online casino and sportsbook industry is full of opportunities — and it’s growing every day. If you’re an investor or entrepreneur based in Australia (or anywhere else) and you want to break into one of the world’s most exciting businesses, get in touch with us for a free consultation; we’ll find the option that best fits your business needs.