31 October 2026
The Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts has launched a consultation on the effectiveness of the country's ban on credit cards and digital payments for online gambling.
The government is examining whether the 2021 law prohibiting licensed gambling services from accepting credit cards, debit cards or digital payment methods including cryptocurrencies is being effectively enforced. Respondents have until 27 November 2024 to provide input, as the statutory review of the ban must be completed by early 2025 under the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Act 2021.
The legislation amended the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 to ban online betting services from processing payments via credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets or cryptocurrencies. It established both criminal penalties and financial sanctions for licensed gambling operators that knowingly violate the prohibition.
This review of the 2021 law will assess whether changes in payment methods have undermined the ban's objective of preventing gambling operators from using credit cards and cryptocurrencies to continue accepting wagers through common circumvention tactics.
Key Focus Areas
The consultation documents outline the main areas under examination. The Department is seeking information on:
• Whether offshore gambling operators are using unregulated or emerging payment methods to bypass the ban and attract Australian customers.
• Whether new financial products or payment systems are being developed or implemented in ways that allow Australian gambling companies to evade the ban through technical loopholes.
The consultation requests specific examples and evidence to evaluate whether the prohibition is achieving its intended effect on gambling services.
A 2023 report from regulator ACMA confirms that online casinos remain prohibited in Australia. The report describes the National Self-Exclusion Register, BetStop, and notes that all legal wagering services must be listed on the licensed providers register.
The regulator also found that analysis of data from both licensed and unlicensed gambling services suggests Australians are finding new ways to gamble online using payment systems. Offshore operators continue offering services using credit cards, digital wallets and cryptocurrencies despite these being illegal under Australian law.
While detailed statistics remain limited in public documents, the regulatory context clearly shows concerns about operators exploiting new technologies and payment systems to circumvent the ban. The government must submit its final review to the Minister by early 2025, allowing time for comprehensive analysis of the evidence.