Australia’s regulator has blocked 1,788 illegal gambling and affiliate websites since 2019, and many of them looked just like real bookmakers. Here are the checks that separate a licensed operator from an illegal one, and why they matter.
Betting on football is legal in Australia, whether it is the A-Leagues, the Premier League or a World Cup qualifier. But only some of the websites and apps that Australians see are allowed to take their money. Offshore sites often copy the look of licensed brands, offer bigger bonuses and promise features that Australian law does not allow.
The difference matters. A licensed operator must verify your identity, offer deposit limits, respect self-exclusion and answer to an Australian regulator if something goes wrong. An illegal one does not. This guide explains how the system works, gives a step-by-step checklist for recognising a licensed sports betting operator, and lists the warning signs of an illegal site.
How Sports Betting Is Regulated in Australia
Australia has two layers of rules. The federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001 sets out which online gambling services can legally be offered to people in Australia. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) enforces that law, including by blocking illegal websites.
The actual licences come from the states and territories. Most of the country’s big online bookmakers, including Sportsbet, bet365, Ladbrokes, Neds, PointsBet, Unibet and Betfair, hold licences from the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission. A licence from one state or territory allows a company to take bets from customers across Australia.
What is legal and what is not
Licensed companies can offer online sports betting and racing bets. Online casino games, online pokies (slot machines) and online poker cannot legally be offered to people in Australia by any company. Live betting on sport after a match has started is also banned online, although licensed operators can take in-play bets by phone or in person.
| Legal with an Australian licence | Illegal to offer online in Australia |
| Pre-match sports betting (e.g. A-League, EPL, World Cup) | Online casino games and pokies |
| Racing and greyhound betting | Online poker |
| In-play sports bets by phone or in person | In-play sports bets placed online |
| Betting exchanges such as Betfair | Bets funded by credit card or cryptocurrency |
Six Ways to Recognise a Licensed Operator
1. It appears on the ACMA register
This is the most reliable check. Every company legally offering online wagering must be listed on the ACMA’s Register of licensed interactive wagering services, which is free to search on the ACMA website. It shows the company, its brand names, its website addresses and the state or territory that licensed it. If the exact site you are using is not listed, treat it as illegal.
2. It shows a state or territory licence
Licensed bookmakers state their licence clearly, usually in the website footer or app information. Look for an Australian regulator such as the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission, then check that the company name matches the regulator’s own published list. A licence from Curaçao, Malta or another overseas body does not allow a company to take bets from Australians.
3. It checks your identity before you bet
Since 28 September 2023, licensed operators must verify a new customer’s age and identity before that person can bet or deposit. Before then, companies had up to 72 hours. If a site lets you sign up and start betting with only an email address, it is not following Australian rules.
4. It refuses credit cards and crypto
From 11 June 2024, licensed operators have been banned from accepting credit cards or cryptocurrency for online wagering, with fines of up to $234,750 for breaches. Licensed sites accept debit cards, bank transfers and similar methods. A site that promotes Bitcoin or credit card deposits is a strong sign of an offshore operator.
5. It is connected to BetStop
BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register, launched on 21 August 2023. Every licensed online and phone bookmaker must check it and cannot open accounts for, take bets from or send marketing to anyone on it. By mid-2026 it had received 67,480 registrations, and 38% of registrants chose a lifetime ban. Illegal sites ignore the register completely.
6. It follows the national safety rules
Under the National Consumer Protection Framework, licensed operators must offer deposit limits, send free monthly activity statements, let customers close accounts easily and show official safer gambling messages in their advertising. Taglines such as “Chances are you’re about to lose” became standard in 2023. If these tools are missing, be suspicious.
Red Flags: Signs of an Illegal Betting Site
Illegal operators can look very professional, so it helps to know the warning signs. The ACMA warns that these services “may appear legitimate but are unlikely to provide important customer protections”. Be careful if a site:
- Offers online casino games or pokies next to its sportsbook. No licensed Australian bookmaker can do this.
- Lets you bet online during a match. Online in-play sports betting is illegal in Australia.
- Accepts crypto or credit cards for deposits or bets.
- Skips identity checks or lets you bet before you are verified.
- Shows only an overseas licence, or no licence at all.
- Keeps changing its web address. Illegal operators often use “mirror” sites after being blocked.
- Promises huge bonuses with few conditions, often promoted by affiliates or on social media.
The ACMA has asked internet providers to block 1,788 illegal gambling and affiliate websites since its first request in November 2019, and more than 230 illegal services have left the Australian market since it began enforcing the rules in 2017. Blocking helps, but new sites keep appearing, so your own checks still matter.
Why Licensing Matters for Football
Using a licensed operator is not only about protecting your money. Licensed bookmakers work with sports bodies and regulators to report suspicious betting, which helps protect the integrity of the game. Offshore sites do not share that information with Australian authorities.
Australian football has seen why this matters. In 2024, former Macarthur FC captain Ulises Dávila and two other players were charged over an alleged scheme to deliberately receive yellow cards for betting purposes. In 2025, Victoria Police charged a Western United player and a state league player over alleged “player to be carded” bets on four matches, and Football Australia suspended both men while the cases continued.
Card and other player markets are exactly where integrity monitoring is most important. Unusual bets placed with licensed bookmakers can be spotted and reported, while bets placed with illegal offshore sites are much harder to track.
New Rules Coming in 2027
The system is about to get stricter. In August 2026, federal Parliament passed the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, which Communications Minister Anika Wells called “the strongest ever laws to tackle gambling harm”. The main advertising rules are due to begin on 1 January 2027.
Gambling ads will be banned from 15 minutes before to five minutes after live sport, between 5am and 8:30pm, as well as at sports venues and on players’ kits. Athletes, celebrities and influencers will no longer be able to promote betting, and bonuses cannot be marketed to new customers for their first 14 days. The law also lets banks block payments to illegal operators and gives the ACMA faster blocking powers.
For football fans, that means fewer betting ads during broadcasts of A-League and international matches, and new compliance rules that only licensed operators will follow. It will become even easier to tell the difference between a regulated bookmaker and an illegal one.
Quick Checklist Before You Bet
| Check | What to look for |
| ACMA register | The exact brand and web address are listed |
| Licence | Issued by an Australian state or territory regulator |
| Sign-up | Identity and age checked before your first bet |
| Payments | No credit cards or cryptocurrency |
| Products | Sports and racing only, with no online casino or pokies |
| Live betting | In-play bets only by phone or in person |
| Safety tools | Deposit limits, activity statements and a BetStop link |
If a bookmaker passes all seven checks, it is very likely licensed and regulated. If it fails even one, especially the ACMA register check, it is safer to walk away. And if betting stops being fun, BetStop and the free Gambling Help Online service are available to anyone in Australia.
