Are bitcoin casinos legal in Australia

1. General provisions of legislation

Gambling in Australia is regulated by the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA), which determines which types of online gambling are allowed and which are banned. According to this law:

• players are not prohibited from using the services of foreign online casinos, including cryptocurrency ones;
• prohibitions and restrictions concern primarily operators, and not the users themselves;
• cryptocurrency (including bitcoin) in the law is not directly highlighted as a separate payment method, but is classified as a means of payment.

2. Legal status of players

Australians are allowed to:

• use bitcoin to deposit and withdraw winnings in foreign online casinos;
• store and exchange cryptocurrency through AU registered crypto exchanges;
• participate in gambling in licensed foreign jurisdictions (Curacao, Malta, Gibraltar, etc.).

Important: the responsibility for participating in such games does not fall on the player, since there is no direct ban on the use of foreign crypto casinos in the law.

3. Restrictions for operators

There are strict rules for operators operating in Australia:

• they are required to obtain a license in accordance with the norms of a particular state or territory (for example, Northern Territory Racing Commission);
• it is forbidden to offer gambling with real money without appropriate permission;
• it is illegal to advertise bitcoin casino services on AU property without a licence.

As such, most BTC casinos available to Australians operate from overseas.

4. Taxation and financial transparency

Player winnings in Australia are generally not taxed when it comes to hobbies rather than professional activities.
Anti-money laundering laws (AML/CTF) apply when converting bitcoin into AUDs through exchanges and banks.
Crypto exchanges are required to identify customers (KYC), but casinos themselves often maintain player anonymity.

5. Regulatory outlook

With the growing popularity of cryptocurrency transactions, the Australian government is considering:

• introducing separate rules for BTC and other digital currencies;
• tightening control over offshore casinos;
• introducing additional measures to protect players from gambling addiction.

Conclusion

Bitcoin casinos in Australia are in a legal gray area: players are not prohibited from using them, but the operators themselves cannot legally operate in the country without a license. Most Australians therefore opt for offshore platforms where deposits can be made securely with BTC. The legislation protects more the interests of the state and the financial system than the players, so the responsibility for choosing a casino lies with the user.