Short answer. Yes, with an authorisation: section 104 of the Gaming Machine Act 2004 makes operating a gaming machine without one an offence.
In the Australian Capital Territory the Unlawful Gambling Act 2009 defines the unlawful game, unlawful gambling and the exempt games, and makes participating in or advertising unlawful gambling an offence; the Gaming Machine Act 2004 makes operating a gaming machine outside an authorisation certificate an offence. Quotes are from the current HTML view on legislation.act.gov.au, pulled on 2026-09-12. The Commonwealth Interactive Gambling Act 2001, which reaches online casino services offered to people anywhere in Australia, is quoted on this site's online casino law page and is not repeated here.
What the Act says
Unlawful Gambling Act 2009 (ACT), section 7: what an unlawful game is
unlawful game - (a) means - (i) a game of chance, or of mixed chance and skill, in which money or any other valuable thing is offered as a prize or is staked or risked (by a participant or someone else) on an event or contingency; or (ii) a game declared by the commission under subsection (2); but (b) does not include an exempt game. (2) The commission may declare a game to be an unlawful game. (3) A declaration is a disallowable instrument.
Section 7 of the Unlawful Gambling Act 2009 (ACT), in-force text on legislation.act.gov.au, pulled 12 September 2026.
Section 8: what unlawful gambling is
unlawful gambling means - (a) the playing or conduct of an unlawful game; or (b) unlawful betting.
Section 8 of the Unlawful Gambling Act 2009 (ACT), in-force text on legislation.act.gov.au, pulled 12 September 2026.
Section 8 of the Unlawful Gambling Act 2009 (ACT) defines unlawful gambling as either the playing or conduct of an unlawful game, or unlawful betting. This means that for the purposes of this section, any activity falling into either of these categories is considered unlawful gambling under the Act.
Section 9: the exempt games
exempt game means any of the following: (a) a game that is authorised under another territory law; (b) an exempt private game; (c) a game conducted in accordance with an approval under part 3; (d) an exempt two-up game; (e) a game declared by the commission under subsection (2). (2) The commission may declare a game to be an exempt game. (3) A declaration is a disallowable instrument.
Section 9 of the Unlawful Gambling Act 2009 (ACT), in-force text on legislation.act.gov.au, pulled 12 September 2026.
Section 29: participating in unlawful gambling
(1) A person commits an offence if - (a) the person participates in an unlawful game; and (b) the person knows the game is an unlawful game. Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units. (2) A person commits an offence if - (a) the person participates in unlawful betting; and (b) the person knows the betting is unlawful betting. Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
Section 29 of the Unlawful Gambling Act 2009 (ACT), in-force text on legislation.act.gov.au, pulled 12 September 2026.
Section 27: advertising unlawful gambling
places, displays or broadcasts an advertisement for - (i) an unlawful game or unlawful betting; or (ii) a place being used, or to be used, for the conduct of an unlawful game or unlawful betting; or (b) does anything else that promotes, or entices a person to participate in, an unlawful game or unlawful betting. Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
Section 27 of the Unlawful Gambling Act 2009 (ACT), in-force text on legislation.act.gov.au, pulled 12 September 2026.
Gaming Machine Act 2004 (ACT), section 104: operating an unauthorised gaming machine
(1) A person commits an offence if - (a) the person operates a gaming machine; and (b) operation of the gaming machine is not allowed under an authorisation certificate; and (c) the person is reckless about whether the operation of the gaming machine is allowed under an authorisation certificate. Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units. (2) A person commits an offence if - (a) the person operates a gaming machine; and (b) a storage permit applies to the gaming machine; and (c) the person is reckless about whether a storage permit applies to the gaming machine. Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units.
Section 104 of the Gaming Machine Act 2004 (ACT), in-force text on legislation.act.gov.au, pulled 12 September 2026.
Section 24: arranging unlawful gambling
A person commits an offence if the person arranges an unlawful game or unlawful betting. Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units, imprisonment for 1 year or both.
Section 24 of the Unlawful Gambling Act 2009 (ACT), in-force text on legislation.act.gov.au, pulled 12 September 2026.
Section 26: owning a place used for unlawful gambling
A person commits an offence if - (a) the person is the owner or person in charge of a place being used for the conduct of an unlawful game or unlawful betting; and (b) the person knows the place is being used for the conduct of an unlawful game or unlawful betting. Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units, imprisonment for 1 year or both.
Section 26 of the Unlawful Gambling Act 2009 (ACT), in-force text on legislation.act.gov.au, pulled 12 September 2026.
Section 26 of the Unlawful Gambling Act 2009 (ACT) states that a person commits an offence if that person is the owner or person in charge of a place being used for the conduct of an unlawful game or unlawful betting, and that person knows the place is being used for this purpose. This applies only when both conditions are met - being the owner or in charge, and having knowledge of the unlawful activity occurring at the place.
Section 10: what an exempt private game is
(1) In this Act: exempt private game means a game that is conducted - (a) by a person in the person's home; and (b) otherwise than for a commercial purpose; and (c) so that - (i) the only way a participant in the game can make a profit or gain any other benefit as a result of the conduct of the game is by winning a bet; and (ii) the rules of the game provide the same chance of winning a bet for all participants; and (d) in accordance with any conditions prescribed by regulation.
Section 10 of the Unlawful Gambling Act 2009 (ACT), in-force text on legislation.act.gov.au, pulled 12 September 2026.
Licence status in Australia
None of the sites covered on this site (read here against ACT law) names an Australian licence; each is an offshore operator as far as Australian law is concerned. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and the ACMA's powers under it are quoted on our law page.
How to read this page
Each block is the register's text, penalties included; the line under a quote is our plain reading of it. No legal advice is given here and no individual case is decided; the section numbers point to the full provisions.
Play responsibly
18+ only. Gambling Help Online 1800 858 858 - free, confidential, 24 hours a day, Australia. Self-exclusion register: BetStop.