Short answer. Yes, where Chapter 3 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 allows it: a machine has to be declared a gaming machine (section 3.1.3), and conducting unauthorised gambling is prohibited (section 2.2.1).
Victoria keeps its gambling law in one long Act. The Gambling Regulation Act 2003 defines gambling, prohibits unauthorised gambling and its advertising in Chapter 2, and regulates gaming machines in Chapter 3; the Commonwealth Interactive Gambling Act 2001 supplies the federal offence for online casino services offered to people in Australia. The Victorian text is the authorised PDF published on legislation.vic.gov.au. It was 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
Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic), section 1.3AA: what gambling means
(1) For the purposes of this Act, gambling means an activity in which - (a) a prize of money or something else of value is offered or can be won; and (b) a person pays or stakes money or some other valuable consideration to participate; and (c) the outcome involves, or is presented as involving, an element of chance.
Section 1.3AA of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic), in-force text on content.legislation.vic.gov.au (authorised PDF, 1247 pages), pulled 12 September 2026.
Section 2.1.1: the purposes of the Chapter on unauthorised gambling
The purposes of this Chapter are - (a) to prohibit unauthorised gambling; and (b) to authorise certain types of gambling; and Note also authorise certain types of gambling. (c) to prohibit the advertising of unauthorised gambling; and (d) to void contracts and agreements relating to unauthorised gaming or wagering; and (e) to prohibit the provision of places for unauthorised gambling; and (f) to provide for the banning of irresponsible gambling products and practices.
Section 2.1.1 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic), in-force text on content.legislation.vic.gov.au (authorised PDF, 1247 pages), pulled 12 September 2026.
Section 2.2.1: the prohibition against unauthorised gambling
(1) A person must not conduct unauthorised gambling. Penalty: 1000 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years or both.
Section 2.2.1 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic), in-force text on content.legislation.vic.gov.au (authorised PDF, 1247 pages), pulled 12 September 2026.
Section 2.2.8: advertising unauthorised gambling
(1) A person must not publish, or cause to be published, any advertising that contains any information, term, expression, symbol or other thing associated with unauthorised gambling. Penalty: 1000 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years or both. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), information or a term, expression, symbol or other thing is taken to be associated with unauthorised gambling if - (a) a reasonable person with ordinary knowledge who is a resident of Victoria would consider it to be associated with gambling; and (b) the gambling with which it would be considered to be associated is unauthorised gambling.
Section 2.2.8 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic), in-force text on content.legislation.vic.gov.au (authorised PDF, 1247 pages), pulled 12 September 2026.
Section 2.2.8 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic) states that a person must not publish or cause to be published any advertising that includes information, terms, expressions, symbols or other things associated with unauthorised gambling. Something is considered associated with unauthorised gambling if a reasonable Victorian resident with ordinary knowledge would regard it as related to gambling, and the type of gambling it appears to relate to is unauthorised gambling.
Section 3.1.1: the purpose of the gaming machine Chapter
(1) The purpose of this Chapter is to establish a system for the regulation, supervision and control of gaming equipment and monitoring equipment with the aims of - (a) ensuring that gaming on gaming machines is conducted honestly; and (b) ensuring that the management of gaming equipment and monitoring equipment is free from criminal influence or exploitation; and (c) regulating the use of gaming machines in casinos and other approved venues where liquor is sold; and (d) regulating the activities of persons in the gaming machine industry; and (e) promoting tourism, employment and economic development generally in the State; and (f) fostering responsible gambling in order to - (i) minimise harm caused by problem gambling; and (ii) accommodate those who gamble without harming themselves or others.
Section 3.1.1 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic), in-force text on content.legislation.vic.gov.au (authorised PDF, 1247 pages), pulled 12 September 2026.
Section 3.1.3: how a machine is declared a gaming machine
The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Commission, may, by Order published in the Government Gazette, declare a machine, or type of machine, to be a gaming machine.
Section 3.1.3 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic), in-force text on content.legislation.vic.gov.au (authorised PDF, 1247 pages), pulled 12 September 2026.
Section 3.1.3 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic) provides that the Governor in Council can declare a machine or a type of machine to be a gaming machine. This can only be done if the Commission recommends it and the declaration is made by Order published in the Government Gazette.
Section 2.5.20: providing a place for unauthorised gambling
(1) A person must not provide a place for the purposes of unauthorised gambling. Penalty: 1000 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years or both. (2) A person does not commit an offence against subsection (1) if the person - (a) is an owner, or the agent of an owner, of the place; and (b) is not an occupier of the place; and (c) either - (i) was unaware, and had no reasonable ground to suspect, that the place was provided for the purposes of unauthorised gambling; or
Section 2.5.20 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic), in-force text on content.legislation.vic.gov.au (authorised PDF, 1247 pages), pulled 12 September 2026.
Licence status in Australia
None of the sites covered on this site (read here against Victoria 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
The passages are quoted from the authorised text, penalties included where the Act prints them; the line under a quote is our plain reading, and the quote is what counts. This page is not legal advice and decides nothing for any individual; the section numbers point to the full provisions.
Play responsibly
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