Western Australia is the one state that does something different with poker machines. Since 1988 it has banned them everywhere except a single venue, Crown Perth at Burswood. No WA pub or club has a pokie on the floor, which sets the state apart from every other part of Australia. This page explains that land-based rule, then covers the online position, which is set federally and works the same way here as it does anywhere else in the country. It is general information, not legal advice, and is for readers aged 18 and over.
Western Australia bans pub and club pokies
Where every other state lets hotels and registered clubs run poker machines, WA holds the line at that single licensed venue.
The rule dates to 1988
The restriction has been in place since 1988 and was introduced on harm-minimisation grounds, the idea being that keeping machines out of neighbourhood venues reduces the everyday exposure linked to problem gambling. WA has held that line while other states let their machine numbers climb into the tens of thousands.
Who regulates gambling in WA
Gambling in the state is overseen by the WA Gaming and Wagering Commission. It sets the terms for the licensed venue and enforces the wider ban, which is why the pokie floors common in Sydney or Brisbane pubs simply do not exist in Perth.
Online pokies are a federal matter
Here is the part that trips people up: WA's land-based ban has nothing to do with playing pokies online. Online gambling is governed by federal law, and that law is identical in every state and territory. Whether you sit in Perth, Adelaide or Melbourne, the online rules do not change.
The Interactive Gambling Act 2001
The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 targets operators, not players. It makes it an offence to offer online casino games to people in Australia without a local licence, and no such licence exists. That is why every real-money pokies site accepting Australians is based offshore. Our guide to the law walks through the detail.
Players are not prosecuted
No Australian has been prosecuted for playing at an offshore casino, in WA or anywhere else. The enforcement effort aims at operators and their advertising, not at the individual. So the strict WA machine ban does not add any extra online rule for a Perth player.
Keeping it safe wherever you play
Because offshore sites sit outside Australian consumer protection, the checks matter more, not less. Set a deposit limit before you start and stick to it. If gambling stops being fun, our responsible gambling page lists the support available, and you can contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 at any time. Online pokies are strictly for adults aged 18 and over.
Frequently asked questions
No. Western Australia bans poker machines outside Crown Perth at Burswood, and has done since 1988. Crown Perth is the only venue in the state licensed to run them.
No. The ban covers land-based machines only. Online play falls under the federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001, which is the same across every state and targets operators rather than players.
The WA Gaming and Wagering Commission oversees gambling in the state, including the single licensed venue and the wider restriction on machines in pubs and clubs.
No. No Australian has been prosecuted for playing at an offshore casino. Federal enforcement is aimed at operators, not players.