Australian Gaming Business: How to Set up a Digital Casino in 2025

For some nations, gambling is ingrained in their cultural fabric. From slot machines in pubs to nationwide betting events, Australians spend more per person than anyone else in the world. However, despite this massive appetite for wagering, the country’s legal framework on online activities is complicated.

The digital gambling scene in Australia is tightly locked down. The federal government has limited most forms of virtual gaming within national borders through strict legislation. This does not mean entrepreneurs are cut off from the booming iGaming market. They just need to look a little farther afield.

What Distinguishes Australians in Gambling?

Casino and betting entertainment is rarely just a hobby here. For the majority of punters, it is a national pastime. Back in 2022, a staggering 72.8% of Australian adults reported that they had gambled within the past year.

The gender gap is noticeable:

• 5% of men;
• 2% of women.

Even more striking is how many make it a regular habit. 38% of adults mentioned they participated every single week. Almost half of all men do so on a weekly basis.

This enthusiasm comes at a cost. Australia has repeatedly held the unfortunate title of global leader in gambling losses per capita. On average, residents allocate a larger share of their disposable income to online gambling than citizens of any other country.

However, this intense interest has not translated into a liberalised online gambling market. Instead, it has triggered tighter controls. The more Australians play, the more the government tightens the rules, especially for digital betting platforms. That contradiction makes the market so paradoxical. The demand is undeniable, but the supply is limited to heavily regulated and largely offline formats.

Is Online Gambling Legal in the Country?

Australia may be one of the world’s most passionate gaming nations. However, when it comes to digital casinos, the situation is rather challenging. The key law for the virtual landscape is the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, which prohibits companies from offering online slots, poker, roulette, and similar activities to Australian residents.

Interestingly, the law does not criminalise individual players. Australians are free to access offshore sites, and many do exactly that. However, the operators behind these portals face serious consequences if they actively target locals. Hefty fines and domain blocks are just the beginning.

That said, there is a loophole, or rather, an opportunity. Australian-based companies in some territories are legally allowed to launch and run digital platforms that serve international audiences. These sites must not target residents of any country on the official designated list. For now, this document remains empty, which creates an opportunity for entrepreneurs.

The regulatory complexity does not end here. Gambling laws are enforced at the state and federal levels. While regions handle much of the oversight, they must still respect national legislation. For example, the Northern Territory has its own Internet Gaming License. At the same time, even this permit explicitly forbids operators from accepting Australian punters.

As of late 2024, even stricter identity verification rules (ACIP) were introduced. They require operators to implement thorough customer checks before account creation or service use. These new standards aim to strengthen compliance and align with AUSTRAC’s anti-money laundering goals.

What Can Australian Entrepreneurs Actually Do?

While the local market is off-limits, investors are not locked out of the iGaming business entirely in the country. Instead, the strategy can shift towards platforms for international audiences. In other words, if you cannot run an online casino for Australians, run one from Australia and serve the rest of the world.

Legitimate and profitable routes to enter the sphere:

1. Launch an offshore online casino or sportsbook. Set up your operation in a foreign jurisdiction that welcomes private operators. Use a reputable licence and aim at players in regulated or permissive markets abroad.
2. Apply for an Internet Gaming permit in the Northern Territory. If your operations will exclusively target foreign players, you may qualify for a licence through the Department of Industry, Tourism, and Trade. Be prepared for a thorough background check and to prove strong business credentials.
3. Invest in an existing gambling project. Plenty of startups and established platforms are looking for capital injections to scale. This passive investment route lets you profit from the niche without direct management operations.
4. Partner with international platforms. Instead of building a platform from scratch, consider collaborations or revenue-share agreements with licensed international casinos. Your role could involve affiliate marketing, localised content creation, or strategic consultancy.
5. Offer support services to the global iGaming market. If a casino business is not your style, think about supplying it. Software development, graphic design, content writing, compliance management, or even customer support are all essential for iGaming success.

The key is to think globally from day one. A strong legal foundation, the right partners, and a market-aware strategy help entrepreneurs build successful businesses without violating local regulations.

How to Get the Northern Territory Internet Gaming Licence?

There is one notable exception in Australia’s restrictive virtual gambling landscape. The Northern Territory region offers a legal pathway for casino and betting businesses. While Australian players remain off-limits, the Internet Gaming Licence issued by the local government’s Department of Industry, Tourism, and Trade opens the door to a fully official gambling business from within Australia.

Only individuals or businesses with a clean legal record, solid financial background, and proven industry understanding can apply. The department conducts extensive due diligence that includes checks on integrity, business capability, and economic viability.

Key benefits of the licence:

• a legal gambling platform from within Australia;
• international market entrance without a relocation need;
• governmental oversight from a recognised regulatory body;
• legitimacy and transparency for providers and payment processors.

Licensed operators must strictly exclude Australian users and any players from restricted jurisdictions. Violating this rule can result in massive fines, permit revocation, or criminal charges. Full compliance with identity verification rules, including those updated by AUSTRAC in 2024, is non-negotiable.

The Northern Territory license is a legitimate and valuable option, but only for those who fully respect its boundaries. For Australian entrepreneurs with international ambitions, it is the closest thing to operating legally on home turf.

How to Start a Casino Business in Australia?

If the local market says “no,” you can take the idea offshore. That is what most Australian entrepreneurs opt for in 2025. The process involves several key steps, each crucial to ensuring your business is compliant, competitive, and attractive to global players.

How to set up a gambling business offshore:

Step 1: Pick Your Licensing Jurisdiction

Not all destinations are created equal. Some regions, like Malta or the Isle of Man, offer high-level credibility but come with strict requirements. Others, like Curacao or Anjouan, are more flexible, faster to obtain, and more cost-effective for startups. Your choice depends on your budget, target market, and long-term goals.

Step 2: Register Your Company

To apply for a permit, you will first need to record a business in the chosen jurisdiction or an approved region. This step often necessitates background checks, financial documents, and proof of operational plans.

Step 3: Choose Reliable Software

Your platform is the engine of your business. It must be powerful, secure, and flexible. A good supplier will offer a fully customisable frontend, a responsive backend, and built-in tools for managing games, bonuses, payments, and analytics. Opt for a modular solution if you plan to add sports betting or expand further.

Step 4: Integrate Payment Systems and Security Measures

Punters expect smooth deposits and withdrawals, preferably in fiat and crypto. At the same time, the safety framework must be completely protected. High-end encoding, solid firewalls, and advanced servers will keep the project foolproof. Use a provider that offers all integrations via a single API.

Step 5: Ensure Compliance

Even if you work offshore, adherence to legal obligations matters. Know Your Customer (KYC) checks and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols are almost similar in every country. That is why you need to cover every legal box to avoid fines and platform shutdowns.

Is Australia a Perfect Plan to Go Global?

Once you have decided to build an offshore online casino, the next step is understanding your audience. The first golden rule is never to launch blind. Before you pick a licence or design a website, you need to research your target market.

Legal boundaries should be the first step. Find out whether digital gambling is regulated, tolerated, or banned in your desired region. Then look at disposable income, gaming preferences, and cultural attitudes. In some countries, sports betting dominates. In others, it is all about slots or live dealers. You will also need to know which payment systems are popular.

This leads directly to software choice. The best platform solutions offer not only stability and scalability but also customisation. You want a system that supports multiple languages, currencies, and bonus types. What starts as a casino site might soon evolve into a sportsbook or even a Telegram-integrated platform.

To make your project valuable, you will need games and payment systems that players trust. API-based content integration allows you to onboard thousands of slots, tables, and live games in just a few clicks. The same goes for payments. The more methods you offer, the more users you convert.

Meanwhile, even the best casino is useless without traffic. Marketing is non-negotiable. Affiliate programs are a proven tool to attract clients, especially in competitive markets. Loyalty schemes and VIP programs help retain users and boost lifetime value.

With revenues expected to top $125 billion by 2027, the industry shows no signs of slowing down. The mix of steady demand and constant innovation makes virtual gambling one of the most attractive digital ventures today.

The Main Things about Australian iGaming Opportunities

The start of an online casino in the country may not resemble the development sequence in other destinations. Australia has one of the world’s strongest gambling cultures, yet its laws are among the strictest. However, where there is restriction, there is also opportunity. 2025 offers smart, legal paths for Australian entrepreneurs to go global.

Key takeaways to keep in mind:

• Online casinos that target Australian players are prohibited by law, but offshore operations aimed at foreign audiences are allowed.
• Locals spend more on gambling than any other nationality, yet the market is tightly regulated and carefully monitored.
• The Northern Territory licence offers a way to run a gambling business from within Australia, provided you exclude residents.
• To succeed, you must research your target markets, comply with both local and international laws, and use professional tools and services.

With the right structure, partners, and strategy, an online casino from Australia is a calculated, global move into one of the most dynamic industries in the digital world.