AUSTRALIA Trends and Developments Contributed by: Julian Hoskins, Daniel Lovecek, Bree Ryan and Alexander Norrish, Senet
Despite this, the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner advised that further enforcement action may be taken against SkyCity following the review. Victoria In January 2024, the Special Manager of Crown Mel- bourne submitted his final report to the Victorian regu- lator, setting out his assessment of the effectiveness and sustainability of Crown Melbourne’s reforms. The Victorian regulator subsequently announced – in March 2024 – that it was satisfied that Crown Mel- bourne was suitable to operate the casino and that it was in the public interest for the casino licence to remain in force. In October 2024, the Victorian regulator fined Crown Melbourne AUD2 million for allowing 242 individuals who had self-excluded from gambling to access the casino to gamble on 451 separate occasions between October 2023 and May 2024, which highlights that enhanced oversight will continue despite the licens- ing decision having been made. Although the regu- lator cited Crown’s remedial efforts, monitoring and training, Crown Melbourne was again censured for multiple breaches of its gambling harm minimisation obligations in August 2025 after allowing customers to use poker machines in contravention of mandatory pre-commitment requirements between December 2023 and July 2024. The Victorian regulator continues its close and active oversight of Crown Melbourne through the Transfor- mation Plan, which will be central to the regulator’s next review of Crown Melbourne’s suitability in the next Casino Review, to be conducted in 2027. Northern Territory Tax Developments for Internet Gaming and Wagering Licences There have been recent changes to the gambling taxes applicable to licence holders in the Northern Territory following the commencement of the Racing and Wagering Act 2024 (NT) (the “RWA 2024”) and amendments to the Gaming Control Act 1993 (NT). For Sports bookmakers, this tax is calculated at a rate of 5% of the total wagers made during the previous month minus the total amount paid out for the wagers for that month. As part of the 2025–26 budget reforms,
the Northern Territory government doubled the cap to 2 million revenue units from 1 July 2025. This equates to AUD2.9 million (the revenue unit value from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 is AUD1.45). The RWA 2024 also established the Racing and Wagering Fund, which is funded by a newly creat- ed levy imposed on sports bookmakers and betting exchange licensees and race clubs. The purpose of the Fund is to cover the costs of regulating the indus- try and to support harm minimisation efforts. The levy can be reduced by up to AUD250,000 per annum for any donations or sponsorships provided by licensees to NT community organisations. The Gaming Control Act 1993 (NT) was also amended as part of the same budget measures to introduce a minimum 50% tax rate on net revenue of all internet gaming licensees from 1 July 2025, overriding the existing negotiated tax arrangements between opera- tors and the Minister for Racing and the Treasurer. Internet gambling licence holders commonly operate “foreign matched lottery” arrangements under these licences, although the amendment applies to opera- tors offering their own online games or lotteries, as well as those engaged in lottery ticket reselling or matching. AML changes set to commence Australia’s AML/CFT Act was materially amended in late 2024 in an effort to simplify and modernise Aus- tralia’s financial crime laws, and to comply with Finan- cial Action Task Force (FATF) standards. Although the reforms are most noteworthy in that they will shortly expand the AML/CFT regime to thousands of new businesses (including real estate agents, accountants, lawyers and precious metal and stone dealers), they also have significant implications for the gambling sector, which has long been subject to the AML/CFT requirements. Among the requirements set to take effect in March 2026 for existing reporting entities (including casinos, gaming venues and bookmakers) are new AML/CFT programme requirements. These now include an obli- gation to ensure that AML/CFT policies are established and incorporated into the AML/CFT programme itself, to provide guidance and certainty to staff charged
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