"The probity concerns affecting Star Entertainment highlight the importance of robust regulatory frameworks. On one hand, Treasury Brisbane remains a world-class facility with tremendous potential, especially with the upcoming Olympics. The city’s growing population and international recognition from hosting the Olympics could drive significant investments in casino facilities over the next decade. The upcoming 2032 Brisbane Olympics presents both challenges and opportunities for the city’s casino industry. Mr Hughes, an industry analyst, believes Star would likely look to shore up some of its stronger assets, including the Brisbane casino, ahead of the 2032 Olympics—a major opportunity for Queensland’s tourism sector.
Casinos are generally subject to periodic Licence reviews (often every five years). Apart from Vic (where the licence expired in 2022 and two new non-exclusive licences were issued, each expiring in 2042), the key keno licences in Qld, NSW and ACT expire in 2047, 2050 and 2064, respectively. In relation to wagering and betting, apart from the NT (where the licences expire in 2035) and WA (where Retail Wagering and betting is operated by the state), the expiry dates of current Retail Wagering Licences are also similarly long-dated and range between 2044 and 2100. The duration of major operator licences depends upon the legislative framework in the relevant state or territory and is subject to possible change upon a licence renewal or new licence being issued. An application for a Corporate Bookmaker Licence issued in the NT, or an application for an On-course Bookmaker Licence, typically takes between three and six months for approval and can be made at any time. Casino licences can typically only be applied for through a competitive tender process run by the relevant state or territory. Gaming machine and other equipment manufacturers, software developers and technical services suppliers selling products and/or services used for gambling-related activities are also required to hold a relevant licence (including providers of gaming machine monitoring services).
Similarly, a skill game with no element of chance is also not considered gambling and does not require any licence, unless it is operated online and falls within certain ‘interactive gaming’ regimes regulated by state and territory gambling regulators. Bingo is often regarded as minor gaming and may be conducted for fundraising or charitable purposes, typically by a community or other not-for-profit organisation. In relation to hotels and clubs, a venue requires both a gaming venue licence and also a permit/licence for each gaming machine a venue operates. Corporate Bookmakers typically also offer ‘totalisator-derivative’ or ‘tote odds’ type betting. Corporate Bookmakers offer fixed-odds betting online and over the telephone on sport, racing and other approved events, whereas On-course Bookmakers offer fixed-odds betting on-course and, subject to approval, also over the telephone and in some instances online on similar events as a Corporate Bookmaker. There are also various subordinate legislative instruments, including regulations, which have not been included. There are many pieces of legislation that are incidental to gambling activity (for example, legislation setting the applicable gambling tax rates).
"Every study shows that the person who gets in trouble with gambling, if they set their limits, money and time before they're in front of that mesmerising machine, actually set much more sensible limits," he said. Tim Costello, chief advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, said gambling limits were a game changer. The measures are designed to track gambling patterns and data, highlighting players at risk of harm. Gamblers will be required to set limits for how to casino reviews in brisbane long they play, how much they spend and lose, and will no longer be able to play when they reach any of these benchmarks. Queensland parliament passed the new laws on Wednesday, aimed at restoring public confidence in the sector, enhancing integrity and minimising the potential for gambling harm at casinos. Identity verification, cash limits and a compulsory code of conduct for "safer gambling" are among sweeping reforms to Queensland casinos, passed this week.
In the case of lotteries, aside from Tas (which operates under renewable five-year permits linked to Victorian and Queensland licences) and WA (where lotteries are owned and operated by the state), the expiry dates are generally shorter than in relation to Retail Wagering; however, they still range between 2024 and 2072. Various states (including NSW and Vic) have implemented harm minimisation measures to cap the number of gaming machine permits/licences on issue in certain lower socio-economic areas. The number of licences available are limited and there are typically only one per state and territory (except in the case of current casino licences held in each of Qld, NT and NSW, the two recently issued Vic keno licences, and potentially for new wagering licences) and the processes are very infrequent. Retail operations are typically conducted using authorised agents and licensing distribution arrangements. Casino table gaming and gaming machines, Retail Wagering, lotteries and keno all require an operator licence, which is typically long-dated and is granted by the relevant Australian state or territory.
All gambling-related licences issued by a state or territory are subject to strict requirements relating to responsible gambling and harm minimisation. 2.5 By Relevant Product, what are the key limits on providing services to customers? Gaming machine and other equipment manufacturers, software developers and technical services suppliers selling products and/or services used for gambling-related activities typically have perpetual licences, which are often administrative in nature and remain on issue, subject to the payment of periodic fees. Gaming machine permits/licences have typically been perpetual in Australia, other than in certain states such as Vic, which operate for 20 years from August 2022 onwards.
The NSER, which operates under the name ‘BetStop’, commenced operations in August 2023. In the NT, Corporate Bookmakers (and betting exchange operators) are required to pay a sports bookmaking tax on all net revenue and also a Racing and Wagering Levy which, among things, is applied to gambling harm reduction measures. This is a departure from the previous ‘point of supply’ regime, under which states and territories derived no betting tax revenue from Corporate Bookmakers and other licensed betting operators taking bets online in the relevant jurisdiction. By way of example, putting aside a federal company tax of either 25% or 30% on profits and a goods and services tax (GST) of 10% on gross revenue, the sole casino licensee in Vic paid a multi-million-dollar licence fee to the state for the right to operate the only casino. State and territory taxation on casinos is determined on a case-by-case basis (typically during negotiations with the relevant state or territory government at the time).
"When we talk about responsible gambling, we're blaming that gambler, and that just increases the shame and increases the isolation," she said. Legislation has also been updated to replace the terms "responsible gambling" and "problem gamblers" with more suitable wording — to reduce stigma. Operators will also be required to collect and share player card data, including player losses and wins, products played and how long they play.
- 1 What regulatory licences, permits, authorisations or other official approvals (collectively, "Licences") are required for the lawful offer of the Relevant Products to persons located in your jurisdiction? Set out below is a list of the primary legislation governing gaming, betting, lotteries and social/skill arrangements for each Australian state/territory, as well as at the federal level. Each of Australia’s eight mainland states and territories separately regulates gambling activities within each of their respective jurisdictions. Any skill games and competitions with no element of chance are not typically regarded as gambling, but may still fall within certain gaming regimes when operated in a land-based context. Any skill games and competitions with no element of chance are not typically regarded as gambling, but may fall within certain ‘interactive gaming’ regimes when operated online and be regulated by state and territory gambling regulators. Such sweepstakes games can be differentiated from ‘trade promotion lotteries’ which are common in the jurisdiction.
