Review Tests Online Wagering Credit Card Ban
The Australian government is seeking public feedback on whether the ban on credit card payments for online betting is working as intended.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Gambling
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A ban on using credit cards for online wagering has applied in Australia since 11 June 2024, covering licensed betting services but not lotteries. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts is now reviewing whether the rules are being met.
Why it matters
The review examines whether payments indirectly linked to credit, such as digital wallets or cryptocurrency, are being used to bypass the ban. The stated purpose is to determine if the legislation is working as intended.
The ban took effect on 11 June 2024 and applies to licensed betting services but not lotteries. Penalties include criminal and financial sanctions for services that knowingly breach the rules, and the Australian Communications and Media Authority is the regulator.
The players
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
The ACMA is the independent statutory authority responsible for regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and online content in Australia, and it is the relevant regulator for the wagering ban.
Minister for Communications
The Minister for Communications is the federal government minister with the power to extend the credit ban to new types of credit products.
The details
The ban prevents licensed wagering services from accepting credit cards, digital wallets and digital currency such as cryptocurrency. The Minister for Communications can extend the ban to new types of credit products, and a short issues paper is available online.
Timeline
11 June 2024: The credit card ban for online wagering took effect.
27 November 2026: Deadline to submit feedback on the review.
Market Landscape
The review follows the 2024 introduction of the credit card ban, which was designed to curb credit-funded online betting in Australia. It tests whether the ban's definitions, including digital currency, are closing loopholes that would let bettors route credit through other payment channels.
Australian bettors who rely on credit cards, digital wallets or cryptocurrency for online wagering should check how the ban applies to their payment methods. Changes to the ban could affect which payment options remain available to them.
The takeaway
The ban's effectiveness depends on whether indirect payment routes are closed, so the outcome of this review may determine which payment methods remain available for online betting in Australia. Readers who wager online should stay informed about any changes to permitted payment options.
What happens next
Feedback on the review closes on 27 November 2026, after which the department will consider submissions.
Further reading
For broader background on betting rules, see Gambling coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Banking Day.
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Should Australia keep its ban on credit cards for online betting?
