Zane | March 16, 2023 | Updated on: February 4th, 2025
New South Wales (NSW) is Australia’s largest gambling market, home to The Star Sydney, hundreds of gaming venues, and one of the highest numbers of pokies (slot machines) per capita in the world. However, gambling in NSW is heavily regulated by the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) and Liquor & Gaming NSW to ensure responsible gaming, consumer protection, and fair play.
Whether you’re interested in land-based casinos, online casinos, sports betting, or pokies, this guide covers everything you need to know about gambling laws in NSW.
Key Takeaways:
✔ The Star Sydney is the only licensed casino in NSW.
✔ Online casinos cannot operate from within Australia, but offshore platforms accept NSW players.
✔ Sports betting is legal and strictly regulated.
✔ Pokies are available in thousands of pubs and clubs across NSW.
✔ Lotteries and racing betting are fully legal.
Let’s dive deeper into the gambling laws that govern NSW.
Casino Laws in New South Wales
The Star Sydney – NSW’s Only Legal Casino
The Star Sydney is the only licensed casino in NSW, offering a full range of gambling games, including:
🎲 Poker
🎲 Blackjack
🎲 Roulette
🎲 Baccarat
🎲 Electronic gaming machines (pokies)
Casino Licensing & Regulation in NSW
- The Star Sydney operates under a special casino license issued by the NSW government.
- Regulated by the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) to ensure compliance with strict gambling laws.
- Recently subjected to tighter controls due to concerns over money laundering and responsible gaming practices.
📍 Fact: The Crown Sydney complex opened in 2021, but due to regulatory issues, it currently operates as a luxury hotel and entertainment venue, not a full-scale casino.
Pokies & Gaming Machine Laws in NSW
New South Wales has the highest number of pokies in Australia, with over 90,000 electronic gaming machines (EGMs) spread across clubs, pubs, and casinos.
Key Pokies Regulations in NSW:
✔ Only licensed venues can operate gaming machines (casinos, hotels, and registered clubs).
✔ Venues must follow harm minimization laws, including bet limits and time warnings.
✔ Self-exclusion programs are mandatory for problem gamblers.
✔ The maximum bet on a pokie machine is set at AUD $10 per spin.
📍 Did You Know? NSW has one of the strictest responsible gambling policies in Australia, with cashless gaming trials being introduced to track player spending.
Online Gambling Laws in NSW
The Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) of 2001 prohibits Australian-based online casinos from offering services to residents. However, offshore online casinos legally accept players from NSW, creating a grey area in regulation.
Legal Online Gambling in New South Wales:
✅ Online sports betting is allowed, but only with Australian-licensed operators (N1 Bet, RT Bet, SG Casino).
✅ Online lottery ticket sales are permitted through The Lott.
Illegal Online Gambling in NSW:
❌ Australian-based online casinos cannot operate.
❌ Online poker and casino table games are not licensed within Australia.
📍 Warning: Offshore online casinos are not regulated by the NSW government, meaning winnings are not guaranteed, and there are fewer consumer protections.
Sports Betting Laws in NSW
Sports betting is legal and highly popular in New South Wales, especially for horse racing, AFL, NRL, and cricket.
Where Can You Bet on Sports in NSW?
✔ Retail sportsbooks – Available at TAB outlets and betting kiosks.
✔ Online sportsbooks – Licensed operators include RT Bet, Roby, N1 Bet, and SG Casino.
✔ Race betting – Available at Randwick Racecourse, Rosehill, and other tracks.
Betting Restrictions in New South Wales:
❌ No in-play betting online – Live bets must be placed via phone or in person.
❌ Offshore sportsbooks are unregulated and may pose risks.
📍 Tip: The Melbourne Cup and NRL Grand Final are among the most bet-on events in NSW.
Lottery Laws in NSW
Lotteries are fully legal and widely played in New South Wales. The Tatts Group (The Lott) operates:
🎟 Oz Lotto – Weekly jackpot draw on Tuesdays.
🎟 Powerball – Thursday jackpot draw.
🎟 Saturday Lotto – The most popular weekly lotto.
📍 Tip: You can buy lottery tickets online through The Lott or official NSW lottery retailers.
Gambling Taxes in New South Wales
The NSW government collects revenue from gambling activities, including casino earnings, sports betting, and gaming machines.
How Gambling is Taxed in NSW:
📌 Casino tax – The Star Sydney pays a tiered tax on gambling revenue.
📌 Pokies tax – Clubs and pubs pay a gaming machine tax based on earnings.
📌 Sports betting tax – The Point of Consumption Tax (POCT) charges 15% on net betting revenue.
📍 Did You Know? NSW earns billions in tax revenue from gambling, funding public services like healthcare and education.
Responsible Gambling in New South Wales
NSW has comprehensive responsible gambling initiatives, including:
✔ GambleAware NSW – Free support for problem gamblers.
✔ Self-Exclusion Program – Players can ban themselves from venues and online betting sites.
✔ Harm-Minimization Policies – Mandatory bet limits, time warnings, and player monitoring.
📍 Tip: If gambling is becoming a problem, seek help through NSW’s support services.
Final Thoughts: Understanding NSW Gambling Laws
New South Wales has one of the most active gambling markets in Australia, but regulations ensure responsible gaming and consumer protection.
✔ The Star Sydney is the only legal casino.
✔ Online sports betting is allowed, but online casinos are banned.
✔ Pokies are heavily regulated, with limits on bets and machines.
✔ Lotteries and race betting are fully legal.
Always choose licensed and regulated gambling operators for a safe and responsible gaming experience.
New South Wales Casinos FAQs
Yes, gambling is legal in New South Wales, but it is heavily regulated by the state government’s Office of Liquor, Gaming, and Racing (OLGR). The OLGR ensures that all gambling activities in the state are conducted fairly and responsibly.
Online gambling is legal in New South Wales, but you can only gamble on sites licensed outside the state.
There are just five registered land based casinos in New South Wales.
Melbourne’s Crown Casino is a large entertainment complex located in the Southbank precinct on the Yarra River in Melbourne, Victoria.
There are many good online casinos in Australia. Here is just a list of the top-rated ones:
• 5Gringos
• Golden Crown
• ZotaBet
• Wolf Winner
• Stellar Spins