The Australian Government released its formal response to the parliamentary inquiry into online gambling harm on 12 May 2026, and for the first time in a generation, the regulatory landscape governing the relationship between sport and wagering is set to change fundamentally. Reforms announced on 2 April 2026 and legislated to commence from 1 January 2027 will affect every sporting code, club, venue and broadcaster in the country.

This is not a matter of watching and waiting. Organisations that begin planning now will be best placed to protect their commercial relationships, meet their compliance obligations and manage reputational risk.

On 12 May 2026, the Australian Government released its long-awaited formal response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee (Committee) inquiry into online gambling harm with significant implications for stakeholders, including wagering and lottery operators, consumers, banks, media organisations, technology providers, regulators and sporting bodies.

The Government's response addresses some of the Committee's 31 recommendations, with the Government calling on the states and territories to examine and respond to the others.

Of those addressed in the announcement, particularly in relation to reforms to online wagering, the Government has indicated its intention to introduce a package of legislative reforms to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) commencing 1 January 2027, leaving a relatively short period for engagement and preparation. The IGA provides significant enforcement tools to the responsible regulator, the Australian Communication and Media Authority (the ACMA).

On 12 May 2026, the Australian Government released its long-awaited formal response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee (Committee) inquiry into online gambling harm with significant implications for stakeholders, including wagering and lottery operators, consumers, banks, media organisations, technology providers, regulators and sporting bodies.

The Government's response addresses some of the Committee's 31 recommendations, with the Government calling on the states and territories to examine and respond to the others.

Of those addressed in the announcement, particularly in relation to reforms to online wagering, the Government has indicated its intention to introduce a package of legislative reforms to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) commencing 1 January 2027, leaving a relatively short period for engagement and preparation. The IGA provides significant enforcement tools to the responsible regulator, the Australian Communication and Media Authority (the ACMA).

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI, into Australia’s online gambling sector has prompted closer examination of how existing regulatory, legal and governance frameworks operate when applied to these new technologies.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) April 2026 report, AI and interactive gambling: sector developments report, represents the most detailed public examination to date of how licensed gambling providers are deploying AI across their operations. While the report is positioned as an evidence‑gathering exercise rather than a regulatory instrument or policy statement, it will inform the ACMA’s work and the potential implications for operators are significant.

Collectively, the findings point to an emerging regulatory inflection point: AI is no longer an operational enhancement; it is reshaping the legal risk profile of interactive gambling in Australia. This article examines the report and what it means for licensed operators from a legal and regulatory perspective.

It is clear that Australia's and New Zealand’s gambling regulatory landscape will continue to evolve at pace as 2026 progresses. From important AML/CTF reforms and heightened regulatory enforcement activity, to the imminent introduction of New Zealand’s online casino licensing regime, unresolved questions around cashless gaming and prospective advertising restrictions, operators face a year of significant change and in which compliance decisions carry material commercial consequences.

This article provides a structured overview of some of the key regulatory developments most likely to affect wagering, gaming and broader gambling businesses in 2026 - what has changed, what remains uncertain and where attention should be focused now to stay ahead of what is coming.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has recently outlined its compliance priorities for 2024-25 with a number of notable focus areas for participants in the gambling sector.

Channel 7 and 9

ACMA