The Australian Government is proposing to tighten the rules around online trade promotions.

In early May the Australian Government released an exposure draft bill titled the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 (Bill). This followed the Government’s response to the Parliamentary inquiry into online gambling harms, entitled ‘You win some, you lose more’ report (Murphy Report). While most of the Bill focuses on wagering advertising, it also introduces important changes to how online trade promotions are regulated.

In short, the changes are designed to ensure that lottery-style products cannot operate under the guise of trade promotions to avoid regulation under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). Genuine trade promotions are not being banned, but some existing structures may no longer qualify for the current exemption under the IGA.

Depending upon structure, these changes are likely to impact any business offering subscription-based promotions and should be considered as part of broader regulatory risk management.

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) The Online Casino Gambling Bill (NZ) represents a transformative shift in New Zealand’s online gaming landscape by introducing a regulated licensing framework, a move which departs significantly from that in place in its close neighbour, Australia.  This legislation aims to close the regulatory gap between onshore and offshore operators, ensuring that New Zealanders can gamble more safely within a locally taxed and monitored environment.

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.

Australia’s AML/CTF reforms represent one of the most significant shifts in the country’s financial crime regulatory framework in recent years.

Designed to address the evolving risks of money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing, these changes will fundamentally reshape how organisations identify, manage and mitigate financial crime risk.

For existing reporting entities, the 31 March 2026 is the date when new obligations formally commence for existing reporting entities.

Operators are on notice that L&GNSW will hold them responsible for influencer advertising of their products. The regulator has identified paid and unpaid promotional partnerships, content that normalises betting behaviour or glamorises gaming products, and the use of platforms including podcasts with large youth or vulnerable audiences as practices of particular concern.

The UK Government has announced significant changes to gambling tax duties in an effort to raise over £1 billion per year to support ailing public finances and tax sustainability. The reforms signify a clear shift in gambling policy by the government and raise implications for consumers and online operators regarding profitability, pricing, product mix and long-term sustainability in the UK market.

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has recently released its Annual Plan for 2025-26, setting out its regulatory priorities and objectives for the year ahead.

Significant reforms to Australia’s AML/CTF regime will take effect in 2026 impacting both existing reporting entities, including gaming venues, wagering service providers and casinos.

AUSTRAC, has commenced civil penalty proceedings in the Federal Court against Mount Pritchard District and Community Club (Mounties).

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission’s (VGCCC) July 2025 Industry News contains important updates and compliance reminders for gaming venues.

Hospitality and Racing NSW (and its regulatory arm, Liquor & Gaming NSW), have published their regulatory priorities for the next six months for the gambling sector (July - December 2025).

The Gambling Legislation Amendment (Pre-commitment and Carded Play) Bill 2024 (Vic) (Bill) was recently passed by the Victorian Parliament on Tuesday 27 May 2025 with no substantive changes.

Hospitality and Racing NSW has released its Regulatory Priorities, January to June 2025 (Regulatory Priorities).

The Gambling Legislation Amendment (Pre-commitment and Carded Play) Bill 2024 (Vic) (Bill) was read in the Legislative Assembly for a second time on 27 November 2024.

The Tasmanian government has this week announced  a deferral of the introduction of cashless gaming in the state.

The Gambling Legislation Amendment (Pre-commitment and Carded Play) Bill 2024 (Vic) (Bill) was read in the Legislative Assembly for a second time on 27 November 2024.

The Australian Classification Board has recently updated its guidelines for video games featuring in-game purchases linked to elements of chance such as loot boxes.

The newly constituted Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission (NTRWC) has issued a timely reminder to Northern Territory sports bookmaking licensees to review their terms and conditions.

Hospitality and Racing NSW has released its Regulatory Priorities, July to December 2024 (Regulatory Priorities).

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.

Australian Government, Attorney-General's Department - Paper 5: Broader reforms to simplify, clarify and modernise the regime

The National Consumer Protection Framework (NCPF) outlines the requirements for activity statements which are to be provided to active wagering customers of each wagering service provider in Australia.

From 1 July 2024, the NSW Government will introduce Responsible Gambling Officers (RGOs) in licensed venues.

From 30 March 2023, all licensed online wagering service providers and licensed bookmakers in Australia will be required to display new nationally consistent gambling messaging...