Lotto regulations in Australia

Both the offline and online lottery (also referred to as lotto) regulations in Australia are relatively uncomplicated. Offline, all lottery operating companies are licensed at a state or territory level, with the main lottery operators selling tickets to their games at retail outlets and on the Internet. This page will detail how Australians can safely and legally enjoy real cash lottery games.

Licensed lotteries in Australia

There are several national, state and territory government-owned lotteries, not-for-profit lotteries and private company lotteries that operate in Australia. These lotteries include:

  • Lotto – nationally syndicated, owned and operated by Tatts Group
  • Oz Lotto – nationally syndicated, owned and administered by Tatts Group
  • Powerball – nationally syndicated, owned and administered by Tatts Group
  • Set For Life – nationally syndicated, owned and operated by Tatts Group
  • Super 66 – nationally syndicated (except in New South Wales) and a product of Tatts Group
  • Soccer Pools – national lotto-type game, administered by South Australian Lotteries
  • Keno – state based games that are operated by South Australian Lotteries, Tabcorp Holdings & SkyCity Darwin, and run in casinos, clubs, hotels and other licensed gaming outlets
  • Trackside – an automated horse racing lotto-type game, operated by Tabcorp Holdings and run at licensed hotels, clubs and stand-alone TAB agencies in Victoria and New South Wales
  • Lucky Lotteries – two draw lottery games (Super Jackpot and Mega Jackpot) operated by Tatts Group and run across all states and territories except for Western Australia
  • State Lotto Draws – Lotto Strike (played in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory and administered by New South Wales Lotteries); and Cash 3 (played in Western Australia and administered by Lotterywest)
  • Instants (Scratchies) – instant-win scratch cards where you attempt to match numbers, complete puzzles or reveal codes, offered by all lottery operators across Australia (and often shared between companies)
  • Prize Home Lotteries – lotteries run by charitable organisations such as the Returned and Services League of Australia, RSPCA Australia and Royal Melbourne Hospital, with brand new designer homes as top prizes

Private and public companies can run their own lotteries or raffle competitions to raise money for a non-profit organisation or to increase their awareness or membership base. Companies wishing to do so must follow the rules and regulations set out by their state/territory gaming governing bodies:

  • Australian Capital Territory – ACT Gambling and Racing Commission
  • New South Wales – New South Wales Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing
  • Northern Territory – Licensing Commission
  • Queensland – Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation
  • South Australia – Independent Gambling Authority
  • Tasmania – Tasmanian Gaming Commission
  • Victoria – Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation
  • Western Australia – Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor

Tatts Group Limited is the only official federal government licensed operator in Australia, and runs its products under the Tatts brand name in Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. It is also the official manager of the Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and South Australian state lotteries (although these states still retain legal ownership of their lotteries). The only state that continues to both own and operate its lottery products is Western Australia, with lotto games administers by its Lotterywest company.

The minimum age to purchase and play lottery products in Australia is 18, except for in Western Australia where the minimum age is 16. You can purchase lottery products and tickets from licensed vendors and retailers such as newsagencies and local TABs.

Online lottery laws in Australia

Tatts Group Limited offers all of it jurisdictional lottery products under the one brand name – ‘the Lott’ – an accredited and licensed online lotto agent that sells Tatts Group lottery tickets and displays all Tatts Group lotto results (at thelott.com/lotto).

Australians can also purchase tickets for nationally syndicated and state/territory based licensed lottery games, at the fully accredited and licensed Internet retailer, Oz Lotteries (ozlotteries.com). Oz Lotteries has been selling licensed lottery products for more than 20 years. Oz Lotteries is owned by parent company Jumbo Interactive.

The privately owned lotto agent company Netlotto is also fully accredited and licensed to sell Australian lottery products via its website, netlotto.com.au.

Private and public companies must obtain approval from state/territory gaming governing bodies if they wish to run Internet based lotteries or raffles. Australian licensed online sports betting agencies, such as Sportsbet and CrownBet, are permitted to provide lottery games on the Internet, but also must have first received approval from their state/territory gaming governing bodies.

Can Australians legally play real money online lotto games?

Yes, but only at the country’s licensed and accredited national, state and territory lotteries, as well as publicly and privately registered and approved lotteries in Australia.

What is important to remember, is it will remain 100 per cent legal for Australians (of the legal gambling age limit in their state or territory) to enjoy the real money lottery gaming products at their disposal, provided by locally licensed businesses. Currently, that is CrownLotto, Lottoland and Planet Lottery.

  • RoyalVegasCasino.com – powered by Microgaming
  • LeoVegas.com – powered by multiple software developers
  • Guts.com – powered by several software designers
  • GdayCasino.com – powered by White Hat Gaming

These casino websites offer hundreds upon hundreds of real money games, that can also be played in practice mode to get a feel for how the titles operate. Some of the most popular lotto titles include:

  • Bonus Keno
  • Krazy Keno
  • Electric Bingo
  • Mayan Bingo
  • Samba Bingo
  • Super Bonus Bingo
  • Barbados Bingo
  • Crown and Anchor
  • Triple Wins
  • 7 Gold Scratch
  • Live dealer lotto
  • Live dealer keno

The recommended Internet casino sites are all registered by gaming governing bodies within their jurisdictions, such as the U.K. Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority and Curaçao eGaming. They are also regulated by independent gaming testing agencies such as eCOGRA (eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) – companies that ensure player protection, responsible operator conduct and fair gaming standards are met, and test and approve the random number generator (RNG) software used to to power online casino and lotto games.

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