Trends in Slot Regulation in 2025
In 2025, online slot regulation in Australia continues to evolve under the influence of technological change, the growth of offshore platforms and increasing consumer protection measures. Despite maintaining the basic ban on providing real-money online slots to Australian operators under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA), a number of new trends and initiatives are significantly changing law enforcement practices.
1. Increased blocking and monitoring
ACMA is expanding technical methods of blocking, including more aggressive use of DNS over HTTPS (DoH) and IP filtering.
The registry of blocked sites is updated more often, which reduces the time between detection and restriction of access.
Joint projects have appeared with Internet providers to automatically detect mirrors of prohibited resources.
2. Expanding control over payment transactions
Banks and payment systems get more authority to block operations related to offshore slots.
Monitoring by MCC codes and IP geolocation for online payments is more actively used.
Coordination between financial regulators and ACMA has been strengthened to prevent bypassing locks through cryptocurrency.
3. Pressure on offshore operators
There has been an increase in international requests to overseas regulators (Curacao, MGA, UKGC) to influence their licensed sites that accept Australian players.
In a number of cases, agreements have been reached to voluntarily block access to Australians.
4. Stricter requirements for demo games
Some states have introduced mandatory age verification even for free slot versions.
The practice of limiting advertising formats that disguise demo slots as "social games" is growing.
5. Increased attention to responsible gambling
Changes are being discussed in which access to any gambling products (including demos) will be possible only through a verified account.
Strengthening requirements for the integration of national self-exclusion systems.
6. Forecast for the end of 2025
Full legalization of online slots is unlikely in the near future, but pilot licensing projects with tight control are possible.
Technical blocking measures will become more difficult to bypass.
International cooperation to combat offshore slots will expand.
Final conclusion
In 2025, regulation of online slots in Australia is moving towards tightening control and blocking offshore resources, while simultaneously increasing the requirements for player protection and age verification. This means increasingly limited access to illegal platforms for players, and increased legal risks for operators when trying to circumvent the law.
1. Increased blocking and monitoring
ACMA is expanding technical methods of blocking, including more aggressive use of DNS over HTTPS (DoH) and IP filtering.
The registry of blocked sites is updated more often, which reduces the time between detection and restriction of access.
Joint projects have appeared with Internet providers to automatically detect mirrors of prohibited resources.
2. Expanding control over payment transactions
Banks and payment systems get more authority to block operations related to offshore slots.
Monitoring by MCC codes and IP geolocation for online payments is more actively used.
Coordination between financial regulators and ACMA has been strengthened to prevent bypassing locks through cryptocurrency.
3. Pressure on offshore operators
There has been an increase in international requests to overseas regulators (Curacao, MGA, UKGC) to influence their licensed sites that accept Australian players.
In a number of cases, agreements have been reached to voluntarily block access to Australians.
4. Stricter requirements for demo games
Some states have introduced mandatory age verification even for free slot versions.
The practice of limiting advertising formats that disguise demo slots as "social games" is growing.
5. Increased attention to responsible gambling
Changes are being discussed in which access to any gambling products (including demos) will be possible only through a verified account.
Strengthening requirements for the integration of national self-exclusion systems.
6. Forecast for the end of 2025
Full legalization of online slots is unlikely in the near future, but pilot licensing projects with tight control are possible.
Technical blocking measures will become more difficult to bypass.
International cooperation to combat offshore slots will expand.
Final conclusion
In 2025, regulation of online slots in Australia is moving towards tightening control and blocking offshore resources, while simultaneously increasing the requirements for player protection and age verification. This means increasingly limited access to illegal platforms for players, and increased legal risks for operators when trying to circumvent the law.
