What sanctions threaten for participating in illegal gambling

In Queensland, gambling regulation is based on the federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) and local state laws including Casino Control Act 1982 and Gaming Machine Act 1991. Sanctions depend on who violates the law - the operator or the player.

1. Responsibility of operators

The IGA completely prohibits the provision of unlicensed interactive gambling services to players in Australia, including online casinos, poker and live dealer games.

Penalties:

• up to $1,665,000 AUD per violation for companies;
• up to $832,500 AUD for individuals operating an illegal service.
Other measures:
• blocking domains and mobile applications;
• prohibition of advertising activities;
• initiating investigations by OLGR and federal authorities.

2. Responsibility of intermediaries and payment services

Payment systems and marketing agencies that cooperate with illegal operators may be subject to sanctions, including fines and revocation of business licenses in Australia.

3. Player responsibility

In Australia, including Queensland, there is no criminal penalty for individuals for engaging in illegal online gambling. However:
• the state blocks access to offshore platforms and their payment channels;
• the player has no legal protection if the winnings are not paid;
• in the event of a large gain or dispute, it cannot be lawfully recovered through the Australian courts.

4. Additional consequences

Loss of deposits when blocking the site;
Risk of personal and financial data leakage;
Possible tax issues when transferring funds from abroad.

5. Final conclusion

In Queensland, the main sanctions for illegal gambling are aimed at operators and intermediaries, not players. However, participation in offshore online casinos carries high financial and legal risks for users, as they remain outside the protection of Australian law.