Is It Legal to Use VPNs to Play at Online Casinos in Australia?
Some things are obviously illegal, like arson or theft, and we all understand why. Some things, like leaving your trolley in the middle of the Coles car park, feel like they should be illegal, but are absolutely fine in the eyes of the law. And some things, like using a VPN to play at online casinos, need a little more explaining. And while the answer isn’t black and white, it’s not as risky as you might think.
In Australia, the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) of 2001 prohibits online casinos from offering real money services to Australian residents unless they are licensed domestically – and right now, very few are. However, the law targets the operators, not the players. So it’s not illegal for Aussies to gamble at offshore sites; it’s only illegal for those sites to advertise directly to Aussies.
This means using a VPN to access a casino that doesn’t openly market to Australia is not against the law for individual players. That said, it could be a breach of the casino’s terms and conditions. If the site has a strict no-VPN policy, they may suspend your account or withhold winnings if they detect VPN use.
It’s also worth noting that while VPNs themselves are perfectly legal in Australia – used by businesses, journalists, and everyday users for privacy – using them to deliberately bypass legal restrictions might land you in hot water with certain platforms.
That’s why choosing the right casino is so important. Many international casinos understand the unique legal grey area in Australia and make accommodations for VPN users without penalising them. Just make sure to read the fine print and never lie during verification or KYC procedures.