7 December 2023
New laws banning the use of credit cards for online gambling are set to be rolled out nationwide following the passing of the Federal Government’s Interactive Gambling Act 2001 Bill yesterday evening.
The Australian Banking Association (ABA) has welcomed this milestone saying the new laws will make it illegal for an online gambling company to accept a credit card online.
Credit cards were banned for gambling in hotels, clubs, casinos and TAB outlets by state and territory governments in the early 2000s but can currently still be used for online gambling.
“These new laws will overturn the absurd reality of someone not being able to use a credit card at the betting counter at a TAB outlet or pub – but still being able to sit at the same outlet and gamble on a betting app using a credit card,” said ABA CEO Anna Bligh.
“The new laws will bring online gambling into line with the rest of the gambling industry.
“The ABA has advocated strongly for consistency regarding the use of credit cards for gambling and these changes cannot come soon enough.”
Ms Bligh said the new laws will help strengthen consumer protections.
“Using a credit card for gambling can lead very quickly to a very serious debt trap for consumers and this debt cycle can be extremely difficult to break. Online gambling is a fast-growing form of gambling so it’s imperative that this loophole is finally being closed.
“The Federal Government is to be strongly congratulated for acting on this important issue.”
The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023 will:
- prohibit the use of credit cards, credit related products and digital currency as payment methods for interactive wagering services
- create a new criminal offence and a civil penalty provision related to the ban
- provide the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) with enhanced powers to enforce the ban and existing offences under the Act.
A survey commissioned by the ABA in 2020 showed 81% of respondents were in favour of restrictions on using credit cards for gambling, with over half (54%) stating their use should be banned altogether.
Data collected in January 2023 by the ABA from the four major banks and Bendigo & Adelaide Bank indicated that more than 775,000 debit and credit cards have had gambling blocks placed upon them by bank customers.
Latest news
Australians have now used Confirmation of Payee over 100 million times since the service was launched in July 2025, marking a major milestone in the banking industry’s efforts to protect consumers and businesses from scams and mistaken payments. Part of the banking sector’s Scam-Safe Accord, Confirmation of Payee adds another layer of protection by allowing… Read more »
Banks are urging Australians to side-step fake or dodgy tickets this footy season, as scammers set their sights on fans across all football codes. More than $36 million was lost to buying and selling scams last year, including fake ticket sales, with criminals looking to cash in on the excitement and passion of footy fans…. Read more »
E&OEPodcast InterviewThe Savings Tip Jar18 February 2026. Topics: Mortgage refinancing, savings accounts. Dominic Beattie (Host): Welcome to this week’s Dollar Dialog, and today we’re talking refinancing, with new data dropping from the ABS last week, showing that a record 640,000 Australian mortgages were refinanced through 2025, which is up 20% on the previous year. So,… Read more »