Year of the Dragon - BET 2024, page-386

Starting in April 2024, Australia will implement a ban on the use of credit cards for online gambling. This change comes with the passage of the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023, which prohibits credit card payments and other credit-related products, including digital currencies, for online gambling. This legislation aims to reduce the risks and harms associated with gambling on credit, such as accumulating significant debt and financial stress.

The Australian Senate approved this bill in December 2023, following its earlier passage in the House of Representatives. The ban aligns online gambling regulations with those for land-based venues, where the use of credit cards has long been prohibited. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will enforce these new regulations, including penalties of up to AU$234,750 for non-compliant operators.