Illegal operators represent more than one-third of Australia’s online gambling: Report

01-10-2020 |  

Australia is facing a fast-escalating wave of illegal offshore gambling that has doubled in size since 2019 and now accounts for more than a third of all online gambling activity in the country, according to a new industry analysis.

The report, commissioned by Responsible Wagering Australia and prepared by H2 Gambling Capital, warns that the offshore market reached AU$3.9 billion ($2.54 billion) in 2024 and is on track to hit AU$5 billion ($3.25 billion) by 2029, driven by product bans, weak enforcement and aggressive marketing by unlicensed operators.

Illegal operators now represent 36 percent of Australia’s online gambling market, up sharply from 2021, with the onshore channelization rate falling from 74 percent to 64 percent over three years.

Governments and sports bodies are set to lose nearly AU$2.7 billion ($1.76 billion) in taxes and product fees over the next five years if current trends continue. Annual leakage is expected to climb to AU$585 million ($380 million) by 2029 as more gamblers migrate offshore.

Racing is particularly exposed, facing yearly losses of AU$110 million to AU$135 million ($71.5 million to $87.8 million), while sports organizations forfeit AU$30 million to AU$40 million ($19.5 million to $26 million) per year as wagering that would normally occur with licensed bookmakers is diverted offshore.

‘One in every five dollars spent on Australian sport wagering is spent with illegal operators.’ For racing, the figure is one in every seven dollars.

Product bans push consumers offshore

The report identifies Australia’s prohibition on online casino games and live in-play betting as the single biggest driver of illegal offshore use. Online casino and gaming — banned domestically — now make up 26 percent of total online gambling expenditure, despite being illegal.

Australia is also ‘the only mature betting market not to allow in-play’ wagering online. Nearly one in five offshore sports betting customers said access to live in-play betting was their primary reason for using illegal sites, making it the most influential factor identified in the consumer survey.

Illegal operators out-compete licensed bookmakers by offering superior odds, unrestricted bonuses and a broader suite of products. The report says 48 percent of offshore bettors cited better odds as their motivation, while 44 percent pointed to bonus offers that are banned in Australia.

Three in five Australian online players — 60 percent — reported seeing advertising for illegal offshore gambling, especially through social media influencers who livestream betting or promote giveaways.

One case study highlights how Leon Casino continued targeting Australians via fresh URLs and influencer partnerships despite repeated enforcement actions. It used Australian sports imagery and even hired local athletes as brand ambassadors while offering illegal casino and in-play betting products.

Nearly 44 percent of active online players surveyed were unable to distinguish between licensed Australian bookmakers and illegal offshore sites.

Even more concerning, 50 percent of players who used illegal sites did so while registered with BetStop, Australia’s national self-exclusion system. Some turned offshore specifically because they had been blocked or self-excluded on licensed platforms.

Illegal platforms provide ‘no consumer protections, no safeguards, and no accountability.’ Two-thirds of players said offshore gambling exposes Australians to harm, while only one-third knew where to seek help in a dispute.

Integrity risks and links to organized crime

The rise of unregulated betting poses a growing threat to sporting integrity. Licensed operators provide around 700 integrity reports each year to sporting bodies, while offshore operators share no data and often offer markets more vulnerable to manipulation.

The anonymity and use of cryptocurrencies on illegal sites ‘creates opportunities for money laundering and match or race fixing,’ undermining the integrity of competitions.

The report recommends establishing a National Illegal Gambling Blacklist Platform, real-time payment blocking across banks, expanded powers for the eSafety Commissioner to remove illegal gambling content, a national certification scheme to help consumers identify licensed operators, and stronger cooperation with overseas regulators.

‘Tackling the offshore market will require collaboration from government, regulators, banks, technology platforms, wagering service providers and sporting bodies,’ the authors warn, adding that without urgent action the illegal market will continue to undermine consumer protections, reduce domestic investment and threaten the sustainability of Australian sport and racing.

Source: AGBrief