Aristocrat game licensing features in Australia

1) Basic control loop

In Australia, there is no single federal "mega-regulator" for land slots: licensing and control is carried out at the state/territory level (NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, TAS, ACT, NT, WA). The federal level regulates "interactive" (online) services.
Online casinos (including online slots) are prohibited for Australian players by the federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA); ACMA is responsible for supervision, which also initiates blocking of illegal sites. For Aristocrat, this means that real money online within Australia is outside their B2C model; only ground deliveries and social (free-to-play) products are allowed.

2) Types of licenses and roles (what Aristocrat and sites need)

For manufacturer/supplier (Aristocrat Technologies):

• Victoria has a register ("Roll of manufacturers, suppliers and testers"); addition to the register is a prerequisite for the production/supply/testing of equipment. Similarly, in other jurisdictions (their own forms and reliability checks).
• In NSW, separate "gaming-related licenses" (seller, dealer, technician, test faciliti, etc.) are provided for slot-related activities.

For operators (site):

• At VIC, club/hotel operators must receive Venue Operator Licence; the presence and number of machines is strictly standardized. In NSW, the entitlements & permits system.

3) Technical base: National standard + state applications

The basic document for gaming machines is Australian/New Zealand Gaming Machine National Standard (current revision 11. 1, February 2022), which is supplemented by state-specific applications (e.g., Tasmanian Appendix). The standard sets requirements for functionality, logs, errors, auto starts, payment logic, etc.
The NSW Appendix records that each game variation must have a theoretical RTP of at least 85%; in multi-games, up to 8 RTP variations per game are allowed - this affects the "packaging" of mathematics under jurisdiction.

4) Certification: independent laboratories and protocols

Before installation, the game is tested in accredited laboratories (for example, BMM Testlabs, GLI). RNG, mathematics, payment tables, functionality, progressives, compatibility with protocols (QCOM, SAS, etc.) are checked. In Australia, BMM is accredited by NATA precisely for compliance with the ANZ standard and state applications.

5) Connection and Monitoring (CMS)

In a number of jurisdictions (NSW), all approved slot machines are required to be connected to the Authorized Centralised Monitoring System (CMS) - this affects protocol, telemetry and reporting requirements. The CMS license is exclusive; machines charge monitoring fees.

6) RTP and speed/money limits (cut by state)

The minimum RTP for clubs/hotels in most states is 85%; in ACT, 87%, in SA, 87.5%; casinos usually have higher lows (depending on license).
Queensland: Clarifications for industry record 85-92% return life range for EGMs in pubs/clubs.
Western Australia (WA): Uniquely high bar - EGMs must provide a minimum of 90% RTP (EGMs in WA are only allowed at Crown Perth casinos; in pubs/clubs "poker machines" are prohibited).
Cash download limits and game speed:

• NSW has reduced the one-time cash load limit on new machines to $500 (effective July 1, 2023).
• In VIC, there is a transition to the mandatory "carded play" and tightening of parameters (including reducing download limits to $100) - legislative agenda 2024-2025, pilots are launched/preparing. For the market, this means requirements for YourPlay support and spin speed limits.

7) Western Australia - separate jurisdictional specificity

In WA, "poker machines" outside casinos are prohibited by law; EGMs are allowed in Crown Perth if parameters are met (including RTP≥90%). For the supplier (Aristocrat), this means separate builds and registration according to the requirements of the state regulator (Gaming and Wagering Commission/Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries).

8) Online loop (which is important about IGA and ACMA)

Offering online slots for real money to players in Australia is prohibited; ACMA blocks violators and informs providers. For Aristocrat, this means a focus on terrestrial EGM and social (free-to-play) products, as well as control over the unauthorized use of content by offshore sites.

9) What the Aristocrat release lifecycle looks like in Australia

1. Design/mathematics under jurisdiction: selection of a set of RTP variations (VRP ≥85% in NSW), rate/speed restrictions, local RG messages.
2. Laboratory tests: RNG, volatility, pay tables, error handling, progressives, protocols (QCOM/SAS), ANZ standard compliance and state applications.
3. Regulatory approval/type-application: manufacturer/supplier listing (e.g. VIC Roll), model/software approval, where applicable - admission to CMS.
4. Field pilots (where required): live-trial frameworks/regulatory sandboxes (e.g. NSW for cashless).
5. Deployment by the operator: the site must have valid licenses/entitlements; Connect to the CMS compliance with local RTP/speed/cache/precommitment limits (YourPlay in the VIC).
6. Operation and updates: any software changes are recertified/notified; control is carried out through CMS/audit.

10) What it means in practice - key state/territory differences (short)

NSW: strict licensing loop for market participants; Mandatory CMS new machines - $500 cash-in; caps for the number of machines through the entitlements system.
VIC: register of manufacturers/suppliers/testers; YourPlay is required on all machines; mandatory "carded play" is being introduced and parameters are being tightened.
QLD: manuals for the industry record 85-92% RTP; your tech. requirements for jackpot systems and rules; QCOM is widely used.
WA: EGM only in casinos, minimum 90% RTP; individual DLGSC/GWC requirements.
ACT/SA/TAS/NT: RTP lows above baseline 85% in selected cases (ACT 87%, SA 87.5%); TAS was heading for the mandatory "cashless card "/pre-commitment, but the implementation was adjusted in 2024-2025.

11) Takeaways for Aristocrat slot content

Jurisdictional-specific builds. The same Aristocrat title may have different VRPs, limits, and "telemetry" by state due to ANZ standard attachments and local laws.
Independent certification is mandatory. Without laboratory certificates (BMM/GLI), the game will not hit the floor.
Monitoring is not an option. In NSW and a number of jurisdictions, connecting to a CMS is a condition of admission.
Reforms change the parameters of release. Lowering cash-in limits, mandatory "carded play" and YourPlay in the VIC require the manufacturer to support new functions/interfaces and revise UX/speed.
Online in Australia - just not for money. Real money online slots for Australians banned by IGA; offshore offers are blocked by ACMA.

Concise compliance checklist for Aristocrat release to AU

1. Compliance of ANZ National Standard + with relevant state appendices.
2. Accredited laboratory certification (RNG/Mathematics/Protocols/QA).
3. Regulatory licenses/registries (e.g. VIC Roll; NSW gaming-related licences).
4. CMS connectivity (where required) and compatibility (QCOM/SAS).
5. Fine-tuning RTP/limits/speed for the state (NSW≥85%; WA≥90%; ACT/SA above the base low).
6. Support for pre-commitment/card game modes (YourPlay in VIC) and new cash-in limits.