Microgaming in Australia: Regulation and legal status

Microgaming in Australia: Regulation and legal status

1. General context of gambling regulation in Australia

The Australian online gambling market has a special legal regime. Since 2001, the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) has been in place, which prohibits local operators from offering online casinos domestically, but allows Australians to use foreign licensed venues.

Thus, Microgaming in Australia does not work directly, but through partners - international online casinos licensed outside of Australia (for example, Malta, Curacao, Isle of Man).

2. Microgaming's role in the Australian market

Software provider, not operator. Microgaming does not operate a casino, but supplies software. Therefore, the company does not formally violate the law, but cooperates with licensed operators working for an Australian audience.
Games in AUD. Many online casinos on the Microgaming platform support the Australian dollar, making the process convenient and transparent for players.
Focus on slots. Hits like * Immortal Romance, Thunderstruck II, Mega Moolahpopular with Australian users and regularly included in local ratings.

3. Licenses and legal status of Microgaming

Microgaming has international licenses that allow its software to be available in Australia through partner casinos:
  • The Isle of Man is the primary jurisdiction of incorporation for the company.
  • UK Gambling Commission - UK licence.
  • Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) - access to the European market.
  • Canadian provinces and Curaçao - regional permits for work in different territories.

These licenses are recognized as international and allow Microgaming partners to legally serve players from Australia, despite the internal restrictions of the IGA.

4. Restrictions for players in Australia

No local licenses. Australian authorities do not issue licenses for online casinos with real money games.
Offshore access. Australians play Microgaming slots through foreign licensed casinos.
Responsible play. All operators are required to implement Responsible Gambling tools: deposit limits, self-locks, game time reminders.
Bank transfers and AUDs. Local banks sometimes restrict online gambling operations, but alternative payment methods (POLi, PayID, cryptocurrencies) solve this issue.

5. Importance for industry and players

Reputation. Microgaming retains the image of a reliable brand, offering proven software even under legal restrictions.
Accessibility. Despite the ban of local operators, Australian players have access to the Microgaming library through licensed international casinos.
Transparency. All games are certified, RNG-based, and have a fixed RTP.

Result

Microgaming in Australia is not represented as a local operator, but actively works through partner foreign casinos. Thanks to international licenses, AUD support and a responsible security approach, the company retains its status as the leading provider of games on the market. For Australian players, that means access to the largest library of slots with real payoffs and a guarantee of integrity, even under restrictive legislation.