Development of international cooperation in the field of licensing

1) Introduction

Online gambling is global, with Australian players often using foreign platforms and operators operating in jurisdictions with different rules. This makes local regulation limited in effectiveness. Therefore, international cooperation in the field of licensing and control becomes key for the future of the industry.

2) Current situation

Australia has an Interactive Gambling Act (IGA), but it does not cover offshore operators.
ACMA blocks illegal sites and cooperates with banks to limit transactions, but some players find workarounds.
Large jurisdictions (Great Britain, Malta, Canada) already have extensive licensing systems that attract international operators.

3) Main directions of international cooperation

Data exchange

Joint databases of illegal operators.
Uniform blacklists of sites and companies that violate license conditions.
Coordination of blocking domains and payment channels.

Harmonization of standards

Implementation of general requirements for Responsible Gambling (deposit limits, self-locking).
AML (anti-money laundering) rule unification.
International cybersecurity and personal data protection standards.

Co-licensing

Possibility of dual licences recognised in both Australia and Europe.
Creation of intergovernmental agreements to allow operators to enter national markets subject to the same conditions.

Technological interaction

Using blockchain license registries to check operator status in real time.
Integration of player and transaction monitoring systems between different regulators.

4) Benefits for Australia

Reducing the scale of illegal gambling by limiting offshore sites.
Increasing player confidence in the market due to transparency and international guarantees.
Additional tax revenues from foreign operators granted access under international agreements.
Increase player protection through global self-control tools.

5) Potential challenges

Aligning interests with jurisdictions where gambling is more liberal.
Resistance from offshore operators operating without licenses.
The need to modernise Australian law to meet international standards.

6) Conclusion

The development of international licensing cooperation will be a key factor in the future of online gambling in Australia. By 2030, a shift from isolated national regulations to a global network of mutual license recognition, common protection standards, and collaborative databases can be expected. This will allow Australia to consolidate control over the industry, reduce the share of the illegal market and create a safe environment for players.