Overview
The federal government has enacted the Interactive Gambling (Cost Recovery Levy) Act 2026 (Act No. 73 of 2026). The Act came into force on 26 August 2026. It imposes a levy on certain parties operating in the interactive gambling space to recover the government's regulatory costs.
What the Act covers
The Act sets out the following matters:
- Which parties are required to pay the levy
- How the levy amount is calculated
- Caps on the total levy that can be collected
- The designated periods over which the levy applies
The Act is administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.
What the Act does not specify
The Act does not specify the dollar amounts of the levy. The source does not detail who specifically must pay the levy beyond what is described in sections 7 to 9 of the Act, nor does it describe any submission or application process for affected businesses.
Key actions
- If you hold an interactive gambling licence or operate an online gambling platform, read the full Act at https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2026A00073 to determine whether you are a designated payer under section 8.
- Check sections 9 and 10 of the Act for the levy calculation method and the cap on total levies.
- Contact the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts for guidance on compliance obligations - the source does not provide a direct contact number or email.
- Set up a legislation alert on the Federal Register of Legislation at https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2026A00073 to be notified of any amendments or subordinate rules that may specify levy amounts or payment deadlines.
This is a plain-English summary for information only, not legal or compliance advice. Always check the official source or consult a qualified professional.