Interactive Gambling (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2026: what it proposes

The short answer

Interactive Gambling (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2026: what it proposes

The Interactive Gambling (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2026 is a government bill that would impose a levy on licensed interactive wagering service providers so that the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) can recover the costs of administering and enforcing new wagering advertising reforms proposed by the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on 17 August 2026, passed the House on 18 August 2026, and passed the Senate on 19 August 2026, when the second reading and the third reading were agreed to; the bill finally passed both houses on 19 August 2026. The Senate returned the bill to the House without amendments or requests (message No. 153 of 19 August 2026, reported in the House on 20 August 2026). As of 21 August 2026 the bill had not received Royal Assent and was not yet an Act.

This is a federal system guide. State constitutions, parliaments and local-government laws can allocate comparable functions differently.

The useful question is not only “what is the rule?” but also “who administers it, which document controls it, and when might it change?” That distinction prevents an accurate general explanation from becoming wrong advice in a particular election, chamber or policy setting.

Evidence review

What the bill would do

The bill would create a framework under which ACMA can recover the costs it incurs in administering and enforcing new Parts 7D and 7E of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, which the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 proposes to insert.

Part 7D would restrict the use of inducements by licensed interactive wagering service providers, including prohibiting inducement-based direct marketing and social media advertising to certain customers, restricting attempts to obtain consent to such marketing, prohibiting certain commission-based referral arrangements, and imposing record-keeping and compliance obligations.

Part 7E would require ACMA to establish and manage a Wagering Advertising Opt-out Register, providing a single mechanism through which individuals can opt out of receiving wagering advertising from online content service providers.

Evidence review

Who would pay the levy

The levy would be imposed on licensed interactive wagering service providers, as defined in section 61GB of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

The explanatory memorandum says it is appropriate for licensed interactive wagering service providers to bear these regulatory costs because the industry sector created the need for the reforms, and that this approach is consistent with the Australian Government Cost Recovery Policy, under which the costs of a regulatory activity are generally borne by the regulated sector.

The explanatory memorandum says the bill is not expected to have an impact on Commonwealth expenditure or revenue, and that the amount of the levy would be set so that ACMA can recover the efficient costs of administering and enforcing the new regulatory functions, rather than to raise general revenue for the Commonwealth.

Evidence review

How it relates to the Gambling Reform Bill

The levy bill is a companion to the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, which would insert the advertising reforms and the register provisions into the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

The levy bill would commence on the day after Royal Assent, which the explanatory memorandum says is expected to occur shortly after the Gambling Reform Bill receives Royal Assent.

The Gambling Reform Bill was considered by the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee as part of its inquiry into that bill and the National Self-exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Amendment Bill 2026; the explanatory memorandum says evidence and submissions from that inquiry informed the final legislative package.

Evidence review

Consultation and policy background

The Department of Communications undertook targeted consultation on an exposure draft of the Gambling Reform Bill from 29 May to 12 June 2026 with state and territory governments, banking and payment providers, wagering and lottery operators, broadcasters, digital platforms, sporting codes, racing organisations, harm reduction advocates and Commonwealth agencies.

The explanatory memorandum describes gambling harm as a significant public health concern in Australia that can affect a person's financial wellbeing, relationships, health and participation in work and education.

Relevant Commonwealth agencies, including ACMA, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Treasury and the Department of Finance, were consulted on the development of the bill.

Evidence review

Parliamentary status

The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives and read a first time on 17 August 2026, the second reading was agreed to on 18 August 2026 and the third reading was agreed to on 18 August 2026, so the bill passed the House of Representatives on that day.

In the Senate, the bill was introduced and read a first time on 19 August 2026, the second reading was moved the same day, the second reading debate took place and the second reading was agreed to on 19 August 2026, the Committee of the Whole debate occurred on 19 August 2026 and the third reading was agreed to on 19 August 2026. The bill finally passed both houses on 19 August 2026, according to the bill page progress.

Proposed Senate amendments were circulated by the Australian Greens (sheet 4009, Senator Hanson-Young), an independent senator (sheet 3973, Senator Thorpe) and an independent senator (sheet 3993, Senator Pocock), but the bill was returned to the House without amendments or requests.

The bill has been removed from the Bills before Parliament list because it passed both houses. Royal Assent is the remaining step before it becomes law, and as of 21 August 2026 the bill page recorded no assent date. Progress can be followed on the Parliament of Australia bill page and the Federal Register of Legislation.

Evidence review

Chamber record cross-check — 19 and 20 August 2026

Senate passage is recorded in the bill page progress: introduced and read a first time 19 August 2026, second reading agreed to 19 August 2026, Committee of the Whole debate 19 August 2026, third reading agreed to 19 August 2026, finally passed both Houses 19 August 2026.

Message No. 153 of 19 August 2026 from the Senate, reported in the House of Representatives on 20 August 2026, returned the Interactive Gambling (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2026 without amendments or requests, as recorded in the House Live Minutes for 20 August 2026.

House Live Minutes and the bill page progress are point-in-time official records; the authoritative record will be the Votes and Proceedings, the Journals of the Senate and the final Hansard once published. The bill passed both houses on 19 August 2026 but, as of 21 August 2026, had not received Royal Assent.

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