Sectors
Social Gaming
Our social gaming legal experts are immersed in the gambling industry and well-positioned to advise on the characterisation of particular games.
Social Gaming refers to interactive games played on online platforms that emphasise player engagement and social interaction.
How we assist with social gaming related advice
While social gaming does not typically involve gambling under Australian law, important legal and regulatory considerations often arise, particularly where those games provide simulated gambling. These issues include the applicability of age restrictions and advisory warnings, and data privacy requirements which operators must carefully manage.
Our team frequently advise on:
New concepts and technologies and any potential gambling law and regulatory implications
Investigations and/or potential breaches or gambling laws and regulations
Terms and conditions
Skill-based gaming products
Is social gaming gambling?
Offering social gaming, with no prize money, being either money or money’s worth, does not require any licence given that it is not regarded as ‘gambling’ under federal, state and territory law, including the Interactive Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth) (IGA).
Although social gaming is not generally regulated by gambling regulators, age classifications and other restrictions may apply to such games and it is important for online social game providers to ensure that gameplay aspects and the features and functionality of individual social games do not involve gambling under gambling laws and regulations in Australia.
Social game developers also need to ensure that they are not inappropriately targeting children and their games are purely a casual form of entertainment that do not encourage gambling behaviour.
Get in touch for a complete range of gambling law and advisory services
FAQ
Social Gaming Knowledge
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Social gaming (as described) is not generally regulated by gambling regulators on the basis that “gambling” generally requires “consideration” (i.e. payment or taking of money or something valuable to play), a prize of money or something else of value to be won and an element of chance.
However, age classifications and other restrictions apply to such games.
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Social gaming with no prize, being either money or money’s worth, does not require any licence, given that it is not regarded as gambling under federal, state or territory law.