Betr granted Tasmanian gaming licence amid regulatory concerns
betr Entertainment has been granted a Tasmanian Gaming Licence, paving the way for the ASX-listed bookmaker to relocate its regulatory base from the Northern Territory and establish a headquarters in Tasmania from 7 July 2026.
The decision has drawn criticism from federal independent MP Andrew Wilkie, who accused the Tasmanian Government of rolling out the “red carpet” to what he described as a predatory gambling industry.
Andrew Wilkie criticises Tasmania gambling licence decision
Tasmanian Treasurer Eric Abetz said the approval reflected growing business confidence in the state and would support local employment and economic activity. However, he acknowledged that Tasmania’s regulatory framework would require updating to accommodate modern online wagering operators.
“A number of existing Tasmanian regulatory requirements do not appropriately reflect the technology, operating models and governance arrangements of modern online wagering businesses,” Abetz said. “We will refine Tasmania’s legislation to provide appropriate guardrails and modern systems.”
Wilkie seized on comments from Tasmanian Treasurer Eric Abetz, saying, “Just when you thought the Northern Territory was the worst regulated jurisdiction in Australia and the perfect base for the online gambling companies, along comes the Tasmanian Government with the remarkable admission.”
🚨 BOOKMAKER UPDATE 🚨
— BookieLink (@BookieLink_AU) July 6, 2026
From 7 July 2026, betr will operate under a Tasmanian Gaming Licence and be regulated by the Tasmania Liquor and Gaming Commission.
-> https://t.co/g9cCBbUnkH
Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit. pic.twitter.com/TqSqEuywye
Expressing scepticism about proposed regulatory reforms, Wilkie argued that stronger safeguards should have been introduced before the licence was granted. He said Tasmania was rolling out the “red carpet to a predatory industry” and labelled the state “the gambling predators’ state.”
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb said the Gaming Licence granted to betr Entertainment Ltd risks Tasmania’s brand, calling the decision “reckless and irresponsible” when the Treasurer admits the state’s current regulatory system does not have the appropriate guardrails in place.
The independent Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission approved the licence for betr for an initial five-year term. The move follows what betr described as a “multi-year evaluation of Australian regulatory frameworks” and will see all wagering and account activity conducted under Tasmanian regulation.
Northern Territory tax changes and wagering regulation
The approval comes little more than a year after the Northern Territory Government introduced significant changes to its wagering tax framework. As part of its 2025–26 budget, the territory doubled the annual tax cap for corporate bookmakers and betting exchanges from 1 million revenue units to 2 million, while also introducing a uniform 50 percent tax rate for online gambling licence holders. The measures, which took effect on 1 July 2025, were expected to generate tens of millions of dollars in additional revenue and drew criticism from the wagering industry, including Responsible Wagering Australia, which said the changes were introduced without adequate consultation.
The Northern Territory has also faced scrutiny over its oversight of the online wagering sector. The Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission (NTRWC), which licenses more than 40 major bookmakers including Sportsbet, Ladbrokes and Bet365, has been criticised by politicians and consumer advocates over alleged conflicts of interest, limited enforcement action and what critics describe as weak penalties for operators.
A 2023 federal parliamentary inquiry recommended the creation of a national online gambling regulator and ombudsman, citing concerns about the effectiveness of existing state and territory-based oversight. Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has previously labelled the NTRWC “useless”, while other critics have argued its close relationship with the wagering industry undermines public confidence in gambling regulation. However, the Albanese government has not included such a body in its proposed gambling reforms, leaving wagering regulation largely in the hands of states and territories.
betr has become the second holder of a Tasmanian wagering licence, following UBET (TAB), which holds licences in every Australian jurisdiction except Western Australia. Tasmania has previously hosted online wagering operators, having licensed Betfair’s Australian operations under an agreement signed in 2005.
Treasurer says Tasmania must modernise wagering laws
The licence approval and Abetz’s acknowledgement come as Tasmania continues to reshape its gambling regulation framework. Tasmania recently abandoned plans for a mandatory cashless gaming card with enforceable loss limits, replacing the proposal with a revised harm-minimisation package that includes compulsory cashless tickets, facial recognition technology, withdrawal limits, and enhanced self-exclusion tools.
The original reform, introduced in 2022 and later dropped amid industry opposition, would have required player registration and pre-commitment spending limits. A Deloitte review found such measures would likely have produced positive social outcomes and reduced gambling harm, despite potential impacts on gaming and hospitality revenue.
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