The NTRWC (Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission), which is one of the main regulatory bodies of gambling in Australia and oversees a sizeable chunk of regulations relating to online betting in Australia, has made some key changes to its policy recently.
NTRWC is aiming to rebuild some trust within the gambling public of Australia by no longer accepting hospitality or gifts from betting companies in a bid to demonstrate more transparency.
This big decision comes on the back of intense scrutiny from punters and political figures questioning the NTRWC’s relationship within the industry that it is meant to regulate. Based in the Northern Territory capital of Darwin, this commission is responsible for licensing and regulating approximately 40 online gambling platforms in Australia, making it one of the most significant regulators of online gambling in the country, largely due to the attractive tax rules and licensing conditions in this state.
The plans for this move towards independence and transparency were announced in early November 2025 with a view to making sure those advertising themselves as the best online casino Australia are facing scrutiny and licensing to ensure they are regulated. This move is not intended to change the market offerings, impose restrictions on crypto payments, or reduce the ability of platforms to offer a gambling service to people from the comfort of their own homes. It’s intended to ensure that there are tighter restrictions in place from the top down. Without this, the whole commission runs the risk of being embroiled in fraudulent activity or making a bad name for itself.
There had been recent reports and media investigations that unveiled many of the commission’s members had been given hospitality from betting firms at racecourses, and some members even owned racehorses, which could clearly be a conflict of interest.
The new promise, as part of these new rules, is that NTRWC will now include mandatory disclosure and recusal policies for any gifts or hospitality motions. Those board members who have active interests, either personal or financial, must now declare these interests and not be involved in any decisions relating. The change means that invites to industry events, hospitality tickets, or sponsorships – which have been considered ‘relationship building’ in the past – are now going to be deemed unethical or inappropriate under the new rules. For many, this is a welcome change to ensure fairness.
The change comes on the back of a governmental review of the whole gambling industry in Australia. States across the country have been actively reforming their gambling policies in 2025, with the Victorian state government reducing the spin rate by 40% on casino slot machines and the Western Australian Gaming and Wagering Commission imposing stricter gambling laws earlier in the year.
Maintaining the integrity of the industry is especially important for Australian regulators as gambling, both online and in-person, has grown exponentially across the nation in recent years. In fact, Australians are the highest per-capita spenders on gambling in the world. The market here is particularly buoyant, which means the integrity and transparency of the system are key for regulatory bodies to ensure the market continues to thrive.
The decision by the NTRWC to no longer accept hospitality or gifts from betting platforms emphasizes independence as a meaningful step towards some credibility after scrutiny from many for years. But for many, this change is just the tip of the iceberg. Many think there needs to be continued and deeper policy change, along with evidence that this current change has actually worked. Genuine and independent operating within the legal framework is the ultimate goal.
