Australian History · Architecture · People · Artefacts
Serventico / Origins

Before Australia had casinos

Australia's gaming history began with lotteries, fairs, private clubs and contested public policy long before permanent casinos became part of the urban landscape.

From prohibition to regulation

For much of Australia's early history, gambling was restricted through criminal law. Charitable lotteries, racetrack wagering and local exemptions gradually produced a more complex system.

Historic gaming objects arranged in a museum archive

Objects from different periods reveal the development of gaming technology and design.

The 1969 turning point

Changes to the Criminal Code gave federal and state and territory governments broader authority to operate and regulate lotteries, laying foundations for the modern Australian gaming landscape.