ISGA Response to Australia Classification Scheme Consultation
On behalf of members, the International Social Games Association (ISGA) has lodged a formal submission to be considered as part of the Australian government’s consultation on modernising and harmonising classification standards.
Key points in the ISGA’s submission include:
Games are not a form of gambling and any change to Australia’s classification standards must ensure that this is taken into consideration.
For a game (or any other activity) to be defined as gambling, it must be a game which is played for money/anything else of value (i.e. offer a prize), be a game of chance (i.e. have the element of chance) and be a game where the player agrees to give consideration to play the game (i.e. consideration is required).
Games may have the elements of consideration and chance, but they never have a prize and therefore, they cannot be defined as gambling.
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs inquiry into online gambling (the “Murphy Report”) did not find that free-to-play casino-themed games should be defined as gambling, after this issue was specifically among the terms of reference for this inquiry.
Similarly, the government’s formal response to the Murphy Report did not consider these games to be defined as a form of gambling.
New regulatory measures for games offered in Australia took effect in September 2024 and March 2026, which included age assurance requirements for games rated M (mature – not recommended for children under the age of 15) and R 18+ (legally restricted to adults 18 years and over).
The third-party report for this consultation claims that gambling in video games replicates the same psychological effect as real-world gambling – but this claim is false.
As no player is able to win or lose money on games legally offered in the Australian market, there is no credible evidence which substantiates the claim in the third-party report that “gambling in a video game for a reward or incentive is, in effect, the same as gambling in the real world”.
The ISGA believes that there should be a clear separation between Australia’s National Classification Scheme and the eSafety Commissioner’s role as the online safety regulator.
Double regulation of games in Australia must be avoided.
The ISGA is a global leader in developing and promoting responsible standards to ensure the highest levels of consumer protection among game-players, including game-players in Australia.
Published 4th June 2026