Australia Casinos
Australian Online Casinos
Online gambling in Australia is not straightforward. Far from being a walk in the park, the process involves visiting offshore casinos. Why? Well, the primary reason is that online gambling down under is mainly illegal. Despite that, over 80% of Australians regularly gamble, with 4% of Aussies admitting to playing pokies (slots) at least once a week.
Australia considers gambling a major public health issue, and with 0-5% to 1% of Aussies experiencing gambling problems, the government takes betting responsibly seriously. It is for this reason that gambling online in Australia is largely prohibited. Despite that, there are places where you can wager if you know where to look. We’ll show you all the ins and outs of betting down under, and to begin with, let us look at some of the best real money online casinos for Australian players to join.
Best Real Money Online Casinos for Australian Players
Is It Legal to Gamble Online in Australia?
Is online casino gambling legal in Australia? Admittedly, no. The Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 is out in force, and it has several points worth highlighting. Firstly, interactive gambling services (such as online casinos) may not provide their services to players in Australia. Unregulated operators (offshore betting sites) may not do so, either. Because of this, there is arguably no such thing as legal gambling sites in Australia. Those sites aren’t permitted to advertise their services to Aussies. Notably, these terms apply to all gambling sites in the world, not just those based in Australia. This is considerably different from other countries, where anti-gambling laws only really cover sites that try to set up enterprises based in the country.
Fortunately, there are workarounds if you do wish to bet online. Despite the threat of fines, many offshore operators cater to players in the country. Assuming they are licensed and regulated, we would consider them legit Australian online casinos. There are more than solely casino options at your disposal, though, and we’ll look at all these next.
Online Casino
The only legit Australian online casinos you can play at are those based offshore. Of course, we use the term “legit” only to refer to the license and regulation that apply to the casino because Australia deems all internet casinos to be illegal under the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001. Australia doesn’t go as far as punishing its residents for playing at these sites, even if they do go after the operators. In short, you can play at offshore and international casinos without fear of reprisal.
Online Poker
Poker is deemed to be a game of chance, not a game of skill in Australia. For this reason, poker rooms fall under the same regulation as online casinos. These are illegal, and while Australia prohibits playing at them, they won’t punish you if you choose to.
Online Sports Betting
Sports betting is technically legal in Australia, with a provision made for it under the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001. While trackside bets and bookmaker bets are possible in the land-based gambling sphere, online sports betting is only tolerated if the website you play at has obtained a license from one of the territories in Australia or the Australian government.
Online Lottery
Lotteries are dealt with in the same way as sports betting, in that Aussie licensed operators are permitted to offer lottery games. However, most lottery games are not played online down under, so online lotto sites aren’t really a major player in the industry. In theory if you come across one, though, it “should” be legal.
Online Bingo
Bingo is legal when played from a land-based venue. However, online bingo is not legal and is deemed a game of chance. For this reason, you will have to visit many of the popular (often UK-based) bingo rooms based offshore if you want to bet on internet bingo games.
History of Gambling in Australia
How did Australia come to be in the place that it is today regarding gambling? Below, we will attempt to chart the relatively short history of gambling down under. It all begins in 1810…
- 1810: Early records indicate that the first colonists in Australia used to gamble. It is not known whether the native population enjoyed gambling games prior to the arrival of Westerners. The first official gambling event was a horse race that took place at Hyde Park in Sydney.
- 1880: After decades of legal horse racing betting, Australia’s first-ever lottery was launched in 1880. This was for the residents of Sydney and known as Tattersall’s Lottery. However, the lottery wasn’t entirely legal, with the game rapidly jumping from state to state. By doing so, it avoided being shut down.
- 1950s: The slot machine arrives in Australia. As most are basic and loosely based on poker, the term “pokie” is applied. Pubs and clubs typically play host to these games, as Australia didn’t yet host its own casino. The term pokie endures to this day and spans video poker, slots, and other interactive terminal-based games.
- 1956: Following confirmation that the Australian government preferred states to take the reins when it comes to licensing gambling games, New South Wales legalised the very first poker machine.
- 1973: Australia finally gains its first casino. Known as the Wrest Point Hotel and Casino in Tasmania, it attracts a lot of attention, especially as many in mainland Australia deem gambling to be destructive.
- 1990s: Most Australian states and territories now began unveiling their own gambling regulations. The establishment of many new laws puts states on a different path from one another in terms of whether it is legal to gamble or not. Most approve land-based gambling, for the most part.
- 2001: After years of watching Australians gamble illegally and a rise in gambling-related problems, Australia launches the Interactive Gambling Act. This prohibits all forms of online betting, save for sports betting and lotto games.
- 2010: The Productivity Report of the Australian Government reveals that Aussies spend $800 million a year gambling.
- 2020s: The country is split between passing gambling laws permitting regulated internet gambling (much like the US has now down) or whether to continue the national ban on online casinos and games of chance.
Future Online Gambling Trends in Australia
At present, nothing is set to change down under. While you cannot officially play online slots for real money in Australia, the Aussie government does not punish its residents and citizens for doing so. Everybody seems content with the status quo (apart from anti-gamblers who want tougher laws in place), allowing Aussies to bet (illegally) offshore and face no reprisals. For the time being, this doesn’t look like it will change, even if some are calling for Australia to follow the US in letting each state and territory decide for itself.
Is It Safe to Gamble at An Australian Online Casino?
If there were legal, safe online casinos in Australia, then they would each be regulated by the licensing and regulatory body of the state or territory they are based in. However, online casinos aren’t legal. Therefore, we need to look further afield.
Offshore casinos aren’t legal, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t safe. On the contrary, these sites can often be licensed by some of the strictest regulatory bodies in the business, such as the UKGC and MGA. The types of Aussie-friendly casinos you can find on our page are amongst the casinos and are unquestionably safe for you to play at.
How to Choose the Best Online Casino?
Before hurrying off to join an online casino, you should do your homework. What makes the most trusted online casinos for Australian players? While you can always check out any of our online gambling reviews of Australia-friendly casinos, we do recommend that you learn the ins and outs of what makes a top betting site. To help you do that, we’ll look at each of the criteria our team looks for below.
Let us begin by looking at the types of bonuses and promotions you should expect to see…
Casino Bonuses
You are free to choose an online casino based on the bonuses and promotions it offers. However, we would urge you to look at more than just the amount of cash or free spins you can claim. Be sure that these deals have fair terms and conditions (in particular, wagering requirements) and that any games you do choose to play are included in those bonus deals. For instance, if you want to play live casino games, be sure that you can with your bonus funds.
Games and Software
Some Aussie casinos features games from ten, twenty, possibly thirty or more of the very best casino software providers around. However, there are some internet casinos out there that feature titles from just a handful of providers. You want to be sure that your chosen casino not only offers you games from a myriad of providers but also has the types of games you want to play, whether they are slots or pokies, video poker, live dealer or RNG (random number generator) tables games or more.
The Reputation of the Casino
The reputation of the casino is crucial. After all, you don’t want to sign up to a so-so casino here. Our team regularly digs into the background of each of the casinos we review and recommend ensuring that they are on top of their game. Check reviews, see what average players have to say about casinos and look for complaints to discover the true reputation of any casino you are considering joining.
Casino Customer Support
What if you need help? Most top Australian online casinos will provide support and assistance via FAQ, live chat, and e-mail. However, telephone and social media support won’t hurt, either. Just be sure that you don’t have to wait for ages to get a reply. On a separate note, KYC processes should be quick and painless.
Payment Methods
Aussies aren’t always able to use the same payment methods that players across the world can. Therefore, our team regularly checks to ensure that each of the casinos we recommend features Aussie-friendly payment providers and that any fees are kept down to a minimum. Speedy transaction times and decent deposit/withdrawal limits and caps are also a must.
Online Casino Games Available for Australian Players
Many of the best sites will carry new online casinos games for Australia-based players. However, some of the best online casino games in Australia also happen to be tried and tested favourites. Irrespective of where you want to play, online casinos that accept Australian players should always offer a top mix of games. Ideally, we want to see:
- Several hundred games, if not over 1,000 of them
- Titles from at least ten, if not more providers
- Games that span many genres, such as slots, live dealer, table games and more
- If you want to bet on sports, be sure that you can do so from the same site
- All games should be playable for free alongside real money stakes
- Games should be RNG-certified and mobile-optimised
With that said, let’s check out some of the more commonly found games at casinos down under…
Online Slots
Online slots in Australia are known as pokies. Slot machines (or pokie machines) in Australia may come from established Aussie developers, such as Aristocrat, or they may be the same games you can find elsewhere, like the titles from NetEnt, Microgaming and co. Either way, jackpot pokies, classic pokie, fruit machines and video pokie machines should be plentiful and span many themes and features.
Online Blackjack
Blackjack is a popular game down under, so we would want to see it well-represented at any site you choose to play at. There should be a few different tables and variants, including takes on Classic, European and American Blackjack, amongst others. If you want to play top blackjack online for real money in Australia, the more choice, the better.
Online Roulette
The best online roulette gambling sites in Australia will be those that offer you a choice. So, we’d want to see live dealer and RNG roulette games, but also variants based on European, French, and American roulette games. Side-bets and other tweaks are appreciated.
Live Dealer Games
Live dealer games are popular across the world and playing live casino games online in Australia is a reality. You should at least be able to find baccarat, blackjack, and roulette, if not countless table poker, craps, dice and money-wheel games to boot.
Other Online Casino Games
There are more online casino games for you to play than those listed above. Scratch cards (sometimes referred to as “scratchies”), video poker, instant win, and fixed odds games, not to mention sports betting, keno, lotto, bingo, and virtual betting games, can sometimes be found at Australian casinos, too.
Most Popular Casino Software in Australia
Can you play at Microgaming casinos in Australia? What about the best NetEnt casinos in Australia, are they open for business? Let us take a quick look at the leading software providers kitting out Oz-friendly casinos with games. These include:
- Aristocrat
- BetSoft Gaming
- IGT
- Microgaming
- NetEnt
- Playtech
- Quickspin
- Real Time Gaming
- Red Tiger Gaming
- Yggdrasil Gaming
These are, of course, just a taste of the many software providers you can find at Aussie casinos, and to list them out would make for dull reading. You can seek out top Australian online casinos by their software provider when you head over to our review section.
Banking Information for Australian Players
Can you play at an Australian online casino with PayPal? In most cases, this isn’t going to be as straightforward as you think, and PayPal isn’t the only option Aussies may struggle with. There are other e-wallets, prepaid and bank transfer options that don’t work as well as they might like.
However, there are key things to look for:
- The casino should offer the Australian dollar as an accepted currency
- Payment methods should work well with AUD
- Payment providers shouldn’t charge a fee either for deposits or withdrawals, and neither should the casino
- Transaction times should be instantaneous for deposits and no longer than 3-5 banking days for withdrawals
There isn’t anything in the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 that prohibits bank transactions from Australian payment providers to online casinos, but some payment providers shut themselves out of the market because they don’t want to be fined by Australian authorities for processing gambling-related payments. Fortunately, online casinos in Australia accepting VISA Debit and other commonplace options should be fine.
Here is a list of those that regularly appear at Aussie casinos:
- VISA
- MasterCard
- POLi
POLi is arguably the top option to go with, as this payment provider is specifically designed (almost exclusively) for players in Australia and New Zealand.
Cryptocurrencies
Aussie casinos sometimes accept cryptocurrencies. These may include Bitcoin, Bitcoin Casino, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and on occasion, Ripple and Tether (USDT). There are perks to depositing with cryptocurrencies, too, and they include:
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Almost instant deposit and near-instant withdrawal times
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A touch more anonymity is provided for the most part
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Deposit and cashout limits tend to be higher
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Just be sure that your casino also lets you “wager” with cryptocurrencies
Mobile Gaming in Australia
Players at mobile casinos in Australia shouldn’t need to worry about betting on the go. Most sites offer this service without online gambling apps in Australia. iOS and Android users should require nothing more than a Wi-Fi connection and a half-decent web browser to play their favourite pokies and casino games on the fly.
Australian Online Casino Bonuses & Promo Codes
Almost all offshore and international Australian online casinos carry bonuses and promos. Not all of them are worth your time, though. A tidy welcome bonus will prove handy when you first start up, assuming the terms and conditions (such as wagering requirements) are fair and transparent. Some Australian online casino sites also require you to enter bonus codes to claim these deals, and you can usually find those on the promotions page at the site. Let us briefly look at some of the best bonus deals at online casinos in Australia.
No Deposit Bonuses
A typical no deposit casino bonus in Australia will provide you with free spins or a small of cash. They are common when you become a new player at Australia no deposit casinos. These deals allow you to potentially win real money, with none of your own funds risked while playing. Not all Aussie casinos carry these deals, but our team has put together a list of the very best ones for you to check out.
Deposit Match
The classic first deposit bonus at casinos in Australia may be known as a welcome bonus or a match deposit deal. It is important when claiming these bonuses at Australian online casinos that low deposit requirements are available. After all, the best bonuses will provide you with a truckload of cash but not burden you with heavy wagering requirements or require you to deposit your life savings to claim it. The way it works is straightforward enough. You will often receive a sizeable sum of cash, the value of which (a percentage-based offer) is determined by the amount you deposit.
Free Spins
Free spins may find themselves offered as a welcome bonus, a loyalty deal, or as an online casino free sign-up bonus with no deposit required for Australian players when they first get started at a site. The basic idea here is that you can spin the reels of your favourite pokies for free, at no risk, with the potential to scoop real money prizes.
Reload Bonuses
Reload bonuses are exactly as they sound – they work in the same way as a match deposit bonus or a welcome bonus. You will make a deposit and claim a sum of free cash based on the amount they offer is worth and the total you deposit. These may be daily, weekly, monthly, or less regular offers, but most of the very best Aussie casinos will carry at least a monthly bonus here.
New Online Casinos in Australia
New Australian online casinos go live all the time, and conversely, some close. Our gambling review team stays on top of the ever-changing, fluid world of the Australian online gambling scene. For this reason, casino reviews may be updated whenever things change.
You can regularly check our reviews to see what has changed at top Aussie casinos, but our tools are also the ideal resource if you fancy scouting out and joining an Australian casino that is new to the betting industry and has recently launched. Check back regularly to stay in the loop with our quality Australian casinos.
FAQs
It is likely that you won’t have everything worked out just yet, and that’s fine. To help you along the way, we’ve put together this brief but concise FAQ guide to Australian online casino gaming.
