Can I win real money in Australian casinos?

Winning real money in Australian casinos is possible, but not if you are an Australian resident. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 forbids operators to offer real-money services to the residents. However, online casinos that are based in Australia are allowed to operate and offer these services to players from outside of the country.

How long does it take to receive any winnings?

The withdrawal time on your winnings depends on the chosen method. Usually, it takes 3-5 business days, but it varies. Some withdrawal methods, such as e-wallets may even provide you with instant withdrawals.

Are there any withdrawal fees for Australian players?

Most online casinos do not charge fees for Australian players. But, in order to be sure, you must check the terms and conditions of the selected online casino. Furthermore, you need to make sure that there are no fees charged by the method you choose. For example, some banks may take fees when you make a withdrawal with credit or debit cards.

Are online casinos in Australia safe?

Considering the fact that online casinos in Australia are illegal, you shouldn’t visit these sites as there are penalties for it. However, if you are an Australian in a foreign country, you are allowed to register and play at these sites, as long as online gambling is legal in that region. If the casino is licensed by a reputable regulatory body, such as MGA or the UKGC, then it is safe.

Which banking options can I use?

Australians can use tons of banking options at online casinos. Credit and debit cards, Klarna, and Skrill are among the most popular, but Neteller and PayPal are also commonly used. Deposits are instant, while withdrawals may have a certain processing time which can be up to a few business days. When checking the banking options, it is also good to see whether fees are applied for deposits and withdrawals. Some online casinos may charge a small fee when you deposit or withdraw money from your account, which may surprise you.

Can I play with Australian Dollars (AU$) at casinos?

Since online casinos are forbidden in Australia, there are not a lot of online casinos that accept the Australian Dollar. But, there are the so-called AUD casinos that are targeted at Australian players and they accept this currency.

What payment methods are available for online casinos in Australia?

Because online casinos cannot operate in Australia, there is not a list of accepted payment methods. However, if Australians are abroad, they can access casino sites with ease. Some of the accepted payment methods at these online casinos are credit and debit cards, Klarna, Skrill, Neteller, Interac, Rapid Transfer, and PayPal.

Can we expect bonuses?

Yes, players can expect numerous bonuses when they access online casinos. The number of bonuses varies from one casino site to another and to be eligible to receive them, you need to register at a certain casino site. Some of the bonuses that you can come across are welcome packages, daily bonuses, deposit bonuses, Free Spins, and even loyalty programs.

Can we play for free?

Some casino sites offer demo modes of their games, which means that you can play for free. Other online casinos even have no deposit bonuses, which is also a type of free play. But, in order to play at certain online casinos, you need to register and deposit a certain amount as they do not offer players the chance to access the games for free.

Are online casinos regulated by an authority in Australia?

Yes, online casinos are regulated by numerous regulatory bodies in Australia. Each state and territory has a special commission that is in charge of overseeing all gambling activities.

Best 10 Online Casinos in Australia 2022 🇦🇺

Online casinos in Australia

Many of the residents in Australia have stated that they play casino games at least once a week. Pokies are by far the most popular casino games in this country. The name pokie is a regional slang that stands for slot machines. But, just because this type of game is the most popular, that doesn’t mean that Australians are not fond of other casino games such as roulette, poker, blackjack, and various live dealer games.

Benefits of gambling in AUS

The gambling industry in Australia is one of the most profitable industries in the country. One interesting statistic showed that over the course of 6 months (1 December 2017 – 31 May 2018), NSW Clubs made a net profit of almost $2 billion, which is incredible. Approximately 95,800 of the pokies in all of Australia are located in New South Wales. This state is only beaten by Nevada who operates twice as much – approximately 181,109.

There are numerous benefits that the Australian government has with the great deal of success that the gambling industry has. Some of those benefits include numerous employment and millions of dollars in taxes. The money and the employment rate help the economy grow and thus, the government in Australia is able to invest the money and better the lives of its people.

Land-based casinos vs online casinos

Land-based casinos and online casinos are treated differently, though. While land-based casinos are allowed to operate and offer their services to all people of legal age (the legal age is 18), online casinos have a bit more complex relationship. Before online gambling was introduced to the people, the Federal government had a bit more active approach in the regulation of this industry, but ever since online casinos became popular, various state and territory authorities gained power and had a more active role.

Hence, gambling in Australia is legislated at a state and territory level, not by the Commonwealth. Some of the acts that deserve a mention are the Casino Control Act 2006 (Australian Capital Territory), Betting Tax Act 2001 (New South Wales), Gaming Control Act 2005 (Northern Territory), Keno Act 1996 (Queensland), as well as the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001, which was passed by the Australian Commonwealth Parliament.

The Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 is mostly targeted at online gambling operators, and it states that it is an offense for the operators to offer real-money games to the residents of Australia. But, the Act also states that companies that are based in Australia are allowed to offer their services outside the country, except the countries that are marked as 'designated countries’. It goes without saying that the gambling scene and regulations in this country are a bit complicated, which is why they deserve to be looked at more closely.

History of Gambling in Australia

As stated earlier, Australia has always had a tight relationship with gambling. Research showed that Australians are very keen on participating in this activity. A majority of them have played casino games at least once in their lifetime and many of them even play casino games on a weekly basis.

Gambling in the Early Days

The first recorded gambling event in this country was in 1810 when a horse race meeting took place in Sydney. Soon after, the first lottery game was organized (1880). During the 1950s, the industry started booming after slot machines were introduced to the public.

Slots, or as Australians call them – pokies, gained popularity very fast, and they remain the most played games in the country to this day. When we talk about online gambling, Microgaming created the first casino software in 1994. But, at the time, online casinos were still a concept that was way ahead of its time. That is the reason why these sites were not so popular in the beginning.

The Interactive Gambling Act

As these sites started to gain recognition, Australians were very keen on giving them a try. They started accessing online casinos, but because the government was not able to control these activities, they crafted the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001. This law was specifically designed for online casinos.

The Interactive Gambling Act strictly forbade online casinos to offer their services to the Australian people. Not only that, but offshore and on-shore companies are illegal. However, gambling had had some loopholes and the players took full advantage of it. These loopholes were fixed in 2016 and since then, all types of online games, including blackjack, poker, and slots are illegal.

But, there are some exceptions to this law. The Gambling Act of 2001 does not forbid auto racing and sports betting. Furthermore, online lotteries are legal, just as long as they are not instant win scratch cards.

Future of online casinos in Australia

The future does look bright for Australian players. After all, the benefits that come with legalizing online casinos in Australia are massive. More tax money, better regulation of the industry, and more employment, all of which can boost the economy of the country.

The people have been pressuring the government to legalize these sites and due to the fact that a big majority of the population finds ways to play online casino games, chances are high that this activity will be legalized in the future and Australians will be able to access casino sites without facing any penalties.

Are Casinos Legal in Australia?

Land-based casinos are legal to operate in Australia. Not only that, but this industry is one of the most profitable industries in the country. Some estimates showed that Australians spend around $150 billion on casino games such as roulette, pokies, poker, blackjack, and baccarat. That number is quite mesmerizing, especially when you do the math - $150 billion would be an average of $11,000 that active gamblers spend annually.

Due to the fact that land-based gambling is so popular, you can find casinos and pokies everywhere. Speaking of pokies, there are over 200,000 of them in Australia. This number equals to 1 pokie for every 114 people living here.

As for online casinos, the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 forbids almost all types of online gambling. Neither on-shore or off-shore companies are allowed to offer their services to Australians as this activity is considered illegal. They have permission to be based in Australia as long as they offer casino games for real money in other countries.

The only exceptions in this topic concern sports betting and. Australians are allowed to place bets on sports online through licensed operators, as long as the betting takes place prior to the event. Here’s why. The law specifies that online gambling is illegal if it is interactive. That makes pre-event betting legal, but in-play betting is still illegal. With this logic in mind, online lotteries are also legal, just as long as they are not instant win scratch cards.

When accessing online casinos from a certain device, it is important to check whether the casino is licensed or not.

Some of the regulatory authorities in Australia are:

Australian Capital Territory - ACT Gambling and Racing Commission
Western Australia - Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor
Victoria - Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation
Queensland - Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation
Tasmania - Tasmanian Gaming Commission
South Australia - Independent Gambling Authority
Northern Territory - Licensing Commission
New South Wales - New South Wales Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing

Australian Players Favourite Games

Since online gambling is forbidden for Australian residents, if people want to access these sites, they need to be abroad. However, sports betting and online lotteries are allowed in the country, which is why these two categories are among the most popular for Australians.

Slots

With this situation in mind, Australians need to be abroad if they want to access online casino games. And they are fond of pretty much all categories. Since pokies are the most popular land-based games, Australians also love the idea of trying out online slots. Online slots come in two variations, based on their prize – standard and progressive. Standard slots have a fixed prize, while progressive jackpots have a prize that keeps increasing as players feed the machine.

And if they wonder whether the games are safe or not, they can rest assured knowing that online casinos enforce fair-play by implementing RNGs. This AI-powered tool creates random outcomes of each game and gives equal chances of winning to all players.

Classic Games

Next in line are roulette, baccarat, and blackjack. These are classic casino games that are absolutely adored by Australians because even though they rely on luck, they require a strategic approach. Not only that, but these games are also very rewarding. Casino Hold’Em and video poker also deserve a mention. These games rely far more on skills, rather than luck, and Australians are always up for a good challenge.

As for the game providers, Australians can enjoy games from some of the world’s most reputable brands like Microgaming, Yggdrasil, Evolution Gaming, QuickSpin, and Red Tiger Gaming. All of these providers are known for supplying online casinos with high-quality games which will provide players with a unique gaming experience. That is why Australians search for these well-known names when they access an online casino.

Most Preferred Casino Bonus in Australia

Bonuses and promotions are among the biggest advantages that online casinos have. These are the main reasons why so many Australians, and players from all around the world, choose to access online casinos, rather than to go to a land-based gambling facility.

Popular Bonuses

The most popular casino bonus for Australian players is by far Free Spins. This is kind of a logical conclusion, considering the fact that the number 1 game for Australian players is pokies (slot games). Pretty much every online casino that targets Australian players features tons of Free Spins bonuses.

Welcome bonuses are also very popular as they provide the players with deposit bonuses and Free Spins. To claim welcome bonuses, all players have to do is register at an online casino. Cashback bonuses also deserve a mention, but one type of bonus that proved to be quite popular is the VIP programs.

VIP Program

A VIP program is designed to reward the most loyal players for their continuous support. Through this program, players receive extra benefits such as personal account managers, higher withdrawal limits, better exchange rates, cashbacks, exclusive gifts, etc. Basically, the more a person plays the games, the more they will move up the scale in a VIP program. Why are these programs so popular with Australians?

Australians are known for playing casino games quite often – at least once a week to be more precise. So, they like to be rewarded for their continuous support. Hence, VIP programs are something that they are extremely fond of.

The last casino bonus that Australians like very much is no deposit bonuses. With this bonus, they can play their favourite games without having to deposit any money. The best part about this bonus is that it offers real-money rewards for the players. If they score a prize, all they have to do is meet the wagering requirements before they withdraw their winnings.

Payment Methods in Australia

Australians are fond of many payment methods at online casinos. The number one choice to this day remains credit cards, though. By using credit cards, Australians can make instant deposits and fast withdrawals. The waiting time for withdrawals with credit cards is usually a few business days.

BPAY is the second most popular payment method for Australian players. With this system, players can make very small deposits, and that is the main reason why they use it. In most cases, the players can deposit as little as $5.

Other popular payment methods in Australia are Neteller, Skrill, prepaid cards, PayPal, bank wires, and most recently, cryptocurrencies. Neteller and Skrill are e-wallets, and even though PayPal has suspended online casino transactions for some time, they are slowly accepting them back again.

As for cryptocurrencies, they have become a payment method that has been used quite often in the recent period. The reason for that is because it enables Australian players to have instant deposits and instant withdrawals. Not only that, but it also provides them with added security by offering extra anonymity.

Best 10 Online Casinos in Australia