Today, we will analyze the online gambling industry in Australia. We will touch on the main points, such as the legality of online casinos and betting shops for Australian. We also consider the best online casinos for players from Australia and a variety of the most convenient payment systems. This article will also inform you about the methodology of choosing a good casino and what bonuses exist for new and regular players. We’ll also tell you about the sports betting situation in Australia, lotteries and poker. And, of course, we’ll talk about the history of gambling in the country and the most popular offline casinos in Australia.
Australians are rightly called one of the most gambling nations. For you, we have prepared a list of the best casinos available in Australia.
According to some data, about 80 percent of the population over 18 regularly gambles. And the average Australian spends about $1300 a year on gambling entertainment. As a consequence, it follows that online casinos are very popular in Australia, even though they are formally prohibited by law.
Australia’s gambling industry has deep roots. One of the first entertainments was betting on horses as far back as 1810, held in Sydney’s Hyde Park.
In the late 19th century, namely in 1880, was launched the first lottery, and by the mid-20th century began to appear first slot machines were located in various bars and clubs. In the 90s of the 20th century, one of the first online casinos was established and became hugely popular.
In 2001, a key event happened that changed the field of online gambling in Australia. After long debates, the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) was signed into law, effectively establishing a ban on online casinos in Australia. Nevertheless, it did not establish a prohibition on gambling. Thus, owning an online casino in Australia is considered illegal, but playing is possible. This has made depositing from bank cards a little more complicated, but many e-commerce systems such as Neosurf have made the process easier.
Australians are very fond of betting on sports and attribute this to their roots going back to the English seafarers. So, it’s hard to meet a person in Australia who loves sports and regularly watches broadcasts but doesn’t bet.
Another interesting peculiarity is the “National Gambling Game” – Australian Orlyanka when you have to guess which side each of two coins will fall. There is even a separate holiday – Australian Orlyanka Day, held on April 25th, during which almost all over the country, many people play this game.
As already noted, formally, online casinos are banned in Australia. But if you go into detail, only their activities in the country are prohibited, but not gambling. So if you are a gambler, you can not worry, you do not violate the law.
A somewhat different attitude to sports betting. The territorial division of Australia implies several major areas. Each area has its regulator that licenses offline and online bookmakers.
Choosing a good casino is always a difficult and thorough process. But we have already done it for you and presented a list of the best online casinos in Australia at the beginning of the article.
Nevertheless, we’d like to share our methodology for choosing the best casinos. It includes such essential aspects as legality and security level, availability of bonuses and various promotions, convenient payment systems, an adaptation of casinos for mobile devices, and, of course, reading player reviews. Below, we will talk about each of these aspects in more detail.
Since online casinos in Australia have a dual status, it is necessary to analyze the offerings on the market carefully. As already mentioned, it is forbidden to own online casinos in Australia, but it is not allowed to play in offshore casinos. Consequently, choosing only quality foreign casinos that operate under an MGA or Curaçao license is necessary.
Without reading reviews, making quality top online casinos in Australia is impossible. That is why we are always respectful of various gambling forums and carefully analyze player reviews. An important point is the resolution of disputes. If the casino was noticed by fraud or ignored user appeals, we do not add it to our rating.
An important aspect that interests every player is the availability of bonuses and various promotions. And not only welcome bonuses on the first deposit but also subsequent bonuses on every deposit. And of course, do not forget about the various races and tournaments in which any player can participate. We just want to pay attention to the special VIP system, thanks to which you can count on additional rewards such as cashback, bonus points and free spins just for playing your favorite games.
There are numerous ways to deposit to Australian online casinos. The easiest way is to use bank cards Visa or Mastercard, but there are sometimes problems with them, as banks can block such transfers. Players are advised to avoid such difficulties using different electronic wallets, such as PayPal, ecoPayz, MuchBetter, Poli, Skrill or Neteller. Special services provide vouchers for a certain amount, which can be casino cash out, such as Ukash and NeoSurf. And, of course, we should not forget about cryptocurrency. Most online casinos accept it as a method of input or output.
Another essential aspect we consider when getting acquainted with the casino is the support service and the level of its work. It must be round the clock, fast and informative. That is, able to provide the player in a short time with all the information he is interested in, as well as help to understand the unclear aspects and solve his problem.
And, of course, the best casinos from our rating should be well adapted for mobile devices. This includes not only mobile adaptation of games but also the availability of user-friendly interfaces and the ability to quickly and comfortably deposit or withdraw winnings.
For players from Australia, there are numerous bonuses. As already mentioned, these include first deposit bonuses and various races and tournaments organized by casinos and providers.
Separately, I would like to highlight the rating system in different casinos. They allow you to get points, which can be exchanged for real money, and give access to special tournaments for a few people. The probability of winning such tournaments is relatively high. Next, we would like to break down each of the presented types of bonuses in more detail.
The welcome bonus is usually given for making your first deposit and can be up to $10,000. In some cases, some free spins are given, up to 555 in some of Australia’s online casinos. Often these bonuses come as a package, such as +100% of your deposit and 100 free spins. It is also worth noting that sometimes these bonuses apply not to 1-st deposit and to several at once, which is an excellent addition to the balance.
Another popular solution is to have tiered VIP systems upgraded after a certain number of total bets. The higher your level, the more bonuses you get. Rewards can be as special points convertible into real money, a certain number of free spins, and even an increased cashback from each bet.
Often, online casinos organize various tournaments and races in different games. The conditions are different. It’s getting the highest multiplier in a certain slot, the cumulative multipliers received, and much more. The higher your place in the final table, the bigger your winnings.
It’s also worth noting that players from Australia can access many marketing activities providers conduct in their games. These can include random jackpots, free vouchers for a certain amount, and even cash rewards for the maximum number of empty spins. Pragmatic Play and Evolution Gaming are worth mentioning among the providers regularly holding such promotions.
As already mentioned, Australians are one of the most gambling nations. Therefore, in addition to online and offline casinos, sports betting is prevalent in Australia, as this trend has deep roots going back to the 19th century.
There are over 3,000 betting shops in Australia, with a sports betting outlet in virtually every neighbourhood. More liberal laws for bookmakers explain such excitement compared to their counterparts for online casinos.
Betting on sports in Australia is entirely legal and regulated by the Australian Racing Commission. Each area has its local regulator that licenses bookmakers:
Among the most popular sports, which account for most of all bets, it is worth highlighting: Australian Football, Rugby, Golf, Basketball, Baseball, and Cricket. And the sports betting sector brings considerable revenues to the treasury, amounting to 20% in some areas, as the market is estimated at more than 250 billion dollars annually.
Now we would like to consider some of the most convenient and popular ways to deposit at online casinos in Australia.
The easiest solution as the card is owned by almost every adult in Australia. The main problem is that not all banks approve transactions to online casinos. Consequently, before making a deposit, you need to find out if your bank makes transfers for gambling.
A popular way to pay for various purchases is on the Internet. To use it, you need to create an account and link your bank account to it. After that, you can fund your online casino account in one click without any problems and fear for the confidentiality of your bank account data.
Another popular payment system is actively used by players from Australia. To deposit to the online casino, you need to create your account and then fund it in any convenient way: from a bank card to any other electronic system. Then choose this method for the deposit and follow the instructions. Withdrawal is easy. You select this system in the casino and withdraw to your account from which the deposit was made. And then, you can already withdraw to any bank card and order a plastic card from Neteller, which can be paid in stores or withdrawn money from ATMs.
A payment system is similar to Neteller. You can create an account to which you will link your bank card, and then you can quickly deposit to the casino by simply selecting this method and entering the Skrill Recipient ID or email. As with most other payment systems, you will need to pass a simple verification, after which all the functionality will be available.
Payment system, also known as EcoCard. It is also quite useful but has some drawbacks. We are talking about the extended verification of the account, which takes several days to several weeks, and relatively high commissions for transactions, ranging from 0 to 7%. It is worth considering that the system has several account types, from basic to VIP. The higher your status, the faster the transactions and the lower the commission is charged.
A large number of online casinos in Australia accept cryptocurrency. From this follows the convenience of this method for making deposits and withdrawals. Especially if you use coins such as LTC, TRX, and XRP because the transaction processing fee is minimal and does not exceed a few dollars. The transaction itself is fast enough and does not take more than 10 minutes.
NOTIFY
Remember that a deposit from a bank card is not always feasible because not all banks allow transactions in favor of online casinos. So, it is preferable to use electronic purses. Moreover, carefully check the fees of payment systems and the transaction terms. It is worth noting that if you want to use EcoPayz, and you plan to choose the classical type of account, you may face problems with the withdrawal of funds.
Ownership of cryptocurrency in Australia is entirely legal. It is not considered cash but has the status of a digital asset. As a consequence, it is convenient to use it for deposits in online casinos.
The Australian Transaction Reporting and Analysis Center (AUSTRAC) is responsible for regulation. And for operations with cryptocurrency, whether it is an exchange, trading, or investment, there is no tax if the amount of profit does not exceed $18,200.
In online casinos in Australia, there is a large variety of providers. And not only popular industry players but also local vendors who focus on creating land-based slot machines but do not forget to create their online counterparts. Consider the 5 most popular game providers in Australia.
A local provider that has been in business longer than the online gambling industry has existed. Since 1955, Aristocrat has created a variety of land-based machines with exciting features and unique bonus mechanics and earned high popularity.
It does not forget about the online adaptation of their land-based products, play in which for real money, unfortunately, is officially prohibited in the Australian online casinos.
The second most popular Australian provider, which has operated since 1995, and in that time, has managed to release numerous land-based slot machines, as well as more than 200 online slots.
A popular game provider is known for its slots with high progressive jackpots. Numerous games combined with various game mechanics attract players from all over the world, and Australians are no exception.
Provider focused on creating products with unique 3D graphics and excellent game solutions. With an arsenal of more than 150 slots, the developer has something to surprise the player. These include various progressive mechanics, allowing to count on the activation of a function after a certain number of spins, as well as high jackpots.
Swedish provider, which got its fame due to numerous a variety of slots. It includes both games with popular mechanics and huge jackpots. Another distinctive feature is the creation of products in collaboration with major brands and even music bands such as Guns’N’Roses, and Motörhead.
It is worth noting that most well-known and popular providers are unavailable to players from Australia. This includes even those brands based in Australia, such as Aristocrat Pokies or Ainsworth Pokies. Therefore, it can be difficult to find them in casinos.
Land-based casinos are very popular in Australia. In each area, there are many offline casinos. The leader in the number of casinos in the area is Victoria. There are about 18 places. And the champion among the cities was Sydney, which has in its “arsenal” of 11 casinos.
One of the largest casinos in Australia is Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex, located on the south bank of the Yarra River in Melbourne.
The complex is widely regarded as the largest casino in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the largest in the world. It covers over 510,000 m² (which equals two blocks) and has over 350 gaming tables and 2,500 slot machines. There are three hotels, a shopping center, nightclubs, and restaurants on the territory of the casino. Celebrities like Tom Cruise, Tiger Woods, Katie Holmes and many others regularly stay at this casino.
Another popular casino in Australia is The Star Casino, located in Sydney. This place features various games, from roulette to poker and the usual slot machines. Also worth noting is the presence of restaurants and boutiques of major brands. And, of course, its own online casino Play Star, where you can play your favorite games and get extra rewards.
In addition to online casinos and sports betting, lotteries are very popular in Australia. Some of them are national, such as the Oz Lotto, which is run by the Tatts Group and is the first official lottery.
The first draw was released way back in 1996, and since then, the prizes have been drawn every week on Tuesdays. This lottery has a fixed bet of $1.10, and the minimum winnings are $2 million, which increases in line with the number of tickets purchased.
The biggest jackpot win in Australian lottery history was on November 6, 2012, when the jackpot was split between four players for a total of AUD$111,972,151.04.
There are seven prize categories in the lottery, each of which requires a certain number of values to be matched:
| Category | Number of matches | Probability (for a single bet) |
| 1 | 7 | 1 of 45.379.620 |
| 2 | 6 + extra ball | 1 of 3.241.401 |
| 3 | 6 | 1 of 180.078 |
| 4 | 5 + 1 or 2 extra balls | 1 of 29.602 |
| 5 | 5 | 1 of 3,430 |
| 6 | 4 | 1 of 154 |
| 7 | 3 + 1 or 2 extra balls | 1 of 87 |
| Any prize | 1 of 55 |
The final prize for each category is calculated at the end of the week, proportionally to the tickets purchased. It should also be noted that the Australian lotteries are considered one of the best in the world (in terms of probability of winning). Draws are held almost daily, and winnings from them are not taxed.
In addition to the Oz Lotto, Australia also has Monday Lotto, Thursday Lotto, Powerball Australia and many others.
Another popular game of chance in Australia is bingo. The rules are similar to the lotto, and since Australia has a well-developed bingo system, this game can be played offline and online.
There are three popular bingo varieties in Australia, 75 Ball Bingo, 80 Ball Bingo and 90 Ball Bingo, differing, as you can guess from the name, mainly only in the number of balls.
Many sites offer the most popular online version of bingo, each of which provides a nice bonus on your first deposit. Among them are to select Bingo Australia, Bingo Billy, Bingo for Money, and many others.
And, of course, we should not forget about poker, which is also popular among Australians. You can play it in any land-based casino in Australia, but online poker has a problem. Until 2020 all major online poker rooms such as Pokerstars, 888poker, and Partypoker accepted Australian players since the law after 2001 let providers remain in the shadows but didn’t penalize them for operating in Australia. But in 2020, a new law that prohibited poker rooms from accepting players from Australia and punished them with high fines provoked a mass exodus of famous poker rooms from the country.
Nevertheless, it’s not forbidden for players to play online poker. Still, it may cause some difficulties as the big rooms won’t accept players from Australia, and you’ll have to find alternatives which are not always safe.
Since online casinos in Australia are not entirely legal, there are no relevant regulators. Thus, it would be best to choose those online casinos that operate under licenses from the MGA, AGCC, Curaçao or other major regulators.
In order to check the license in your casino, scroll to the bottom of the page. Usually, there will be a link to the official site of the commission and a page confirming the validity of the license.
Be careful, some unscrupulous casinos insert a link not to the real site but a fake one, as they do not have a license.
Suppose there is no link to the commission site, but there is a license number in most cases. In that case, you can independently go to the licensor’s website and enter a code confirming the existence of a license from the casino. Here are some of the official sites.
| License | Official website |
| Malta (MGA) | https://www.mga.org.mt/mgalicenseeregister/ |
| Alderney | https://www.gamblingcontrol.org/licensees/ |
| United Kingdom (UK) | https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/authorities |
If a casino has violated the license rules regarding you, you can always contact the commission by e-mailing them and then, within a short time, you will get a response. The commission will oblige the casino to solve your problem if the rules are violated.
To summarize, the Australian gambling industry is extremely well-developed. A large number of land-based casinos, as well as online services for lottery, bingo, or sports betting, are prevalent among the population. Even though Australian online casinos are in the shade, playing them is absolutely legal, and there are no severe problems with deposits and withdrawals for Australian players.
This is made possible by modern electronic payment systems, which facilitate various online purchases and keep your bank details in strict confidentiality.
In addition to online casinos, sports and betting are extremely popular in the country. This popularity is due to less stringent laws regarding bookmakers, which operate on a legal basis.
The problem with online poker is that larger rooms don’t usually accept players from Australia due to Australian laws. But the Poker Players Alliance, which has been formed recently, intends to change this. And there are indications that the law may be mitigated soon.
Gambling is regulated under its laws. Betting on sports, lotteries, and bingo is legal and fully allowed. As well as online poker is allowed to play in online casinos, but their activity in the territory of Australia is forbidden, which complicates some moments.
The most common are electronic wallets such as Skrill, Neteller and POLi. Bank cards are another option, but this method can have some difficulties. Cryptocurrencies are a good alternative as they are completely legal in Australia.
There are no such bodies, but there are similar ones for betting shops. Each area has its commission that licenses betting shops and monitors their activities.
Yes, and in large numbers in every area. There are about 100 in total, each representing different gambling activities, from poker to slot machines.
As already mentioned, Australia is one of the most progressive countries in introducing cryptocurrencies. Transactions with them are fully allowed and not taxed if the profit from transactions/investments does not exceed A$18,000 per year.
23.01.2022 | Date updated: 17 July 2024
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