The Best 10 Online Casinos in Australia 🇦🇺

The History of Gambling in Australia

Australia has always maintained a strong affinity for gambling, with numerous studies confirming the inherent enthusiasm of Australians for games of chance. The vast majority have participated in gambling activities at some point, whether in land-based establishments or online.

The country's gambling history dates back to 1810 with the first horse race held in Sydney. Lotteries soon followed, and the Australian gambling scene truly exploded in the 1950s with the introduction of slot machines.

In Australia, slots are commonly known as 'pokies,' and their popularity surged rapidly. Even today, they remain one of the most favoured game categories nationwide. Regarding online gambling, Microgaming is recognised for developing the first casino software in Australia back in 1994. However, live casinos were not a widely recognised concept at that time.

Over time, online gambling sites gained traction, and Australians showed a keen interest in exploring them. As more individuals began accessing live casinos, the government found it increasingly difficult to regulate this sector as they had initially intended.

This led to the creation of the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001, specifically targeting online gambling operators. Under the Act, live casinos were strictly prohibited within the country, and it also outlawed offshore companies. There are, however, certain exceptions, as sports betting and auto racing remain legal.

Current Gambling Scene in Australia

As previously mentioned, online gambling is not legally recognised in Australia, meaning there are no licensed operators within the country. Nevertheless, land-based casinos and online sports betting are perfectly legal and stand as the only exceptions to the current legislation.

While the situation might initially appear restrictive for Australian punters, the reality is quite different. Despite the Australian government's stance against offshore live casinos and attempts to block market access, these sites have found ways to operate and remain accessible.

The government has acknowledged its inability to fully control the sector, and as a result, Australians generally have the freedom to access any international live casino that accepts players from the country, without facing any legal consequences. With a wide array of live casinos available, it's up to Australians to ensure they register with a licensed and reputable platform to enjoy their gaming experience safely.

The Future of Live Casinos in Australia

Online casinos are experiencing a surge in popularity globally, and Australia is no exception. With increasing accessibility to these platforms, the future outlook for online casinos in Australia appears promising.

However, a significant hurdle remains: the Australian government's apparent lack of interest in legalising online casinos domestically. Currently, no domestic sites hold such a license, and it seems unlikely that this situation will change in the near future.

There is growing pressure on the Australian government to legalise online casinos, particularly from the younger demographic. However, there has been no positive indication thus far. Despite this, Australians have found ways to play at offshore live casinos, and there are no effective measures in place to prevent them from doing so.

The benefits of legalising online casinos are substantial. The government could generate tax revenue, significantly boost employment within the sector, and contribute positively to the country's overall economy.

Players, on the other hand, would benefit from enhanced protection, knowing they are signing up with fully licensed platforms and are less vulnerable to fraudulent activities. In rare instances of issues, a governing body would be available to offer support. While these advantages are compelling, the decision ultimately rests with the Australian government, and progress in this area has been slow. It is anticipated, however, that the online casino sector may be fully legalised in the long term.

Mobile Casino Experience in Australia

The convenience and accessibility offered by mobile phones have made them indispensable tools for everyday life in Australia. Live casinos are no exception, with Australians increasingly enjoying their favourite live dealer games on their mobile devices.

Offshore live casinos have recognised this growing demand for mobile gaming year after year. Consequently, the majority of sites catering to Australian players have developed dedicated mobile apps, available for download on both Android and iOS devices.

The synergy between mobile phones and live casinos is undeniable. Given that Australia is a highly developed nation with widespread smartphone ownership, most citizens can enjoy live dealer games regardless of their location.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Australia?

Land-based casinos are fully legal and operate freely across Australia, forming one of the country's most lucrative industries. Past estimates indicate that Australian residents spend over AUD $150 billion annually on casino games like roulette, pokies, poker, blackjack, and baccarat. This remarkable figure underscores the immense popularity of gambling within the nation.

With such popularity, it's unsurprising that casinos are ubiquitous; Australia boasts approximately 200,000 pokies, an astonishing number. The situation, however, is starkly different for online gambling and live casinos.

The Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 prohibits all forms of online gambling, with the exception of sports betting. No offshore companies are eligible to obtain an Australian license, meaning there are no domestic sites offering services to Australian players.

Due to this regulatory environment, Australian gamblers often turn to the international market for live casinos, where numerous options are available. Importantly, there are no recorded instances of Australians facing criminal charges for gambling at an offshore live casino, so players generally feel free to access any site that permits their participation.

Regulation Laws and Authorities

As stated above, the gambling market in Australia is complicated, to say the least. Land-based casinos are completely legal in the country, and they are a major contributor to the economy, and gambling, in general, is accepted as a good pastime activity for most Australians.

The legislation in place that controls all aspects of gambling in Australia is the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA), which was introduced back in 2001. It specifically forbids all types of online gambling, except for sports betting.

So, live casinos are not accepted in Australia, and there is no licensed operator that offers such services to Australian punters. The Australian Communication and Media Authority is the body in charge of overseeing the whole gambling sector in the country.

Even though online gambling is illegal on paper, there are tons of offshore live casinos that accept punters from Australia, and the government does not stop them from gambling at such sites. The Interactive Gambling Act was introduced to minimize the harms of online gambling in Australia, but punters still find a way around it, and they are free to play their favourite live games at any international live casino.

Australian Players Favourite Live Games

After all, the most important factor that determines the success of every live casino is its selection of live dealer games. As online gambling is very popular among Australian punters, sites need to have the best possible games at their disposal, otherwise, players will not hesitate to search for another live casino.

The most popular live dealer games among Australian punters are:

• Live poker
• Live blackjack
• Live baccarat
• Live roulette

These games come in many different categories, so every live casino needs to make sure to have them all integrated.

The live casino games in Australia like poker, blackjack, baccarat and roulette give players the chance to experience real-life casinos from their desktop or mobile screen, as they will be up against a real human dealer, with whom they can communicate. Poker, blackjack, and baccarat are games that require a specific skillset, while roulette is based purely on luck, hence the excitement while playing it.

Game Providers

Not only the quantity of games is important to Australian punters, but the quality must also be there as well. There are certain game providers that every live casino that accepts players from Australia needs to make sure to partner with.

Partnering with these big names will surely attract more players to register on the site. Every live casino should have providers’ information at disposal on their homepage, and Australian punters looking at the site need to see whether the live casino has partnered with the likes of:

• NetEnt
• Microgaming
• Evolution Gaming
• Yggdrasil

These are some of the names that set the bar high in the industry, and their games are sure to be overwhelmed with quality.

Other Live Casino Games

Live dealer games are the favourites among Australians, but they are not the only category of games that can be found in international live casinos. It is necessary for any casino to offer a wide range of games so that every player will find something that matches their preferences.

Online pokies, or known as slots in the rest of the world, are a very popular option among Australian players, and every casino needs to have an abundance of them. There are different versions, such as 3-reels or 5-reels pokies, as well as progressive jackpot pokies.

Bingo also has to be mentioned here, as it is one of the easiest games to learn, so Australian punters love it. Similarly, keno can be found in most international casino sites, and it is a similar logic with bingo.

Lastly, craps is a game that is very common among international casino sites, and it is a classic dice game. Players from Australia will need to land a certain number using two dice while betting on the outcome.

Top Live Casino Bonuses in Australia

Free spins are very popular among Australian punters in live casinos they play at, and it is very easy to see why. It doesn’t cost anything, and free spins can help them secure some big wins without risking any of their money. Free spins are common among pokies, not in live dealer games.

Welcome bonuses are available for live dealer games, and they are a good way to attract newly registered players to the site. Usually, the most reliable live casinos that accept Australian players will match the first deposit made by them, while some will even go as far as matching the second and third deposit.

VIP bonuses are also very common in the best live casinos in the world, and they are a type of bonus that can be claimed by the most experienced punters on the site. They can come in many different forms, but almost always they have wagering requirements.

Next, there are the cashback and the different casino tournaments that the player can take part in. Cashbacks are very rare, hence their popularity and the special live casino tournaments are there for the most active players on the site, and they can always lead to some very handsome wins.

How to Claim These Bonuses

Firstly, every player in Australia needs to know that all bonuses have terms and conditions which have to be read carefully. Sometimes, the bonus just might not be ideal for some players to be claimed.

Welcome bonuses are a good example of this, as they always have the longest terms and conditions. Additionally, they also come with wagering requirements, so not always players will be excited to claim them. They are valid for a few days as well, so players need to be fast in claiming and using the bonus.

Cashbacks are self-explanatory, and they meant that the live casino may offer players the chance to retrieve some of the money they have wagered and lost. Special tournaments and loyalty programs are very different in every live casino, but one general rule states that the more time the player spends playing games on the site, the higher the loyalty ladder will climb, so the rewards will be bigger.

AUD in Australia Live Casinos

Greetings, dear gaming enthusiasts in Australia! Prepare to embark on a thrilling live casino adventure tailor-made for you. Today, we unravel the myriad benefits of playing with the Australian Dollar (AUD) in Australia's live casinos, leveraging our expertise in iGaming to provide valuable insights, especially for newcomers.

Advantages of AUD in Live Casinos

Let's delve into the world of live casinos and the undeniable advantages of wagering in your native currency, the Australian Dollar (AUD). The benefits are twofold: seamless transactions and access to a captivating array of live casino games, carefully designed to cater to the preferences of Australian players. From the heart-pounding excitement of live poker tournaments to the spin of the roulette wheel and the strategic allure of blackjack, these live casinos offer a diverse and immersive gaming experience.

At the core of this experience are the seasoned live dealers, fluent in your language, who create an engaging atmosphere that enhances your gaming journey. It's more than just a game; it's an authentic and exhilarating casino experience brought directly to your screen.

To further elevate your live casino adventure, we've thoughtfully curated a selection of top-rated live casinos that readily embrace the Australian Dollar (AUD) in our esteemed CasinoRank toplist. These distinguished casinos are renowned for their unwavering commitment to security, an extensive selection of live games, and user-friendly interfaces, ensuring a safe, seamless, and captivating gaming experience.

Ready to immerse yourself fully in the world of live gaming with the Australian Dollar (AUD)?

Top Payment Methods in an online casino in Australia

As is the case in many markets in the world, Australians prefer credit/debit cards as well as e-Wallets for all their transactions in live casinos. Card transactions are very common, and as everyone owns a credit/debit card, it is easy to see why.

• Visa
• MasterCard
• Maestro

These payment methods are very common in Australia, so it is the dominant payment method in live casinos that accept Australian punters.

They offer instant deposits, and when it comes to withdrawals, players might need to wait 3-5 days for withdrawal requests to be completed. For that reason, e-Wallets have gained so much popularity in recent years, as they are known to process withdrawal requests almost instantly, which is a major advantage over credit/debit cards.

Some of the E-wallets are slowly becoming the number one choice for Australians in live casinos. Examples of e-Wallets include:

• PayPal
• Neteller
• Skrill

Other Payment Methods in Australia

Apart from e-Wallets and credit/debit cards, there are also tons of other payment methods that Australians will find at live casinos they play at. Some of those are not very popular due to one reason – slow withdrawal requests.

Every player wants to have instant access to their money, and with payment methods such as prepaid cards, they need to wait several days before they can make any withdrawal. Examples of prepaid cards include Entropay and Astropay.

Cryptocurrencies need to be mentioned here as well. They are a new addition to the payment methods in live casinos, but they are not yet generally accepted by Australian players. They have all the advantages of the previously-mentioned payment methods, so cryptos will definitely become more and more popular in the near future.

Responsible Gambling

For those who wish to read more about responsible gaming or need help with addiction, please visit these websites below. Gambling addictions can be hard to spot, so please make sure to always gamble responsibly.

• GamCare
• Gamble Aware
• Gamblers Anonymous