Australian online casino top picks
There are some terrific gambling brands out there. And some of them make their services available to the global market. They come complete with top welcome offers and loads of smart features for the modern gambler.
We take time to review each and every one of them very carefully. Nothing slips under our radar. We check every aspect of the site to make sure it’s a fantastic place to play for our readers. Just take a look around on this page and you will see some of the biggest names in the industry as well as some lesser-known ones who are breaking into the market.
The laws on online gambling in Australia
As with many countries, gambling online in Australia is a complicated matter. And this is not helped by the fact that some laws are set at federal level while others are more locally created in separate territories.
But what players need is clarity. It is always important to stay within the law. But it is also just as useful to know what you can and can’t do in reality.
Let’s take a look at how the gambling online Australia laws affect casino fans.
Is it legal to play online casino games in Australia?
So, is online gambling legal in Australia? That’s a good question. In 2001, we saw an overhaul of the gambling laws in this jurisdiction. In Australia, as with many other areas, the whole subject has come to the attention of lawmakers due to the increased online gambling activity around the world.
The new laws separated the different types of gambling into distinct areas depending on the type of activity. While lotteries and sports betting received a more lenient status, casinos were unfortunately dealt the harshest blow.
Brick-and-mortar casinos escaped the wrath of the new rules but online casinos were outlawed immediately.
It is now illegal to advertise and offer online casino games to play within the Australian borders. However, there is often a subtle difference between what the law says and what the law does.
Over the years, these new rules have been interpreted to punish online gambling operators rather than the players themselves. Millions of customers in Australia are still freely playing these online gambling games with offshore companies. While the law may technically say you shouldn’t be playing, nothing is done to punish anybody who does. So it seems that the authorities tend to turn a blind eye.
Casinos accepting players from Australia
As a result of the lax interpretation of laws for players, there are many global companies that will accept Australian players. Furthermore, they are happy to accept local Australian dollars as the main playing currency as well.
MGA-licensed casinos
As the Australian authorities do not permit any Australian no deposit bonus casino sites to operate locally, this need is met by others based elsewhere. But this doesn’t mean that you should simply go ahead and create an account with any old casino online in Australia that rears its head. You still need to remain safe regardless of where you are playing.
And the best way to do this is to use online casinos that have some form of licensing in place.
One of the main players in this area is the MGA. The Malta Gaming Authority was originally created to control gambling and betting activity on that island. But over the years, it has been recognised by many other countries that do not have their own licensing systems in place.
The MGA is well-regarded globally and many top brands that you will be familiar with on this page have a licence from this authority.
Curacao-licensed casinos
If you are unable to find any online casinos that you wish to use that has an MGA licence, then you could always opt for one with a Curaçao licence instead.
This tiny licensing authority is based in the Dutch Caribbean. And is part of the Lesser Antilles Islands. It may be a tiny Island but is known internationally for its gambling licensing operation.
The island has extremely favourable tax breaks for companies registering their interest there. So a lot of the smaller casino online Australia sites that you come across will have a licence with this gambling authority.
Regardless of which type of licence you prefer to see at your online casinos in Australia, we always recommend that you play at one that has at least some form of official paperwork to keep you safe.
Our review criteria for online casinos Australia
When it comes to choosing online casinos that allow Australian players, there is a long assessment to be made. Given that there is no legal protection within the Australian government, the best thing we can do is find places where you will have some form of legal guarantee.
Before we move on to any of the other assessment criteria, we always check for one of the globally recognised licences. And any of the online casinos that you see listed on this page will comply with that requirement.
Safety and security
The safety and security of your money and personal data are of paramount importance. And we always check to see if a company has a great reputation in this respect.
If there are any black marks against their name, then we will thoroughly review those issues before deciding whether or not to add them to our list of the best Australian online casino providers.
At the very least, we need to see that the website is using securely encrypted protocols. Your data should never be transferred online in a plain-text format. It must be encrypted so hackers can’t get their hands on it.
AUD currency accepted
And of course, if your money is held in your local currency, then it makes sense that you would want to spend it directly in that currency as well.
Making currency transfers across borders can be expensive. Not only will you get less favourable foreign exchange rates, but you will usually pay a fee for the privilege of making such a transfer.
Check out the sites listed here on this page to see which ones will work directly in Australian dollars.
Great welcome bonuses
And deciding which site you wish to use often has a lot to do with the welcome bonuses available. There are many different ways that a casino brand can entice new customers through the door. Some require you to spend some money while others come for free.
We always check to see what kind of promos are available at these websites. And we don’t just take those big-money offers for granted. We look into the small print to see how you can use the bonus and what kinds of restrictions are in place. If we feel that an operator is making it unnecessarily difficult for players to enjoy a welcome deal, then they don’t get any further in our review process.
Varied game selection
Playing at the best Australian online casino wouldn’t be any fun if there was not a great selection of games available. A top site will have deals with the best game providers in the industry. And it is always obvious when you take a look at their selection.
Other smaller companies may not have what it takes to be trusted by the software providers. And they will fail to secure deals to represent them. Sometimes, this may mean that the brand does not have the credentials to provide you with a great gaming experience. And if that’s the case, then we will not have that company listed up here on this site.
Good selection of payment methods
Getting money into your casino account is extremely important. It needs to be fast and it needs to be safe. There are many different ways that you can do it and they all have various advantages and disadvantages.
We need to see that a casino is using trusted payment providers in much the same way that they must be trusted by the game providers as well. It shows us that the international payment companies think highly enough of this brand to be associated with them.
We make sure that several top payment platforms are available for players at that site.
Good mobile casino
Playing the best online casino Australia games on a mobile has become the main way to access the action over the years. It is no longer acceptable for players to have to head home and boot up the old PC to get online and log into their casino account.
Modern gamblers want all the entertainment right there wherever they are and whenever they want it. And this can only be achieved by creating a top mobile version of the website or an application.
If a brand refuses to invest in mobile technology, then it does ask questions about its commitment to customer satisfaction.
Best online pokies in Australia
There are so many Fantastic slots available on the internet. Some have made their way over from the casino floors of Las Vegas. While others were created specifically for the digital Market.
These games cater for all tastes and budgets. Every conceivable theme under the sun is now available on online pokies with real money in Australia. And with so many top gaming creators working together, the experience that they can provide is second to none.
Fire Joker
This Play’n GO retro slot has all the hallmarks of a classic pokie. There’s nothing complicated about it and there are only 3 reels and 3 rows. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t win big on this game
Classic slots like these present a big advantage over their modern counterparts. They payout based on your total bet rather than the line bet amount. And this can make them pretty lucrative.
The beauty of this title lies in its simplicity and this applies to the main features as well. There is a Respin of Fire that respins the remaining reel when you get 2 complete reels of matching symbols.
And if you get all 3 reels to match up, then you get a chance to spin the Wheel of Multipliers. This multiplies your win by up to 10x. And this can produce some cracking results.
Book of Dead
Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead is one of the most popular games that you’ll come across online. It’s also one of the main participants in many casino bonus offers. It has an Ancient Egyptian theme and is known for being highly volatile. This means that small wins are few and far between but it will pay out big from time to time.
It has a max payout of 5000x with every spin and there is also a fantastic free spins round that can produce the big wins without using up your bankroll.
You can enjoy this game on your laptop, PC as well as all mobile devices. So you can take the action with you anywhere you go.
Wolf Treasure
IGT’s Wolf Treasure features the standard 5 reels and 3 rows. And across the reels, there are 25 win lines in play. The variance is straight down the middle meaning that you’ll see fairly regular wins of a lowish value. But there are still top prizes to land with wins of up to 1000x.
The game features wild symbols and scatters that can all produce some incredible payouts. And there is a bonus round as well. This is a free spins round with 5 spins that can be retriggered during the feature.
Dawn of Egypt
You may have guessed that Egyptian-style slots feature heavily at today’s top online casinos. And this game goes along perfectly with this idea. This 5 reel slot only has 10 win lines but they can hand out some nice returns.
The top symbols are the scarabs which are the game’s wild symbol. It will substitute for all of the others apart from the scatter symbols. 3 or more scatters will take you to the free spins round where you can get up to 20 spins. During this feature, the scatters turn wild and they can lead to loads more free spins. So if you don’t like paying for your spins, this slot could be your best friend!
Legend of the Nile
OK, so let’s stay in Egypt for this next game. All of the other game producers have had a go at this theme so Betsoft decided to give it a go as well!
And we’re happy to say that they added a slight edge that may help it stand out from the competition. It features a cascading reel mechanic that helps it feel a little fresher than some of the others.
This game is great for low-budget players who aren’t looking to spend a ton of cash. And the returns can be pretty attractive too. The 3 special features each pay homage to a separate Egyptian God and can all pay out top sums of cash.
Other types of casino games
Even though the vast majority of casino fans enjoy playing slots, they aren’t for everybody. But there are many other games to keep you satisfied.
Many of them have been around for hundreds of years. And they create the very basis of the modern casinos that we know and love today.
Online Roulette
One of the top picks for lovers of gambling games is roulette. This game originated in France in the 1700s and has been tantalizing its fans ever since. The game itself presents very simple mechanics. There is a wheel with separately numbered sections and a ball that spins around the wheel, eventually landing in one of those numbered slots.
Your job as the player is to wager your stakes on where you think the ball will land. There are many different types of bets that you can make. The higher the chance of winning that your wager presents, the lower the odds will be. That’s what makes this game a fantastic option for players with all different kinds of budgets.
Online Blackjack
Card games were one of the first types of gambling games to ever hit the casino floor. They have been a gambling staple for hundreds of years and look set to remain the most iconic type of casino game. And it helps that they are well represented by many characters in top Hollywood movies.
There is something special about reigning victorious during a card game at the casino. Some games have an element of skill involved and blackjack is one of those. So many players around the world love to prove their ability by beating the dealer in this top casino classic.
To win, it takes little more than reaching the closest figure to 21 that you can without going over. And if your figure is closer than the dealers, then you win. There are choices you will have to make along the way and it all depends if you want to select more cards or not. And this is where the true essence of this gambling game comes into play.
Online video poker
Video poker games have been a firm favourite online and brick-and-mortar casinos for a long time. You can play with very small wagers if you wish or raise the stakes all the way up to the house limit if your budget allows it.
There are loads of different poker varieties to enjoy. You can play Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild HoldEm Poker and many more.
The beauty of playing video poker is that you can do it at your own pace. There is nobody else connected to the game so it doesn’t matter how long you take to decide what your next move is.
Live casino online Australia
Many of the casino sites listed on this page will also have live casino available as well. Live casino bridges the gap between in-person casino play and internet gambling.
Some people prefer to play at their own leisure and then video poker games and slots are a better fit. But if you like the human interaction element, then live casino could be the perfect solution for you.
How live casino gaming works
The games are produced in top state-of-the-art studios with specially trained dealers and all the very best equipment.
Everything is as you would expect it to be on the casino floor. The only difference is that you move your money around electronically to place your bet. You can speak to the dealer and ask any questions you need to during the game thanks to the live chat features. And don’t worry, your camera is not turned on during the game.
Aussie online casino bonuses
An online casino bonus is the perfect way to enjoy everything that a casino site has to offer without spending a lot of your own money. There are some that you can land by splashing a little cash and there are others that you can simply bag by creating a new account at that website. And they all have various advantages and disadvantages. So what works for one player may not necessarily work for another. You need to consider the details of each offer on its own merit.
No deposit bonuses
No deposit free spins in Australia bonuses are ones that will come your way without shelling out any of your own hard-earned cash.
They are not as readily available as the other type but you do still find them fairly frequently. You can achieve these deals by creating a new account and then confirming that you wish to take part in the promotion. These offers will usually be a few free spins on one of the top online pokies real money Australia or maybe even some bonus cash that you can use on various other classic games and video poker.
Deposit match bonuses
If you part with some cash, then you can see a much larger bonus. A deposit match will reward you with the same amount of money that you pay in and it will land in your bonus balance. Your bonus balance is there for you to use subject to any promo details. These may include wagering requirements, max cash out, and also game weighting.
This type of deal can amass hundreds of pounds of extra playing cash. But always read the details carefully as the restrictions can make it difficult to spend this money effectively if the rules are too tight.
Benefits of playing with a bonus
Playing with no deposit free spins Australia is fantastic as it means you are not risking any of your own money. Moreover, you also have the chance to walk away with some of the winnings.
These deals give you a chance to take a look around the website and play a few of the games for free. They are an entry pass to see what you think of that brand. You should not think of them as a big-money opportunity to land yourself a ton of profit. Although this can happen, you shouldn’t bank on it.
Benefits of playing without a bonus
There are restrictions when using any casino bonus. And if you wish to simply place a bet and collect anything you win then you may want to consider playing without a bonus. It does mean that you get your hands on the winnings much easier and you don’t have to spend a long time meeting any wagering requirements.
Online casino in Australia with real money
Playing at an online casino Australia real money is an extremely exhilarating experience. It is great fun knowing that you turned your bet into lots of lovely profit!
All of the sites listed on this page will accept real money wagers.
Real money gaming
If you are looking to create some profit with your bets then a real money site is the only way to go. However, the downside is that you may lose that money as well. And this is always the risk you take when you gamble.
You can place real money wagers on classic table games, video poker, live casino and slots as well. And they all present a top chance to win some money.
Playing in demo mode (for fun)
But if you are just a fan of the games and not interested in the profits, then you can play the demo versions.
These games are perfect replicas of the real money version but you will not risk any of your own cash. The obvious downside to this is that you cannot win any money either.
Demo games are also a great way to get to grips with any games that you think may require some learning. Some of the best online pokies Australia can have several features that you are not familiar with. And playing for free for a little while will give you a chance to see how it all works without losing any money in the process.
Banking options popular in Australia
Moving your cash from your pocket to an Australian real money money casino should not be a complicated task. And thankfully, many of today’s best online casinos will present you with different payment options.
Here are just a few of the top payment platforms available to local players.
POLi
POLi payments are the Australian answer to Zimpler. You can connect directly to your internet banking while at the cashier section of the casino site and make a deposit whenever you like.
None of your details are saved and the system has been approved as perfectly safe by the banking authorities. It is a firm favourite with online gambling Australia fans as it puts a high emphasis on privacy. This has drawn criticism from other areas but remains a top banking choice in this niche.
Paypal and other e-wallets
Electronic wallets are an extremely fast and secure way to make a deposit. There are several big companies in the industry that can facilitate these payments and they have a great reputation. You may be familiar with companies such as Skrill, Neteller and PayPal.
You can send money to your electronic account and then use it wherever you like in the world. And this includes making deposits at the best Australian casino online sites listed on this page. There may be a small fee for adding money to your electronic wallet. Although making transfers to your casino account is generally free. But always check the site details first. And withdrawals are also possible using this top platform.
VISA/Mastercard
Visa and MasterCard are two of the biggest companies that facilitate debit and credit card payments. You can use these cards to add funds to your casino account. It is usually pretty swift to get the cash moving and it can travel in both ways.
There is not usually any charge from the casino for using these cards.
If you are making payments to a casino that does not accept your local currency, it may involve some fees. These could be currency exchange fees and also any processing fees on top that the card wishes to apply. You can check this information with your debit or credit card provider.
FAQ
Here are some of the most popular FAQs that we receive on the subject of Australian online pokies.
