Online Casinos Australia

About Casinos in Australia

Most gambling traditions were brought over to Australia by the British settlers who moved here. So, wherever the UK gambling scene went, so did Australia’s. However, it soon became obvious that Australians were crazy about one particular type of gambling – pokies.

Pokies are basically another term for Slots. This should be of no surprise, since slot games are also the most popular type of game at many web-based casinos. That doesn’t mean other types of internet gambling are ignored though! The best online Casinos AU has feature all types of games including Pokies, Table Games like Blackjack, Roulette, Poker or Baccarat, plus sports betting, lotteries, bingo, keno, scratch cards, and more! 

In short, if you can bet on it, you can find it at an online casino.

So, let’s take a look at the various web-based gambling sites in Australia, how they emerged and how we rate them. Along the way, we’ll also answer some common questions, such as whether it’s safe and legal, and what kind of games you can play, and what are the best places for betting online. By the end, you’ll be ready to tackle anything that comes up in your betting journey.

The History of gambling in Australia

Like most other countries, gambling has a tumultuous history in Australia. As we already mentioned, the first official gambling activity took place in 1810. It was Horse Racing, which was extremely popular and the primary form of betting in those days.

While the British settlers had brought their Horse Race betting with them, Australia still remained a multicultural country. There were also Chinese settlers, who brought in the lottery-style game Keno. Over the years, these two games, as well as other gambling games, became incredibly popular. 

However, the stigma against gambling still existed in some form. Even though a national lottery was established in the 1920s, it would be more than 50 years until betting establishments were legal.

At this point, we have to mention Pokies. These games are near and dear to every Australian gamer’s heart. The first Pokies machines appeared in the 1950s at various pubs, bars and underground establishments. 

Keep in mind that at this time, Pokies games were actually all mechanical. They involved a big bulky box that held a series of gears and wheels. When the lever was pulled, they could spin several reels randomly. This wasn’t as sleek or fast compared to electronic machines, but they were still instantly popular.

This remained the status quo, until 1973 when casinos were finally legalized and the first gambling locale in Australia popped up – the Wrest Point Hotel Casino in Tasmania. Around the same time, electronic pokies machines were finally developed. These two combined to propel the Australian gambling scene to new heights. A lot of Australians took inspiration from places like Nevada, which experienced an economic boom after opening up these establishments.

Today, each state in the Commonwealth of Australia has its own regulatory body for web betting. For example, in Queensland, betting is regulated by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation. In Victoria, it’s the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation that handles all these. This is the same system as what is used in other federal countries such as the US or Canada.

How to choose the best casino to play in Australia?

Currently, there are more than 20 physical establishments and countless online betting sites in Australia. As we mentioned, it is perfectly fine for Australian players to play at international sites. However, this brings up another problem.

There are hundreds, even thousands of places out there! How does one pick out the best online casinos AU players should visit?

Well, the answer to that is simple. You pick out and select a few criteria that determine how they should be rated. Then you visit various sites and test those criteria. Unfortunately, this happens to be a really time-consuming and labour-intensive task. The better option is to let others handle it.

More specially, let our team of expert reviewers handle it! They have a lot of experience with betting, so you can rest assured they know exactly what to keep an eye out for. Our team of reviewers started from brand new and up-and-coming sites to check things out, eventually climbing all the way up to some of the top online casinos AU has to offer.

You can read the results of all that effort right here. If you want a second opinion, you’re free to visit another online casinos review site. However, we think you’ll find our reviews perfect for the situation!

Is online gambling in Australia legal and safe?

While these are two separate and very important questions, the answer to both is ‘Yes!’

We already discussed their history in Australia and how the scene evolved over time. To summarize, the only thing that is illegal is overseas operators advertising and offering their services here in Australia. If you are an AU citizen, then don’t worry about any legal issues at all. You’re free to play wherever and whenever you like!

Safety is a somewhat more complicated matter. Generally, they are safe. However, there are always people trying to breach that safety and exploit players.

For starters, there are thousands of web-based betting sites out there. Unfortunately, not all of them are legitimate. A few of them are actually nothing but fronts for fraudsters and cybercriminals. They will pose as a normal, legit site. However, once you enter your personal details for signing up, they will store those details. Later, they can use those details to carry out identity theft.

It’s not just identity details that can be stolen in this way. Sometimes, they will ask you for credit card information so they can “confirm you are a real person”. The moment you enter it, your CC info will be taken. They could pull money straight out of your credit card or bank account. If you notice that this is happening, you can go to the bank and freeze it. However, many people often don’t notice until it is too late.

So, how can you prevent this? The simplest solution is to check the license. In order to operate as a web-based casino, every single site must obtain a license. There are several groups that give out this license, including the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority, the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, the Curacao Gaming Control Board, and many other bodies around the world. Each country and state often has its own regulatory body.

These regulatory bodies check if an operator is legit and following proper security measures. In this case, security measures refer to SSL encryption, certificates, and other protocols. They also test if the games are fair and unbiased. If everything is correct and in place, the casino will be assigned a license number.

A license is usually visible as an image stamp at the bottom of the page. You can also check the casino’s details from the licensing registry. So, even if a fake site duplicates the image, they won’t be able to fake the actual registry entry.

If all the above checks out, then you can be reasonably confident that the site is safe. For further reassurance, you could also visit an online casinos review site and check the reviewers’ thoughts or user comments regarding reliability and trustworthiness.

How do we Rate Online Casinos in Australia?

So far, we’ve covered almost everything you need to know to get started with online gaming. However, before you can jump headfirst into our list of the top online casinos AU has to offer, you need to know about one more thing.

How exactly do we rate web-based sites? If you know our rating system, you will be better informed to make a choice. Beginner players can learn how they are rated, while veterans will be able to compare our rating system with their own judgement in order to gauge if we are making suitable recommendations for them.

Without further ado, here are the most important factors that make a gambling site one of the top online casinos AU.

Website Design and User Interface 

User interface and design is perhaps the single most important factor for attracting and retaining players. Nobody wants to stare at a gaudy website made up of clashing colours, awkwardly sized buttons, and unreadable text. Most users prefer a sleek and elegant interface with complementary colours that focus on a particular theme.

This also includes how easy it is to navigate around the site. Ideally, there should be a navigation bar with links to all the important sections. The front page should direct players to the promotions and games pages. A sitemap can be included to make navigation easier.

All in all, we prefer websites that don’t make getting around and finding your favourite game a hassle.

Bonuses and Promotional Offers 

Nearly every online gaming site offers bonus offers. If you visit a web gambling site, you’ll most likely encounter the Welcome Bonus promo right away.

Bonus offers basically give you extra rewards for playing and fulfilling some terms and conditions. They are a way to incentivize players to either sign up, or keep playing even more. An example of a typical bonus is, “100% Match on your First Deposit up to $100.”

This bonus is a Welcome Bonus, which can be activated using a code or by simply signing up. If you deposit some money, it will be doubled. The maximum amount you can get from the bonus is $100. So, if you deposit $100 at first, a total of $200 will be added to your virtual wallet.

Bonuses and Promos are an excellent way of getting a head-start. However, just keep in mind that you won’t be able to withdraw the bonus cash until you’ve completed the Wagering Requirement. To do this, you must wager an amount equal to the bonus multiplied by the requirement. So, if the WR of the above-mentioned bonus was 40x, you would need to wager $4000 before you got the bonus.

Different games contribute different amounts to the requirement as well. Table games only contribute 10-20%, but Slots titles contribute 100%. Be sure to read the terms and conditions before you try earning a bonus!

Portfolio of Games 

The main reason for playing at an online casino is to play gambling games. So, the quality and quantity of the games in their library are pretty important! Every such website features hundreds or even thousands of titles. But you can’t be the best online casino in AU by simply filling your library with mediocre titles.

The best way to understand the quality of a site’s library is to check what software providers they use. The best ones will have games from NetEnt, Microgaming, Evolution Gaming, Pragmatic Play, IGT, Playtech, Play’n Go and more. These providers are among the best in the industry, so if we see them at a casino, we can rest assured that the games will be of high quality. They will be fun and engaging to play.

VIP Programs and Loyalty Rewards 

Getting brand new players to sign up and start playing is well and good. But what about the old timers? The veteran players who have focused on one operator over all others for many years? These players receive loyalty rewards.

Loyalty rewards can include benefits such as extra bonuses, unique rewards, and even exclusive gifts.

For players who have gone above and beyond, the VIP club is the ultimate reward. Joining this exclusive club offers benefits similar to loyalty rewards, plus things such as a personalized account manager, no limits on deposits and withdrawals, invitations to events and tournaments, and so on. 

To join the VIP club, players must spend a huge sum of money. So, it is important for us to check if the VIP club is up to par and worth joining.

Banking and Customer Support 

The last factor that helps us determine if an operator’s ranking lies among the best online casinos AU are its banking options. Many players don’t have access to all types of promotions. Some of them might not have a credit card, while others don’t have access to any prepaid cards. So, having a variety of payment options, ranging from credit and debit cards to e-wallets, prepaid cards, and even cryptocurrencies, is fairly important.

Similarly, it’s important to have high-quality customer support. If a player faces an issue with their account or with getting their deposit/withdrawal, customer support is who they will contact.