Best Online Casino Australia AU

Best Australian Online Casino

Australia is literally one of the best places to live if you’re into gambling online. It is only appropriate to address this question in detail and point out what makes the Australian casino industry so great.

Can You Play for Real Money in Australian Online Casinos?

Yes, you can play for real money in Aussie online casinos. The thing is, all gambling operations on the territory of Australia undertaken by online casinos are regulated by the Interactive Gambling Act, a law that was officially passed in June 2001. According to the law, providing real money gambling services to Australians is strictly prohibited for gaming operators located in the country and offshore. It is also illegal to advertise such activities. So how it is even possible for casino players to enter an Australian online casino gambling site?

The law is created to protect Australian players from possible damage done by web-based gambling, primarily addiction, and fraud.

And yet, there’s nothing in the law that makes it illegal for local casino players to access and use gambling services of online casinos. In essence, even the best real money casino sites are under the government’s microscope. Aussies wanting to play online casino games are not.

Australian casino history and licensing

Australia is a fertile ground for online casino sites and over 80% of adults engage in gambling of some kind. But unlike some other countries, real money gambling isn’t regulated by a single overarching authority. Instead, Aussie online casinos are monitored and controlled by your State/Territory AND Federal government.

The Commonwealth has become more and more involved as online pokies, table games and other entertainment products presented by online real money casinos became very popular among Australian players. The first gambling laws were passed in the ’50s and ’60s, but with the rise in popularity of the online Australian casino industry, the above-mentioned Interactive Gambling Act was introduced in 2001. The latest laws and rules in this regard were passed by New South Wales (Gaming and Liquor Administration Act in 2007), and Western Australia (Racing Bets Levy Act in 2009).

Best Real Money Online Casinos in Australia

In reality, there is no such thing as the best online casinos in Australia. There are certain online casinos that suit your needs better than others. Having said that, we will provide you with a list of top Australian online casinos.

Players should focus on their needs and preferences:

•  What kind of online casino games do they love to play?
• Do they want to become a member of a VIP program?
• Are slot games their thing or is it table games, or video poker maybe?
• What is their choice of banking methods?
• Do they care more about the welcome bonus or wagering requirements?

It is our job to write the best online casino reviews and provide you with a list of safe, reliable, and fair online casinos in Australia. Fortunately, there are plenty of online casinos offering free trials and casino games with no cash involved, so players can decide what’s good for them and set their priorities in order.

How To Open A Casino Account?

For some players, especially new ones, opening a real money casino account may sound more complicated than it really is. Essentially, players can open an online casino account in five easy steps that we will break down in the text below.

Choose a licensed casino

The first step is to find a safe, properly regulated and licensed online casino. Every online casino site we recommend has passed those tests, but if ever in doubt look for the security and approval seals at the bottom of the casino site home page. What you want from an online casino is SSL encryption, a great selection of games made by proven software vendors, a string of reliable cash transfer services, and a gambling license issued by a legitimate authority. Other certificates, such as recommendations by professional reviewers of casino sites, can also come in handy.

Registration at a casino

Before you can claim your casino bonus, free spins and play pokies, you must register first. An online casino X will ask players to enter their full name, address, date of birth, email address, and a phone number that will later be used for confirmation purposes. This is perfectly normal in almost all Australian online casinos and players should avoid the temptation to conceal or lie about their personal data.

Enjoy playing casino games

Before you actually start playing games for real money, try them out first. A good Australian online casino will offer you to play pokies and card games for free. so players could learn the rules of a particular casino game. Jackpot pokies like Mega Moolah and Book of Dead are very popular jackpot games and pokies known for their lavish progressive jackpots and free spins. Live dealer casino games can usually be played with real money only, so it’s a good idea to go for the corresponding table games first and practice a little before facing a live dealer.

Claim your bonus

The bread and butter of Australian online casino sites, bonuses serve to motivate players. One or more bonuses will be offered to all new players, most of which come in the form of welcome bonuses. The bonus amount and deposit options will vary, but most of them are deposit-based or accessed via bonus code. A player must deposit a minimum amount of money (or more) in order to receive a first deposit bonus which usually consists of a match bonus and a certain number of free spins for real money pokies.

A match bonus of 100% will double your deposit real money with an equal amount of bonus money (not the same thing!) and free spins will allow you to play pokies without spending any money. Of course, top online casinos in Australia have tons of promotions – daily, weekly, and monthly offers. The important thing to remember is that every casino bonus has terms and conditions a player must fulfill. Quick note: players are not obligated to receive offers based on their deposits or in any other way.

Claim your winnings

After all the wagering requirements have been met, a player can go to the cashier section and request payment either via credit card, bank account, e-wallet, or any other withdrawal method supported by the casino in question. At this point, a casino will request players to provide additional personal information as part of their security measures. The processing time is usually from 24 to 72 hours long, depending on the online casino involved, and after that, it is up to the money transfer services and their own withdrawal timeframes.

How We Rate the Best Online Casinos in Australia

There are several key factors that determine the quality of online casinos Australia. In this section, we will go through all of them and explain to our readers what differentiates the best online casinos in Australia from the rest.

Welcome bonus

A welcome bonus serves to attract new and existing players. A good welcome bonus offers a high limit and match bonus percentage, as well as plenty of free spins for pokies and reasonable wagering. Four-digit limit bonuses, with a match bonus of 100%, plus 100 or more free spins and a 40x wagering the welcome bonus amount can be considered generous. But bonuses rarely are generous, which is why players must compromise and set their priorities straight.

Game variety

A great selection of games is crucial for attracting and keeping casino players around. A perfect online casino will have at least 2,000 games or more, including every single category of online casino games. The most popular games include pokies, table games (blackjack, craps), video poker (Jacks or Better), live dealer games (roulette, baccarat, hold’em poker), virtual games and sports, and sports betting. Software providers such as Evolution Gaming, Playtech, NetEnt and others, are vital if a casino wants to be rated at the top.

Customer support

When things go south or players simply need information regarding bonuses, deposits, pokies or deposit bonus money, top casinos have teams of experts looking after us. Obviously, a customer support team has to be knowledgeable and polite, but what we reviewers are especially meticulous about is are they quick to respond, and can we reach them immediately on all communication platforms.

With a solid support team, Aussies can expect them to respond in less than a minute via 24/7 live chat, get a response email in one hour or two, or a staff member on the phone almost right away. The casino support team should have all the answers you are looking for, and/or solve all of your problems instantly.

Other bonuses and promotions

Once your welcome bonus has dried up, casino sites will continue to incentivise and reward loyal players. Depending on the casino, players can count on free spins for pokies, reload bonuses, cashback bonuses, and in case of gamified online casinos competitions and tournaments. Loyalty points are another way to reward the best customers, apart from those in a VIP program. Players collect loyalty points by playing casino games and as they rise through casino ranks, they gain better bonuses, lower wagering, faster and bigger withdrawal limits, real money rewards, gifts, and in some cases a dedicated personal account manager.

The best bonuses by far are casino no deposit bonuses. Online Australian casinos tend to offer this type of casino bonus right off the bat and they usually involve a small amount of bonus money, or more frequently free spins for pokies, without players having to pay any real money at all. But there is a catch. While casino players from Australia can expect to score some free spins as part of their no deposit bonus, the wagering for such bonuses is extremely high. This makes big wins and payouts on pokies sites a truly rare sight to behold. In fact, no deposit bonuses are a marketing move. The trouble is, online casino players, even experts, rarely win real money worthy of withdrawing this way. It’s a viable option only if you decide to use it for fun and play pokies.

Jackpots

Jackpot pokies are a fundamental part of all serious online casinos for two reasons. One, online pokies are fun to play and they do not require gambling skills. Two, some online pokies offer jackpots worth several millions of dollars. Bear in mind that jackpot pokies are mostly off-limits if a player has an active bonus of some sort, be it a welcome bonus, or any other bonus based on deposits. Also, some online casinos reserve the right to split large jackpot winnings into multiple transactions and payout over a longer period of time.

Safety and security

All legit online casinos must be both safe and secure. Most Australian online casino reviews rely on this bit of information. Not only is your real money on the line here, but your personal data as well. So SSL encryption, strong regulation, transparency, and a strict gambling license are a must. Every Australian online casino we feature has been rigorously checked, because, unlike free spins, pokies, and bonuses based on deposits, online casino safety and security are not negotiable.

Deposit and withdrawal methods

The more – the better, it’s that simple. Online casino sites in Australia will offer a selection of money transfer services for our deposits and withdrawals. You should go for the one having the best deals and the shortest waiting time possible. Online casinos with over 15 methods are considered superb, and the latest trend in the online casino industry is e-wallets and cryptocurrencies.

User experience

This may seem irrelevant next to a welcome bonus or a VIP program offer, but in most cases, it’s the user experience that keeps us coming back to a particular casino game. In short, the question is how easy and enjoyable it is to use certain online casinos. A site that excels in this category will be easy to navigate and eye-pleasing. Every casino game should be easy to find, the site needs to perform well on a mobile gaming platform, and there should be no troubles when making a deposit or withdrawal.

How to Find the Latest Casino Bonuses For Australian Players

Casino promotions and rewards change over time, and it is our job to sort them out and present you with the latest casino bonuses in the business. In the following section we will analyse them all and point to some of their advantages, and disadvantages as well.

Deposit bonuses

Some people prefer online pokies. Others table games, video poker, or a live dealer casino. But they all have something in common – every single one of them wants a generous deposit bonus. They come in all shapes and sizes, and players receive them upon depositing a predetermined, minimal deposit or more. In our experience, sites with the best deposit bonuses offer a $1,000 match bonus or more, and 100 or more free spins for online pokies.

In addition, sites that are truly player-friendly will set a 40x wagering bonus (or deposit amount) or less. Another thing players should take into consideration is what games they can play with an active bonus. Most online casinos will grant you nice incentives, but you will be limited to play online pokies or just one of them. Please read bonus terms and conditions beforehand and check what games you can play with an active bonus.

Free spins bonuses

Almost all casinos offer free spins bonus packages due to the sheer popularity of online pokies. They range from 20 to 200 free spins, but some sites offer even more in case of deposits worth several hundred dollars. Simply put, free spins enable players to play pokies for free. And that’s the good news. The bad news is that those spins come with a limited timeframe, and with wagering based on winnings made with said spins.

Lastly, in most cases, players will be forced to play a limited number of games – in some casinos just one pokie, and those free spins will be played with bets set to a minimal value. Bear in mind that some casinos will prevent you from spending your free spins on jackpot pokies.

No deposit bonuses

This could be both the best or the worst thing on all gambling sites in the world. They are rare, and it’s easy to see why players love them – they get a small number of free cash funds or free spins without making any deposits. No deposit bonuses are excellent for new players and those wanting to familiarize themselves with online casino games.

However, in almost all casinos that offer rewards without deposits, the wagering is staggering. In some cases 99 times your winnings! Even if you do, your winnings will most likely be too small for you to withdraw them on a single transaction. Naturally, casinos tend to limit the number of games you can use this incentive on, and generally, you can count on just a few games or pokies. Our advice is to treat no deposit rewards like a free, fun tour of a casino.

Cashback bonuses

Cashback bonuses are great because they cushion the financial blow once your real money is lost. Almost all casinos have them, and cashback rewards greatly depend on the status that a player enjoys in a particular casino. Players with high loyalty status, and naturally VIP members, will have higher and more frequent cashbacks, ranging from 10% of your lost money and above.

Sometimes, casinos offer cashback as part of their daily, weekly, or monthly offer. In other cases, cashback bonuses are a product of a one-time promotion. Obviously, cashback does not have a wagering, but they are limited in terms of minimal and maximal money lost they are able to ‘refund’.

Best Gambling and Casino Games

Let’s describe some of the most popular games which can be found on almost all gambling sites:

Pokies

Online slots are the most popular game on every gambling site for two reasons: they are fun to play, and they require no gambling skill whatsoever – it’s pure luck. There are literally thousands of them to choose from, differing in style, mechanics, rewards, paylines, number of reels, special symbols, etc. We advise our readers not to play pokies with an RTP (return to player percentage) below 96%.

Roulette

Roulette is definitely the most prestigious of all casino games. It offers unmatched excitement while keeping the house edge to an acceptable limit. Players should try the European and the French version first since they feature only one green pocket with a zero on it, whereas American roulette has two green pockets. Check our roulette strategy guide for more info!

Live dealer

Live dealer casinos are becoming increasingly popular, especially among experienced players. Live casinos feature a vast number of games, some of them in the form of a real-time game show hosted by living and breathing humans. Expert players say that live dealer games are as close as it gets to actually visiting a brick-and-mortar casino.

Progressive jackpots

A progressive jackpot is played for one reason alone: everybody wants to get rich in an instant. Prizes range vastly, from a couple of thousands to several millions of dollars, and the only thing that prevents players from trying their luck on pokies with jackpots are limitations imposed by casinos, usually when a player has an active bonus.

Sports betting

Sports betting and virtual sports are commonly featured in the best Aussie online casinos. Players can bet on every major sports event on the planet, including virtual sports and video games. Granted, casinos with such options tend to be a bit clunky and hard to navigate for rookies, but our advice is to find a casino with the best and the most versatile odds, possibly with free live event streaming.

Online poker games

In terms of quantity, this is your safest option. There are literally dozens of poker games, and unlike pokies and some other card games, poker requires a certain degree of skill. You can find them in all variations – a card game against machines, a live casino game versus a croupier, or a video poker game.

Blackjack

Blackjack is considered to be the unofficial king of casinos. A game of blackjack has the lowest house edge in all reputable casinos, around 0,5% depending on your skill, strategy, and luck. Just like poker, blackjack has many variants and it is presented in many casino variants.

Mobile Casinos in Australia

Australian mobile casinos exploded in recent years, even surpassing desktop customers. A good mobile casino has it all – safety, security, bonuses, and great games. Yes, mobile casinos are designed to please both your eyes and fingers. They have to be visually scaled down in a way to resemble a desktop version of a casino, loading speed is another key point, alongside non-intrusive pop-ups. When it comes to mobile apps, some people love them for the extra features they provide, while others still prefer to play games on bigger screens.

Whatever the case, a mobile casino is nothing without impeccable optimization. Almost every single mobile device is supported in the Australian mobile casino world, as long as you don’t buy some extremely exotic, non-mainstream gadget.

New Online Casinos in Australia

New casinos are tricky. On one hand, they tend to offer the best deals in order to attract new customers, are very innovative and feature the latest games. They have to try very hard to impress and attract players preoccupied with well-established casinos. On the other hand, new casinos are not proven yet, have low brand recognition, and in some cases are a scam. This is why we pay close attention to new Australian casinos and point to those who did their best to secure all the licenses and a transparent business model.

The keywords are regulation and a reliable gambling license. If everything checks out, new casinos can be a dream come true since they offer good bonuses, accept cryptos and support e-wallets, host brand new games, and the customer service team isn’t overwhelmed by numerous client requests and questions.

Live Casino Online Australia

Live dealer casinos are a win-win situation. We have an opportunity to combine the social elements of a brick-and-mortar casino, with the convenience of playing games at our homes or on the move. Similar to mobile casinos, live dealer games are slowly but surely taking over the market, which is why we made sure to filter those casinos in our casino reviews. Some great casinos have subpar live sections, while other not-so-great casinos still manage to feature decent live casino games.

What you need is a game hosted by a professional croupier in a modern environment. Lags and crashes are out of the question, provided that live casinos online themselves are legit businesses with fair games, and top-of-the-line safety and protection.

Online Casino Payment Methods in Australia

Let’s go over some of the most popular banking methods in Australia. All of them are safe and legit, and you should choose the one that fits your needs, gambling style, timeframe, and financial limits.

• Credit and debit cards
• Visa
• Mastercard
• Paysafecard
• American Express
• PayPal
• Neteller
• ecoCard and ecoPayz
• Interac Online
• InstaDebit
• Cryptocurrencies

Are Online Gambling Sites and Casino Games Popular in Australia?

According to the latest polls and studies, Australia is the country with the highest number of online gamblers per capita in the world. Four out of ten Aussies gamble online on a daily basis, so we figure this question out, and the consequent answer is pretty much redundant. In short, Australia is the online gambling capital that’s teeming with top online casino sites.

FAQ

• Do gambling sites rig online casino games in Australia?

  Short answer: NO.

  Long answer: As long as you stick with Australian licensed online casinos, you will be fine. With that said, we often stumble upon a wild casino gambling site with questionable deposit bonuses and deposit methods, software developers, and games. Chances are that many of those may have been rigged. Because of this, we strongly suggest you do your research (or let us do it for you, wink wink) if you come across some online casinos in Australia that look suspicious.

• What withdrawal and deposit options can I use?

  It depends on which gambling site in Australia you are using. All real money online casinos are different and many of them will have different payment methods. With that said, the usual deposit options include credit and debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfer and, more recently, cryptocurrency. There are usually fewer banking options when it comes to withdrawals with many online casinos only allowing bank transfers or just e-wallets.

• Which Australian online casinos should I avoid?

  You should avoid Australian online casino sites that don’t own an online casino gambling license (imposed by Interactive Gambling Act). You should also avoid licensed online casinos In Australia that have a bad reputation, meaning casinos that refuse to payout, with bad customer services or the Bro Collective blacklisted websites. Gamble responsibly!

• I am from X country. Am I allowed to gamble at X casino?

  We always hate writing about this when we review Australian online casinos. Online casinos have their own rules about restricted countries and many times, the rules make no sense. It’s just how it is. Again, it entirely depends on the online gambling sites themselves and their affiliates.

• Can online casinos for Australian players refuse to payout?

  YES, but, unless you are doing something shady, you don’t need to worry about this. If you are using one of the reputable online gambling Australia sites and aren’t trying to hack or cheat, you won’t have to worry about your money not arriving. With that said, Casinos for Australian players can refuse to payout for a couple of reasons depending on the gambling laws. The most common one is when players have an active bonus and the casino refuses to issue a withdrawal because they still haven’t satisfied the wagering requirements.

• What are the best online gambling sites for Australian players?

  There is no such thing as THE best real money online casino. There are MANY best real money online casinos out there, and they are always trying one-up each other. When we make lists of the best Australian online casinos we take into consideration many factors, such as game selection, mobile casino apps, free games, bonuses, real money banking methods, etc. Only then we decide whether or not it’s worthy of being called the best.

• Can I play casino games on my mobile device?

  You sure can! Pretty much all casino sites in Australia are optimized to run on smartphones with SSL encryption. Some better online casinos offer their own mobile casino apps as well.