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POLi in Australian Casinos
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Knowing the situation with online gambling regulations in Australia, as an Australian player, you know that you can access international casino sites and make effortless deposits and withdrawals with POLi, using your own bank account. This amazing payment solution, originally from Australia but today local to New Zealand, gives bank account holders the option to use their bank accounts for near-instant transactions across online casinos that offer it. For years, it was provided by the Australia Post and has been going strong in Australia, but as of 2023, it is owned by Merco in New Zealand. You can learn more about it if you follow our lead, but rest assured that as an Australian player, you can use it for the most effortless deposits and withdrawals. What is POLi and why decide to use it across online casinos that cater to Australian players?
Online Gambling Regulation in Australia
The first land-based casino in Australia to be granted a license to operate was the Tasmanian West Point Hotel Casino, which happened in 1973. However, the country introduced proper land-based gambling regulations way back in 1810, even though not many verticals were legalized at the time. Among the first verticals that were allowed was horse racing betting, nevertheless, with time, the country legalized land-based casino gambling, too.
Australia, however, was not thrilled about online gambling when it first emerged, just like many countries back then. Sure, when it first appeared, land-based operators across the world immediately started applying for online licenses in regulated markets, but Australia did not want that to happen within its territory. That’s why as soon as online gambling took off, the country banned it. As of 2001, with the introduction of the Interactive Gambling Act, online gambling is prohibited in the country.
But, before the ban was enacted, many land-based operators in Australia applied for and obtained their licenses to offer online gambling. To keep things in-house, the authorities still allowed some form of local online gambling, but offshore gambling is off the table. No new operators, however, from the moment the ban took effect, have been able to obtain a license. What’s more, in 2023, Australians were banned from using credit cards for online gambling purposes, out of player protection concerns.
Nevertheless, Australians have a loophole to use to their advantage, since the Act is more focused on operators, not so much on players. There are no fines included in the Act that would scare Australians away from joining offshore online casinos. Therefore, they are not exactly forbidden from accessing them, at least not in so many words. Sure, Australia seeks new approach towards online gambling all the time, has been adamant to block offshore operators who are trying to access the market, and players are advised against joining them, but legally, there’s nothing to worry about. So, as long as you get access to an international online casino somehow, you can actually join it.
Plenty of international operators continue catering to Australians, though. Therefore, you literally have hundreds of sites to check out and join. But, since these are not backed up by the authorities in Australia when choosing a site to join, you must look for sites that are still licensed by at least one respectable regulator. Sites licensed by the UKGC and the MGA are great options, as they offer proper player protection. These sites also offer some of the best games in the industry, delivered by leading software developers, so you can rest assured that you’ll have plenty of different game types and titles to try out. You just have to do your research and you’ll find hundreds of sites to access which offer industry-leading gaming content.
On that note, when looking for Australia-friendly sites to join, after you check their game selections, you must also check their payment methods selection. You’d want to play using a payment method you can trust to deliver safe transactions, preferably a method that has been around for ages, like POLi.
POLi offers near-instant transactions via a bank account, acting like a proxy to facilitate the transfer of funds from one bank account to another, in your native currency, the Aussie dollar. Originally from Australia and introduced by the Australia Post, this solution has been around for years, with millions of Australians trusting it over the years with their money. Today, it is offered by the New Zealand Merco, but nevertheless, as an Australian player, you can still use it. Stay with us to learn how and why, as in the following section, we’ll tell you all about it.
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Using POLi Across Australian Online Casinos
The Australia Post launched the internet banking payment solution POLi roughly two decades ago. The solution was owned by Centricom Pty. Ltd, and offered in Australia and New Zealand, backed up by major banks and financial institutions in the two countries. Since its name is short for "Pay Online", it is pretty self-explanatory what you get with it: a way to pay online effortlessly. Now, the solution was a hit among Australians and New Zealanders alike, but in 2023, the company behind it announced that it would close the domestic operations of its POLi business. As of September 2023, Merco took over, the New Zealand distributor of POLi.
Merco introduced new services for New Zealanders, yet it also partnered with Waave to offer POLi to Australians via the Pay By Bank solution. Again, POLi is the proxy for your payment requests which are processed by Waave, and through your bank account. Online casino operators that offer POLi do not need to lift a finger to offer it to you, the Australian player, as their initial integration is sufficient for you to be using it for your deposits and withdrawals. Waave’s Pay by Bank, and by default POLi for Australians, supports all Australian banks, plus uses open-banking and real-time tech to offer low-cost transactions protected by the highest standards of data privacy and security.
To start using it, you won’t need to do anything special. You won’t need to register a new account, that’s for sure, but all you need to do is find a casino that offers POLi, and join it. After you select the solution as your payment method, you just need to select your bank from the ones supported, connect your bank account, set the amount you wish to send, and approve it. As easy as that. The solution, of course, works the other way around, too, so you can go through similar steps to request a withdrawal with it. On that note, make sure you continue reading to find out the exact steps you'd need to take to start using it for effortless deposits and withdrawals in your native currency, across a great number of sites that accept it and cater to Australian players.
Deposits and Withdrawals with POLi
Ever since it appeared, POLi has been listed among the top payment methods for Australian players across international online casino sites. Therefore, you will surely find it across the finest online casinos that cater to Australian players. Rest assured that you’ll have plenty of options to consider before you make your final decision on the site to join.
Once you do, though, proceed by registering an account with the site you chose. Enter the needed personal details, and once your account is ready, to fund it with POLi, go through these easy steps:
- Access your player account and look for the Banking page.
- Enter the Deposits section and find POLi on the list of accepted methods.
- Select it, and in the pop-up, select your bank from the supported ones.
- Use your credentials to enter your eBanking profile.
- Enter the amount you wish to deposit and confirm the transaction.
- The money will arrive nearly instantly to your balance.
Since withdrawals with it are an option, you would need to go through basically the same steps to request a cashout with the solution at your chosen online casino.
After you select it from the list of Withdrawal Methods on the Banking page, you will need to enter the required banking details and specify how much you want to cash out. Your request will arrive instantly, and the operator will take 24 to 48 hours to approve it, but once you get the approval, the money will instantly be transferred to your bank account, thanks to POLi.
Conclusion
POLi has been and always will be a solution offered across the greatest Australian-catering online casinos. Given its popularity among Australians, it is an option for deposits and withdrawals across the best sites that accept players from the country. It is effortless to use, safe, and allows for near-instant transactions in AUD, therefore, whenever you get the chance, give it a go.
FAQs
Is it legal to gamble online in Australia?
No, online gambling is not legal in Australia. In 2001, the country introduced the Interactive Gambling Act and banned online gambling with it. Only land-based casinos that obtained a license prior to the ban can offer online casino services to Australians, and no new online casino operators are allowed to apply for or obtain a license to cater to Australian players legally. Still, plenty of offshore online casinos continue catering to Australians, and millions of Australians are joining them regularly.
Are Australian players prosecuted for gambling online across offshore online casino sites?
Given how the Act is focused on operators and says nothing about any possible fines, no, Australian players are not prosecuted for gambling across offshore sites. We haven’t found any such records, at least, but before you join an offshore online casino, make sure you check the news to see whether any new restrictions have been introduced by the authorities, just to be sure.
Do many online casinos that cater to Australians offer POLi?
Yes, actually, most, if not all, online casinos that cater to Australians have been offering it for years, now, therefore, you will surely have enough sites to check out in order to find the site that suits you best. Just do your search and in no time, you’ll find the best casino for you to join.
Does POLi offer Customer Support for Australians?
There’s a Support page on its official website, where you can find an on-site contact form to get in touch with its New Zealand Support team. But, you can always contact your bank in case you have any questions about the service, or Waave’s Support team, via email.
What are some of the Australian banks that support POLi?
Via Waave, all Australian banks support the solution. Some of these include the Westpac, ANZ, the Commonwealth Bank, and NAB, but rest assured that regardless of the bank you have an account with, you will be able to use it.