Gambling GuideOn This Page
Online Casinos for Players
Introduction
Gaming in Australia was in a state of flux beginning with the passage of The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016. The Amendment and proposed changes to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) threw a lot of uncertainty into the industry. Many reputable online gaming sites left Australia and were replaced by private companies, some were rogue operators. Because of this, it’s vitally important to know what sites are safe to play at for Aussies. We are always keeping an ear to the ground and can keep up with the changes, and recommend the following real money online casinos in Australia.
Tips for Australian Online Gambling
Because of the legal changes in Australia, it’s more important to remain vigilant with your online betting than ever before. Here are some important tips for keeping yourself safe and secure when betting online.
- Reviews from reputable sites If you’re considering a casino you should check out reviews from trusted web portals. There are a lot of review sites out there who will say bad casinos are good in order to make a buck, with only a select few holding the casinos to task for questionable policies. We recommend the following sites as being trusted portals (in addition to ourselves).
Trusted Portals
- Read the terms and conditions. Terms and conditions are some of the most important pieces of information available at a casino. They tell you the rules of bonuses, banking, and dispute policies at a casino’s particular site. Take the time to read the terms and conditions at a casino you’re considering. If things seem unfair or predatory, stay away!
- Look at our blacklist, and avoid the casinos on the list. There’s a lot of bad casinos that are looking to scam you, and with the new laws, more of these sites are coming into Australia. Make sure to see if a casino is on a rogue list, and if it is, don’t play there. These sites will either have unfair games, poor management, or no intention of paying you your winnings.
Recommended Casinos for Australian Players
The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016, went into effect on September 11, 2017. The last of the publically traded online casino and poker providers pulled out before the first of that month. Market forces have slowly filled the void and players now have quite a few good sites to choose from. Without regulators looking out for consumers, players need to rely on experience, reputation, and guidance to avoid the pitfalls of playing at poorly managed or ethically challenged venues.
The integrity of a site cannot be judged by the number or quality of games, how long it's been online, or the fact that promotional sites sing the operation's praises. Relying on Trusted Portals to publish critical reviews, reading message boards for player experiences, and using some common sense in concert with your gut feeling are far more reliable indicators.
Some highly respected and trusted gambling sites may use a single game provider, such as RTG. Some may carry hundreds of titles from several developers. Still, others may have been online for more than 25 years and simply have no legal exposure in Australia, so they are willing to serve the market and meet the demands of players.
Live Dealer options for Australian players
Live dealer casino games allow players the chance to play web casted table games from a studio or land casino. These games are excellent and provide something different from the standard online games we normally see. Many of the gaming studios are located in eastern Europe but are also certified by third parties and licensed by the Gambling in Commission in the UK (UKGC), the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), or another European or even a Caribbean jurisdiction.
In addition to game studios with state-of-the-art, cinematic presentations including greenscreen augmented reality, 360-degree cameras, and high-resolution video streams, some of the live dealer game providers cast the game from tables on casino floors throughout the world. While there may only be room for 7 players at a blackjack table in Malta or London, other players can bet behind in unlimited numbers. Some games like roulette have no limit to the number of players that can bet and each player only sees their own virtual chips.
Below is a list of casinos offering live dealer games for Aussies.
Live Dealer Casinos For Players From Your Country (317)
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Casino Trust and security
Casino trust and security is vital to players, and if a casino lacks either, it is a spot you should avoid. You should look to see if a casino offers 128-bit or better SSL encryption technology to keep data safe. Sites not offering this leave you open to having your identity or financial data stolen. You should also look for gaming licenses and third party certification to ensure games are safe. Third party groups certifying sites include iTech Labs, and eCOGRA.
Banking information for Australian players
Australians are facing more and more restrictions when it comes to banking related to real money online casinos. All of the popular payment methods owned by Paysafe Group Limited (Neteller, Skrill, and Paysafecard) have been discontinued. Many banks refuse to knowingly process gambling transactions. Still, there are a lot of options out there for depositing (like Neosurf) and withdrawing money from an online casino. You can find information on this here.
Deposit Methods
Some Aussie-focused gaming sites like Fair Go only list Australian friendly banking methods. Others, like Superior, may use geolocation software to present only the methods available from your login location. When in doubt, a casino customer service representative will be able to advise you on the best method for you.
In many cases, you will need to deposit using a credit or debit card and withdraw to your bank account if you are not using Neosurf.
Credit and Debit Cards
UK players and others in regulated jurisdictions can use their bank credit and debit cards freely. Australian players may need to be more selective, or count on the casino's processors to assist in the transaction behind the scenes.
If your own debit or credit card doesn't work the casino will offer alternative payment methods or allow transactions in only one direction. The good news is that Visa and Mastercard don't actually "own" your online transactions - they simply license their brands and insist on a certain level of due diligence from the financial institutions that issue the cards. The casinos listed here have the wherewithal to process AUD deposits for you.
Prepaid and Gift Cards
If you plan to use a prepaid or gift card to deposit, you may need another way to cash out your winnings. Also, it's always a good idea to either purchase the gift card through your casino cashier (where available) or confirm that a particular brand of card will work.
Neosurf and MyNeosurf
Neosurf is a prepaid voucher payment that doesn't require debit or credit cards to fund your account. To find a retail location near you to purchase a voucher please visit the Neosurf website. Simply choose Country, Region, and then your City to see an interactive list of available locations near you.
MyNeosurf is an online eWallet that you can fund or top off with Neosurf vouchers. Some online casinos such as Emu will allow payouts to the account. You can then transfer the money to your bank account or get a Neocash Mastercard linked to your account. Spend the money anywhere or use it to withdraw from an ATM.
Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies
Many players find the relative anonymity of using digital currency like Bitcoin to be an attractive option. Your credit and debit cards and bank account information can be subject to scrutiny by people at home, bank administrators, and by others.
However, if your dollars move to a cryptocurrency exchange prior to funding a casino account, and then from the platform to your bank, no one will be the wiser about where your money has been or where it's coming from - nor what you did with it in the interim. You might also be eligible for much juicier bonuses when you use digital currency.
Most online casinos offer tutorials for those who are not familiar with using Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, etc. If you want to take the bull by the horns, simply visit a secure online exchange platform like Coinbase and follow the instructions to buy, sell, transfer, and store your chosen digital currency.
Be sure to set up and test a method for moving your funds to your bank or another account. Most prepaid and debit cards will not accept a sell from the exchanges. A bank account is your best bet.
Withdrawal Methods
Visa and Mastercard may work for withdrawals with Visa being most likely. The funds can sometimes be sent via Bankwire and may incur fees, especially if you withdraw more than once per month. The withdrawal must go to a card you have used to deposit.
MyNeosurf withdrawals usually take about 24 hours to process but may take longer depending on casino policies. The actual payout is instant once processed.
Bank Transfer/EFT
Bank Transfers or electronic funds transfer (EFT) often have a higher minimum and maximum withdrawal limits than other methods. They can also incur fees. Depending on casino processing time you can expect to see the funds in your account from within 3-10 banking days.
Australians who deposit using their own debit or credit cards must often use this method to receive their winnings.
Bitcoin Withdrawals
Digital currencies like Bitcoin are the swiftest and most sure way to be paid winnings in Australia. Fees are low and payouts are nearly instant once the casino finishes their in-house processing.
10 Best Pokies
If there is one measure of success in playing pokies it really must be whether the games are fun for you. While this may sound unscientific on its face, it is actually practical. After all, although we play to win every time we sit down to spin, it's simply not possible or the outside world would grind to a halt as we all took turns collecting money from our favorite fanciful ATM machines dressed up as pokies.
Mathematically, the most important measure is the theoretical return to player percentage or RTP. You'll often see things like 95% RTP or a range such as 94-95.5% RTP.
You might be wondering... What exactly do those numbers mean? In a nutshell, the RTP tells you that over a very long period of time (an extraordinarily large number of spins) you will eventually get back $91.68 for every $100 you cycle through the game if the RTP is set at 91.68%.
Obviously, players want to put their money into games with the top theoretical return percentages. With that in mind, we've compiled a list of some of the top 10 online pokies with the best payout percentages. You simply can't go wrong in the long run if you choose the highest paying games.
There are several more considerations in addition to RTP that can help you choose games that are fun and profitable for you. We'll visit those a little later on.
Rival
Let's take a look at a Rival Powered game first with an RTP over 98%! While this is one of their older games, it came out in late 2008 or early 2009, it was well ahead of its time and still packs a punch. Cosmic Quest II: Mystery Planets has expanding wilds and two bonus rounds - one provides up to 50 free spins and the other triggers a skill-based space racer game. Perfect your moves to bring this one up to 98.95% RTP.
If you enjoy skill-based bonus rounds don't forget to check out Hole in Won and Hole in Won - The Back Nine by Rival. The RTP is slightly under 95% on these games, but the fun factor can't be overlooked, especially when you earn your coins by shooting a game of golf!
Other Rival pokies with RTP over 97% include Doo-Wop Daddy-O and the 3-reel games, Gold Rush and Bust a Vault.
BetSoft
BetSoft Gaming's Good Girl Bad Girl clocks in near the top of the list with a stunning 97.79%. One great thing about this game is you can choose your own risk (volatility) before any paid spin. Choose the Good Girl side of the game for the highest RTP, choose the Bad Girl for 97.3% or double your bet and choose both sides to make it a medium risk game with more frequent, but smaller payouts from left to right and the occasional big win from right to left!
There's a money wheel feature that can award free spins, cash credits, or one of the progressive jackpots.
Also from Betsoft are Gypsy Rose, Safari Sam, and the highly volatile Sugar Pop, all with RTP over 97%.
Between Rival and Betsoft we already have seven top RTP slots!
WGS
The WGS or Wager Gaming licensed version of Doctor Love by NextGen comes in at a solid 96.8%
Endorphina makes the choice of games very simple and relieves the pressure of choosing between a beloved theme and RTP by configuring all of their games at 96%. Please keep in mind that there is more to the equation than RTP, so these games are far from all the same. One thing that is common among them is a high level of volatility.
Some games have the volatility built into the bonus feature as well as the base game. Try Satoshi's Secret and if you are feeling extra lucky, take a risk on the Wall Street currency feature - if not, just take the win!
RTG
RTG Real Series slots with local random jackpots are finally available in Australia again! When NetEnt and Microgaming pulled out of the market these pokies, sometimes known elsewhere as "Aussie Slots" made a comeback starting with FairGo and Uptown Pokies casinos.
It's tricky to put a number on these games as operators have the option of choosing from a range of payout percentages (up to 97.5%) when they activate a new game. That top number can go down an unknown amount (up to 1.5%) if the game has one or more random jackpots. In discussions with the developers and going by a semi-official statement released in 2010, most of the games are set at 95%
While we can't find exact RTPs for RTG games, we do know enough about how they're made and how they play to include them in the top list.
The same can be true of games from other developers as well. You may find different RTPs for the same Rival game at different casinos. Operators often have the freedom to choose the RTP of a game when they order it. Play'n GO games inside and outside the UKGC's jurisdiction often have different RTP settings. You can usually find the game's RTP inside the help files. There's a lot more to pokies than RTP.
Further Reading: AUS Friendly Online Slots
Pokies Volatility
The next thing to consider is volatility. If the RTP is 91.68% and every $100 or $1,000 we churned through a machine actually returned $91.68 or $916.80, playing the pokies would not be a very enjoyable pastime.
A game with very low volatility is fairly predictable and will often return small prizes. It will also arrive at an acceptable tolerance above or below the designed RTP fairly quickly.
A highly volatile game will be much less predictable and will deliver prizes more rarely, but when it does the wins can be very large.
In statistics, "standard deviation" is used to represent a game's volatility. Let's look at a medium risk game with a volatility rating (standard deviation) of 5.6 for an example of just how long (how many spins) it takes to achieve an allowable tolerance above or below the theoretical return to player percentage.
In this case, after one million spins you should be within 1.09760% of the RTP. It could be that much higher, that much lower, or anywhere within that range. However, another statistical element comes into play and that is the confidence interval.
If we assume a 95% confidence interval, and 19 other people also played 1,000,000 spins each on the game, one of your results would be outside that range. 19 out of 20 would be within tolerance.
So, while the RTP gives us a sense of certainty, and a higher RTP number is always better, in the long run, it's not everything!
Hit frequency: RTP is the percentage of money a certain slot will return to all users overall time, hit frequency is how often any winning combination will come up on average.
Bonus/feature frequency: How often a bonus feature is triggered, on average. Obviously, with a classic slot with no bonus features, this doesn't affect the gameplay - you simply spin until you win, change games, or go bust.
Base game v feature RTP: Some pokies load almost all of the returns in the base game and offer an entertaining bonus round. The 'pick me' bonus is usually a lower paying feature than free spins. Other games can load a very large percentage of the RTP into free spins with expanding wild multipliers and retriggers.
The bottom line is that you should pick games that have a high RTP and give you the most enjoyment. Your gaming personality (risk taker v easy rider) along with your current bankroll and mood will likely determine the games you gravitate toward.
Problem Gambling for Australians
It can happen from time to time that a person might cross the line from recreational fun to problem gambling. While the vast majority of people who play online do so responsibly, gambling can become a problem in some cases.
It's important to know the signs of problem gambling and to be willing to reach out for help if you ever find yourself in that situation. While one mode of treatment simply can't work for everyone, the following resources are available for those seeking help with an addiction or simply to find out more about the possible consequences if your recreation gets out of hand.
Social service organizations stand ready to help and most of them are free of charge. One especially helpful service is Gambling Help Online. Some people simply feel more comfortable chatting with someone online rather than talking over the phone.
Gambling Help Online is a just a click away. If you have been thinking about a change in your habits, you might be ready to set goals, and the website can help you do that. There is also a "gambling calculator" onsite to help you see how much you really spend online. If you are inspired by other people's stories you can read about their experiences. And, if you know someone with a gambling problem, the organization sets out practical ways you can help them get a problem under control.
Gamblers Anonymous Australia holds over 130 meetings across the country every week. The groups are self-supporting, so there are no dues or fees. The program is based on spirituality, rather than religion or science. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling completely.
Lifeline is available for crisis support but that doesn't mean a recreational player has to lose it all in order to seek information or assistance. The site offers real-life success stories written by people who have struggled with gambling problems and live happy lives. There are also plenty of self-help tools on the website, support chat, and ways to find service providers if you find yourself no longer having fun at online casinos.
The Australasian Gaming Council presents gambling education and promotes responsible gambling. Additional services include help and assistance throughout Australia and New Zealand. Services are confidential and free of charge. Visitors can learn about counseling and support services, self-exclusion programs, and responsible gambling support programs.
The Australian Government gambling resources and support services webpage is operated by the Department of Social Services and offers a variety of information for those seeking help for themselves or someone else. Visitors will find referral links to resources such as the 24/7 Gambling Help Online website, help for family and friends, and financial counselling to support people affected by problem gambling.
Targeted support services for specific states will also be found in an easy to read and simple to navigate format.
Problem Gambling and Financial Pressure
It's not always easy to recognize if you have a gambling problem - after all, why do it if it's not fun? For some people, that is the only clue they need, their favorite pastime is no longer fun, but they do it anyway.
If you find yourself trying to get a "high" from gambling but end up less than happy at the end of a session - or take bigger and bigger risks to revisit a feeling of euphoria, you may have a problem.
Other signs mentioned by some experts include the following. Please note, this list is not definitive and is not meant to diagnose or treat a problem. It is for educational purposes only.
- Chase, or try to win back your losses
- Miss important events because of gambling
- Spend more money and time gambling than you meant to
- Feel guilty or ashamed about your gambling
- Go into debt because of gambling
- Argue with people close to you about your gambling
- Lie or steal to get money to gamble with
- Think about gambling every day
Many people feel financial pressure. It results from any situation wherein money causes stress. Gambling is centered around money, even if you like to "play for fun". If gambling contributes to any feeling of financial pressure, it may be a good time to take a close look to find out if you may need some help.
Financial pressure can be difficult to deal with at times, and the more stress it causes, the more trouble it can cause. The important thing to remember is that late bills, missed payments, increased debt, and other financial problems can happen to almost anyone going through a difficult time. If gambling is the cause or contributes to financial pressure it may very well be a good time to reach out for advice or assistance.
Even if it feels like you are in over your head, there are steps you can take to relieve the pressure. Just doing something about it may be all you need to not feel desperate and never chase gambling losses or try to repair an innocent financial situation by gambling.
Each of the problem gambling resources we have listed will be able to point you in the right direction or give you support directly - even if you don't believe your financial problems are caused or exacerbated by gambling. The important thing is to remove that element of stress from your life so you can be happy.
Australian Gambling FAQ
Are online casinos legal?
As it currently stands, online gambling isn’t illegal on the end of the player in Australia. The law is more focused on operators and stipulates that sites shouldn’t be offering their services in the country without a license. This was widely ignored for years though, as there was no mechanism to penalize the sites operating in the country. In 2017 this changed though, and as a result, all of the publically traded companies have left the market as it is not possible to apply for a license.
Do I have to download software to play?
No. Today you can play at casinos directly through your web browser, which means no downloads are necessary. This also applies to mobile casinos.
How can I deposit/withdraw money?
Most casinos accept deposits and withdrawals through credit card and a handful of eWallets. These options vary by casino, so check with them to see what methods are available. Nearly all of the casinos serving Australia also accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
The answer to this question is: It depends. Payout times are different for every online casino, with some paying out instantly and others taking days to get money processed through credit card or bank wire. You can check trusted reviews for honest payout times.
Problems do arise at certain casinos from time to time. If this happens, you should reach out to management and see if you can have the issue resolved. If this doesn’t happen, you can take the problem to the regulator in the country where the casino has its license or post in a forum. Oftentimes trusted portals have the ability to arbitrate disputes, and you may end up getting your money.
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Written by: Shelly Schiff
