Gambling in Australia
As online gambling because more and more popular around the globe, one country where it has especially taken off is Australia. The land down under certainly has some strict rules when it comes to online gambling. Part of the reason is that—on average—the gambling scene in Australia is valued at $18 billion per annum, which is a lot higher than other territories around the globe. As a result, the Australian government has had to take certain precautions to ensure that gambling regulations are employed to protect the country’s punters and gambling enthusiasts. It’s hard to believe that 20% of the globe’s pokies (poker machines) are in Australia. It is estimated that Australia has about 200,000 slot machines, which is more than any country with legalized online and land-based gambling regulations. In this article we are going to be looking at all you need to know about gambling, specifically online gambling in the land down under.
Online Gambling and Regulations in Australia
One of the most commonly asked questions is whether online casinos are legal in Australia. The short answer is yes; however, there are some limitations imposed by statutes. One of the regulatory statutes in the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 (IGA) stipulates that it is only illegal for Australian companies to have online gambling casinos that permit Australians. With this said, there are no laws that prevent Australian punters from playing at online casinos located in foreign countries that allow Australian citizens. This regulation is what resulted in the popular designation of “Australian friendly casinos.” This expression, of course, refers to foreign-based online casinos that offer gambling and gaming services to Australians.
Online Casinos in Australia
For those pokie enthusiasts who worry whether “Australian friendly” casinos are safe and regulated there is no need to. The Australian government may not regulate online casinos in their own capacity, but they do require that any casino offering gambling services to Australians be licensed and audited. There are a number of licensing bodies in the industry; these include the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority and the Gibraltar Gaming and Betting Association to name a few. There are also third-party regulatory and auditing bodies such as eCOGRA that ensure the standard of gaming and safety of punters. These bodies also ensure that safe and fair practices are adhered to by online casinos. This includes having fair payout ratios and percentages.
Australian-friendly casinos also tend to offer AUD (Australian Dollars) as a casino currency. This is a way of attracting and drawing in Australians to their platforms. As an Australian, you can expect to play at online casinos that offer the best in software developing names. Software developers such as iSoftbet, Play ‘n GO, Betsoft, Quickspin & Rival are among some of the most popular developers found at Australian friendly casinos. Although Microgaming is one of the biggest developers in the world, they aren’t available in Australia. Australian players also have access to mobile casinos as well. These are often in the form of apps mobile-friendly online casinos. Players can play anything from pokies, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, bingo, craps, keno and video poker. These same online casinos also offer lucrative casino welcome bonuses that are designed to specifically draw in Australian players.
Online Pokies
Pokies are probably the most popular form of gambling games in the Australian market. These machines seem to have hit the sweet spot in the market. There are all sorts of pokies available in the Australian gambling market, including:
- Single line pokies
- Pokies that have multiple reels
- Classic or traditional pokies
- Video pokies
- 3D pokies
- Pokies with bonus rounds
- Pokies with free spins and multiplier rounds
- Progressive jackpot pokies
- Pokies with a diversity of themes
- Free play pokies
Popular Payment Methods
Something that essentially makes or breaks an online casino is their banking suite. The options on offer need to be convenient, fast, and efficient. They also need to be rather inclusive as different players from different generations prefer different methods. The payment options that are most favored by Australian punters are:
- Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Visa Electron – Debit & Credit cards
- Neosurf – this is a prepaid card popular in Australia
- Instant banking and bank wire transfers
- PayPal Australia – Electronic wallet
- Cryptocurrencies – specifically Bitcoin
