Casinos on the Internet are a popular option for many gambling fans. They give you the change to play a wide array of exciting games from the comfort of your home. Online casinos for Australian players are no different. They offer many thrilling games from cutting edge providers to play in Australian dollars.

On the Internet there are several hundred Australian casinos and each offer various benefits, game choice and different social aspects. Finding the best one will depend mainly on your needs and desires as an online player. It doesn’t matter if you are looking to play live dealer games and chat with the other players, or you simply prefer playing pokies and nothing else. On the web there is something for everyone.

However, before jumping in and signing up with any Australian online casino, you should be familiar with the laws about online gambling in AU as well as about the key criteria you should look for before registering an account. So take your time and continue reading.

Laws about Online Gambling in Australia

Most forms of gaming and betting online in Australia are completely legal. However, there are certain government restrictions, namely the Interactive Gambling Act which was passed into law in 2001. The law has more to do with regulating gambling operators on the web and protecting players from the harmful effects of this activity rather than with individual gamblers.

The online gambling landscape in Australia, however, is prone to change. The current government and politicians are emphasizing helping problem gamblers, providing better counseling and self exclusion programs and is looking for effective ways to straighten IGA ensuring top notch protection from illegal gambling operators.

So what is IGA of 2011? The Act passed by the Howard-Government prohibits offering and advertizing real money interactive gambling services to Australian citizens. However, it doesn’t make it illegal to operate an online gambling site within Australian borders. Moreover, the Act doesn’t provide laws which prohibit individual players and bettors from wagering on the Internet and many casino and betting operators located outside of the borders of Australia are offering their services and products to AU gamblers. Same applies to mobile gambling, so if you reside in this country and you want to gamble online or on mobile, you can freely do so.

Factors to Consider When Choosing AU Online Casinos

Now that you know that it’s perfectly legal for you to play casino games online in Australia, let’s take closer look at the most important factors to consider when choosing a reliable, secure, trustworthy and licensed Australian online casino. Each factor is going to be described into detail so that by the time you finish reading you will gain useful information on how to choose the best AU casino destination. The following are the key criteria for selection:

• Reputation
• License
• Security
• Games
• Software
• Fairness
• Bonuses and promotions
• Banking options
• Customer support

Reputation

The reputation of the operator running an online casino for Australians will tell you how reliable the gaming site is. You can learn about the operating/owning company at the bottom of the homepage or in the About Us section. Afterwards, search the web for its reputation. More info on this can be learned from online casino reviews as well as from the players’ feedback on various forums. If they are positive then you’re dealing with a reputable and reliable casino operator.

License

All reliable AU-friendly casinos are licensed and regulated by popular gambling jurisdictions. Some of them are located in Malta, Curacao, Kahnawake and Gibraltar. The licenses are usually displayed at the bottom of the website and if you click on them or visit the About US page you will learn more about the licensing number and gambling jurisdiction. You must sign up only with licensed casinos because a valid license is a guarantee that the casino is reliable and secure.

Security

Not only they are carefully regulated, but the best Australia online casinos also use cutting edge SSL encryption technology to ensure the safety of your personal information. Sites that have such encryption usually have the sign https: before their URL. The SSL encryption software enables safe and secure transactions to and from the casino services by scrambling the data. This makes it impossible for hackers to obtain any sensitive data that travels to the casino servers. In addition, secure casinos also state in their terms and conditions that they will not rent, sell or borrow this data to any third party.

Games

Online casinos in Australia usually offer a wide and diverse game choice. Sometimes the games are from one provider; other sites may also offer multiple software powered games. Nevertheless, it’s important for the casino to offer the types of casino games you want to play. If it is pokies, make sure the casino offers them in a wide number. In addition, check if you can play the games from both free and real money. Free play is the best way to get to know a game and learn how to play it. Moreover, with free play you can test and practice a gaming or betting strategy and see how it works without risking your own money. The following are the typical types of games found at AU online casinos:

• Pokies. They can be classic, video, jackpot and 3D pokies. Each pokie is different in shape, theme, pay table and features. AU casinos usually offer them in huge number and they are suitable for players of all budgets.
• Table and card games. The most popular ones are Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack and Craps. The best part is that on the web they can be found in several variants compared to land based casinos where only the most common variant is available. The most generous game is Blackjack. It has the lowest house edge of all casino games and with a good basic strategy you can indeed win something.
• Video poker. Australian online casinos usually offer single and multi hand denominations of the most popular video poker variants such as Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Tens or Better and All American among others. These games combine the elements of skill and luck and in order to improve your chances of winning it’s best to practice different strategies in free mode.
• Progressives. These are pokies, table games or video poker variants that come with big ever-increasing progressive jackpot pools. Usually the Big Ones are triggered at random, but there are cases where you need to trigger a special winning combination. Progressive jackpot games can make millionaires, but the odds of hitting a jackpot are pretty low.
• Scratch cards. Australian casinos also offer scratch cards and other instant win games such as Keno and bingo style games. Winning in these games is entirely based on luck and no skills are needed to play them.

Software

The type of games an AU casino offers is closely related to the software provider that powers the casino. In general, online casinos for Australians are powered by well known, reliable and fair software providers so gaming is secure, fair and fun. Several software options available to Aussies are:

• Microgaming. Microgaming kicked off the online casino gaming scene with the launch of the first casino on the web in 1994. Since then the provider has created more than 500 casino games, over 1,200 variants and more than 250 mobile casino titles. A huge number of AU-friendly casinos are powered by this provider and at these sites the game choice is pretty wide.
• Playtech. This provider is the second best in the online casino industry. Its software is very stable and advanced and Playtech games are the most favorite ones, especially its Marvel Series slots based on superheroes from the Marvel comics that come with four-tier progressive jackpots that can be triggered at random.
• NetEnt. NetEnt is based in Scandinavia and so far it has developed more than 250 games. The games from this provider have advanced graphics, suitable audio sounds and innovative and thrilling features. The game that stands out is Mega Fortune, a progressive video slot which has made many multimillionaires over the years. It is the highest paying pokie on the web.
• IGT. The game choice from IGT might be a bit limited in number, but the games are exciting to play, especially the MegaJackpots Cleopatra and Siberian Storm which have life-changing jackpot amounts.
• Real Time Gaming. This provider is popular for offering its products to players from all over the world and it stands out with its Real Series pokies. The features and pay tables of these games are quite generous and they also have interesting video clips narrating the themes of each slot.
• BetSoft Gaming. This provider is the King of 3D pokies. It creates the most engaging and interactive pokies on the Internet that are graphically advanced and have animations that come to life. If you’re interested in playing such games, you should sign up with a good casino powered by this provider that caters to Aussies.

Fairness

It is also important to check whether the casino games are fair and random. Something to look for is the seal of TST or eCOGRA, third party audit organizations that regularly and rigorously test the randomness and fairness of casino games. They make sure the odds of online pokies and other RNG games meet the industry standards. Sometimes casinos also publish the audit reports and players can see the Return to Player percentage of each game.

Bonuses and promotions

They might not be the top selection criterion, but what types of bonuses and promotions an Australian casino offers is also important, especially if you want to boost your bankroll with free cash. To find the best bonus offers, you must read the terms and conditions of a casino bonus and compare them with other similar offers at other sites. As a rule of a thumb, you must always read the bonus rules so that you know what you’re getting. What follows are the most common types of casino bonuses for Aussies:

• No deposit bonuses. As the name suggests, these bonuses are given without making an initial deposit. They often range from AU$5 to AU$40 and with the bonus money you can play a wide number of games. Winnings from this bonus can be cashed out but only after you meet the wagering requirements.
• Free play bonuses. They are commonly available at Microgaming online casinos for Australians. They have a timeframe, usually an hour, and during this period you can play any casino game you want. However, any winnings from the free play are transferred into the bonus balance and are subject to standard rollover requirements.
• Free spins. They can be found at NetEnt powered casinos and can be used on slots only. For example, a casino may offer 20 free spins on NetEnt’s Starburst or Gonzo’s Quest, no deposit required. Bonus winnings are then subject to wagering requirements.
• Match bonuses. A common example is the 100% welcome match bonus up to AU$100 given to new players. So if you deposit AU$100, the casino will give you AU$100 for free and you will start playing with AU$200 in your balance. Match bonuses can be used for wagering on eligible and partially eligible games and they usually have turnover requirements between 30x and 40x.
• Temporal bonuses. These bonuses are usually offered when there is a holiday or a big event in Australia. For example, some casinos may organize a raffle event for the Christmas holidays and give players bonuses and/or cash. What’s common about temporal bonuses is that they have limited promotional period.
• Loyalty bonuses. Loyalty bonuses come in many forms and sizes. In most cases, they are comp points automatically given to players that regularly play casino games. For every real money wager they make, the casino gives a certain number of comp points. The points can also be exchanged for real cash with no wagering restrictions. The loyalty rewards programs are often tied to the VIP program which is comprised of a few levels. With regular play players can climb up the VIP levels and enjoy many perks such as better bonuses, special promotions, invitations to special events, free entries slot tournaments etc.

Banking options

This section is also very important for Australian casino players. Before they sign up with a casino, they must make sure that the casino offers deposits and cashouts in Australian dollars as well as AU-friendly banking methods. One well known payment option for Aussies is POLi. With it, transactions are safely processed in AUD. Other reliable banking options are credit/debit cards, e-wallets and bank transfers. It is also advisable to check the minimum and maximum payment and withdrawal limits as well as the processing time of withdrawals.

Customer support

Last but not least, check the casino’s customer support service. Usually Australia online casinos have a toll free phone number for these customers and players that need questions can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition, other common contact options are live chat and e-mail. Before registering a new account you should also check how responsive and helpful the player support representatives are. Ask them any type of question and see how long it takes for them to respond.

The Popularity of Mobile Casino Gaming

Online casinos have long been popular in Australia. However, there is another form of virtual gambling which has been very popular in this country recently- mobile casino gaming. Mobile technology is advancing at a fast pace and many new smart phones and tablets are regularly introduced. The two most popular brands in Australia are Samsung and Apple.

Samsung devices powered by Google’s Android and Apple’s iPhones and iPads powered by iOS mobile operating system are the highest selling handsets in this country according to the latest market researches. Aussies use them every day for various purposes including for playing casino games on the go. Therefore, many real money online casinos for Australians are making their sites mobile compatible.

The technology gambling operators are using is HTML5. Earlier they were creating mobile casino apps which could be downloaded from the App Store or another source. However, the trend nowadays is towards HTML5 casinos which have a mobile responsive design and are fully functional on Android and iOS devices. They don’t require any app download. This is how they work:

• Find a reliable Australian mobile casino that adheres to the highest industry standards
• Visit the casino directly from a mobile browser
• Make sure you are connected to a stable Internet connection (e.g. Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G)
• Enter the casino’s URL and you will be redirected to the casino
• Afterwards register a new account by filling in the provided form with your personal details and make a deposit directly from your phone or tablet
• Contact the customer support from your phone if you need help
• Afterwards tap on the game you want to play and place your real money wager
• In case you win you can cash out your winnings from your device; there is no need to log into from a desktop PC.

Live Dealer Casinos in Australia

A third type of virtual casinos available to Australian players, besides online and mobile, is live dealer casinos. They are usually part of online casinos i.e. there is a separate department for their games often located under Live Casino or Live Dealers. These casinos combine live casino game play in front of human dealers and the comfort of playing from home. The setting at these games is quite authentic and realistic and they resemble a real land based casino atmosphere; the only difference is that you play via a computer and the dealer cannot see you. But you can see him dealing cards in real time and you can chat with him and the other players on the same table.

The games which are usually available in real time are Live Roulette, Live Baccarat and Live Blackjack. Some other games that might be available at Australian live dealer casinos are Live Sic Bo and Live Casino Hold’em. The gaming action in these games is streamed and broadcasted online and available on Internet casinos. Real time gaming determines whether you will win or lose. That’s why many players prefer playing live casino games over RNG online games. However, it’s not that online games that use random number generator (RNG) are not genuinely fair or random; on the contrary. They are tested by audit companies on a regular basis and you can personally check their RTP percentage.

Moreover, thanks to the advanced technology in mobile casino gambling, it is also possible to play live dealer games on the go. They can be app based or HTML5 based and this depends on the AU casino that offers them. These games load fast and run smoothly on most mobile devices, however, how smooth they will work depends on your handset model. In general, if you own a newer device they should work fine.

What Should You Look For in an Australian Casino?

With so many online casinos in Australia, sometimes it can be tough to find the right one. However, if you closely look at a number of Australian casinos and check if they adhere to all of the above mentioned key criteria, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the right AU casino for your taste. Check their license, security, games, banking and support. In addition, check if the casino offers live dealer games and is available on the go. Still, at the end of the day, the most important criterion for selection, the same as at a land based casino gambling resort, is your entertainment. You should have a fun time playing real money pokies or other casino games online, so take your time and find the most suitable and likeable online casino destination catering to Australians.