Best Online Casinos that Accept Players from Australia

General Overview

Gambling is one of the oldest forms of recreation and entertainment games in the world, with Australia being one of the capitals of gambling in the world. The people of Australia are famed to be prolific gamblers, with New South Wales being the centre for all types of gambling activities, and can be termed the second Las Vegas, clubs in NSW made a net profit of $1,945,161,625 and hotels made a net profit of $1,169,040,731 from gambling within 2017 to 2018. There has been a lot of studies about the gambling behaviour of Australians. One of the recent studies found out that 80% of adults in Australia have engaged in one of gambling in their lifetime, making them the ‘gamblers of the world’. From slots to poker or sports betting, Aussies are known to their money where the fortune lies. Another study also found that an average Australian loses about $900 to gambling annually, but that’s not stopping them from staking anytime. There are a lot of statistics to back the high rate of gambling in Australia. 

A brief history of gambling in Australia

With a rich history of gambling, New South Wales still leads the way when writing down the history of gambling in Australia. Gambling has had a foothold in Australia since the time of the European settlers but nothing was recorded officially till the 1800s. In 1810, Australia held its first official horse racing meeting at Hyde Park in Sydney, launching what could be called the formal gambling activities on the island. Later in 1881, the Sydney Cup witnessed the first official Australian lottery. In 1956, registered clubs began to operate legal poker machines. In 1973, the first legal casino opened at the Wrest Point Casino, Tasmania. 

Since then, gambling has taken a major shape in the country, with high revenue from these games. Between 2015 and 2016, the state made about 7.7% from proceeds from gambling activities.  Aussies embraced the opportunity to gamble from the comfort from anywhere they can find an internet connection. Microgaming was established in 1994, becoming the first online casino operators in Australia with full features. Soon after, Cryptologic also followed suit. 

Online Gambling Law in Australia

From roulette to blackjack, poker, and other forms of online gambling activities, Aussies are big in online gambling too. Despite their love for gambling, Australia also has rules guiding the games. In 2001, the government introduced the Interactive Gaming Act to check every online gambling activity, to protect the citizens from excess operators and related issues. There have been attempts to sway the regulations as major actors try to gain more grounds in that space.

Payment Options in Australia

There are varieties of payment options available for players in Australia. Most online casinos accept the common payment options from Aussie players. However, POLi is an exclusive payment option for players in Australia. 

Here are some of the popular payments methods for players in Australia: Neteller, EcoPayz, Entropay, Skrill, iDeal, Instadebit, MyCitadel, PayPal, Ukash, Click2Pay, ClickandBuy, Bitcoin, Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Amex,  Upaycard, BPay, and so on.

License Commission in Australia

Gambling is regulated by the states and territories on the island. Respective states and territories have the power to control gambling activities within the jurisdictions. Also, there are Federal statutes that cover some forms of gambling activities throughout Australia. Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is responsible for media and communications regulation which also includes control and monitor gambling online and over the telephone.

Here is a list of the state and territories gambling commission:

• Australian Capital Territory: ACT Gambling and Racing Commission

• New South Wales: Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing

• Northern Territory:  Licensing Commission

• Queensland: Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation

• South Australia:  Independent Gambling Authority

• Tasmania: Tasmanian Gaming Commission

• Victoria:  Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation

• Western Australia: Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor

Helplines for Problem Gamers 

Getting help for problem gambling in Australia is a call away. There are several helplines and emails for players experiencing some form of challenges with gambling. Each state has a dedicated line and email for support on a 24/7 basis. Notably, the Australian gaming council has a central line that can be reached at any time - 1800 858 858.

Australia Online Casino FAQs

What is the popular form of gambling in Australia?

Aussies have a variety of games to pick from. Lotteries have a large following but roulette and blackjack have more ground in terms of wagering sums. 

Which are the trusted online casinos for players in Australia?

Gamers have to be careful of rogue casinos when choosing platforms to stake their bets. Kingbilly Casino, Loki Casino, Emu Casino, BitStarz Casino, Wild Tornado Casino, Pelaa Casino are some of the most trusted online casinos that allow players from Australia.

How much money does the government make from gambling Australia?

The state governments of Australia make huge revenue from gambling. Collectively, the states made about $4 billion in revenue in 2002. In 2016, they made about $23.8 billion in revenue.

Is online gambling legal in Australia?

Gamers are free to gamble freely at any online platforms of their choice. Also, they get to enjoy welcome deposit bonuses from most casinos that allow players from Australia.

Which are the Australian licensed online casinos?

Australia has a lot of online casinos, with licenses to operate within the states and territories. Some are Kingbilly Casino, Loki Casino, Emu Casino, Casino Cruise, Spinit Casino, Casino God and a host of others.

Which gambling commission can I report complaints to in Australia?

Each state has a gambling commission that regulates gambling activities within its jurisdiction. Please refer to this article's section about license commissions in Australia.