Best Australian Online Casinos

How We Rank the Best AU Online Casinos

Knowing how we choose the top casinos is part of understanding the process and how you can trust our recommendations. Not only that, but you can also use these factors to rank and rate casinos yourself as well. This way, you know that you’re going to be getting the best casino possible on which to play. Here’s how we do it:

Game Library 

Any casino you play at needs to have a good library that couples quantity with quality. We look to see if there is a good variety of games across all game types, including pokies, live dealer, virtual and more. Additionally, we also make sure that these games come from popular and respected providers and have high and transparent RTPs. 

Look for online AU casinos that have a solid mix of all game types rather than leaning toward only one type. Make sure these games come from respected providers such as Pragmatic Play, Netent, BGaming and more. Demo modes should be available for games, too, and there should be regular new games added to the library.

Avoid sites that fill their library with games that are essentially identical to each other and come from unknown providers. This also goes for casinos that have a very small or limited number of live dealer games. Any site missing the RTP, volatility or rule information should be avoided. 

Bonuses 

When researching casinos, we look to see what types of bonuses are on offer and whether these extend beyond the initial lucrative welcome deal. We also check out the terms and conditions, look at the wagering requirements, which games contribute and expiration dates. 

You should always be on the lookout for a casino that has a strong welcome package that’s applicable to a wide variety of games, not just pokies. There should also be regular on-going bonuses, reload offers and free spins for players who remain loyal. And speaking of loyalty, the best casinos will also have a loyalty or VIP club place too. 

Casinos that only offer a welcome bonus, hide their terms and conditions, or severely restrict the eligible games should be avoided. Any valuable offers that are restricted to VIPs only, and a lack of any other gamification or tournament features, do not have their players’ best interests at heart. 

Terms and Conditions 

While we check the terms and conditions as part of our bonus rating, we also take a look at this in more detail across the entire casino. We check to see if there are hidden withdrawal caps, secret withdrawal requirements or whether the casino simply obfuscates its terms.

Casinos we recommend you play at will have reasonable wagering requirements of 30x or less across all their bonuses. Additionally, there will be clear and reasonable time limits in place, giving you enough time to actually meet the requirements. Max bet rules will be easy to follow and transparent to boot, ensuring you know exactly what the withdrawal rules are when it comes to claiming a win. Essentially, no unpleasant surprises.

On the flip side, casinos that have extremely high wagering requirements (typically 50x or more) and offer very short time limits that mean rushing your gaming should be avoided. If the max bet information is hidden or there are low withdrawal caps on bonus winnings, then this is not a casino to be trusted.

Payment Methods 

We also test the speed of transactions and look into the exact payment options on offer. We prioritise casinos that have AU-specific payment options, but couple this with a strong variety ranging from card and eWallet to crypto options. Additionally, we look to see how fast the payouts really are in comparison to what the casino says they offer.

As a player, you should be looking for casinos that have a wide range of different payment options. There should be fast processing times and reasonable minimum and maximum limits across all transaction times. Better still, the information surrounding payout times and fees should be clear and accessible.

If you find a casino that is slow or inconsistent with its payouts, has high minimum withdrawal limits (more than A$100), or has hidden fees on payouts, do not play here. 

Customer Support 

Another aspect we always consider, as it’s often overlooked, is customer support. We want to see that the casino can provide support as and when it’s needed, but also in a timely and useful manner. This means we check the email and live chat support, testing it during peak times to see the response time, agent knowledge and helpfulness.

For you, you should look for a casino that has multiple options to get in touch, including a live chat, email and solid FAQ section. Agents should be available 24/7 with a response time of less than five minutes on the live chat. FAQs should be helpful with clear sections and a guide. 

Casinos that have no live chat, only use an AI bot for responses, and give slow or generic replies are not going to be very helpful. Worse, if the casino has limited support during peak hours or does not offer 24/7 support, it should be skirted. If a casino consistently reports delays or has many unresolved issues (you can check this on player messageboards), stay well away.

Security 

As part of our review process, we also carefully check the safety and security of each Aussie casino. This means checking that the licence listed is actually correct, looking at SSL encryption and seeing if there are any responsible gambling tools and protocols in place.

As a player, you should only play at casinos that have clear SSL encryption in place, use secure payment processing and have solid responsible gambling tools. These tools should include deposit and loss limits, self-exclusion, cooling off and more. Clear privacy and data policies should be in place and accessible as well. You should also be able to easily find and check the licence, ensuring that it is real, and be able to find the auditing reports for fairness.

Should you come across a casino that does not handle player data well, has missing responsible gambling tools, multiple player complaints about withheld winnings (again, check player reviews) and missing privacy policies, stay away. All this is compounded if the licensing information is missing or the licence is from an unrecognised or, rather more questionable, gambling regulator.

Mobile Optimisation

Finally, in this day and age, when it’s important to be able to access games when you’re out and about, we also check the mobile optimisation. Now, this doesn’t mean an app, but it does mean that the site must be optimised for mobile browser usage for both Android and iOS. All features need to be accessible, and games must work well across devices. 

With this in mind, the best casinos in Australia have a mobile-optimised site or will have a dedicated app, both of which will offer fast load times. Navigation should be easy, no matter the screen size; you should be able to switch between devices easily, and there should be stable performance. 

If you’re at a casino that loads slowly, is cluttered, has missing features or games when accessing it on a mobile device, or the interface has glitches, leave it and play elsewhere. 

Playing Online Australian Casinos Legally

Australian gambling law is a little confusing for those who don’t know. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) has made it illegal for any company based in Australia to operate a real money online casino. This means that no Australian-operated online casinos exist.

However, internationally operated online casinos are legal and Aussies can play on these to their heart’s content, as long as the casino accepts Australians. These offshore or international casinos must hold a licence from a gambling jurisdiction such as Malta or Curacao. Those that accept Aussies also accept AUD, which makes it easy for you to play there. Choosing one of these casinos is therefore legal and safe, as long as you do your due diligence when selecting where to play.

Gambling Law Updates for Online AU Casinos

Since 2001, there have been various regulatory updates to the law governing online gambling. These changes are in place to protect players and ensure that online gambling is performed in as safe a manner as possible. Here are some of the latest updates:

• Credit cards are banned: similar to the UK, Australia has banned the use of credit cards when it comes to online payments. This was done to reduce gambling with borrowed money and aim to improve responsible gambling. However, this is only applicable to Australian-owned casinos, which means that offshore sites can still legally accept credit card payments.
• Website blocks: the ACMA is now taking steps to block unauthorised, unlicensed offshore gambling sites. This also includes any mirror domains and is being done through Australian internet providers. 
• Restricting advertising: changes in where and how gambling can be promoted is also changing. This is with a specific focus on how vulnerable or younger players are getting access to this type of information.
• Player protection: regulators are continually pushing for stricter ID checks, as well as more responsible gambling requirements and better payment handling, all to improve things for the players. 

Crypto Vs Real Money Online Games

Increasingly, Aussie players can access and play at crypto casinos with crypto games on offer. Understanding the difference between these and real money games is important, as the two do have a lot of overlap. On the surface, these two game types are the same with both offering varieties of pokies, live games and virtual table games. However, crypto games are often considered faster with speedy rounds in place.

Crypto games are great for players who want quick, simple games to play and don’t want to wait for long between rounds. This is where options like crash games come in handy as they’re very quick to learn, very fast to play and have provably fair outcomes. Some of the other games in this vein include Mines, Limbo, Plinko and dice games. There are also many crypto pokies to be had, but these work just like regular ones; you simply place a bet with your preferred cryptocurrency instead. 

Real money games are better for players who are looking for the usual casino games and lobby. This means accessing table games in both virtual and live form, as well as a large selection of pokies. These are more familiar games for most, and can be played with an AUD balance. Games like these typically come with a casino bonus and from major, trusted providers. There’s more variety, too, so if that’s your priority, stick to these more traditional online games.

Why Choose a Safe Online Casino Australia 

As we’ve checked out hundreds of online casinos, it doesn’t come as any surprise that safety is the number one thing to consider when playing online. And it’s something you should always consider first and foremost when choosing where to play. Here are our reasons why:

• Fair games: secure, safe casinos only work with licensed providers. In fact, many top-notch providers will not work with unscrupulous casinos. Playing at a safe casino means that any game you decide to play has been audited and tested, ensuring it is fair in terms of the results the RNG creates. This means that you’ll have access to games that aren’t rigged and can simply sit back and enjoy yourself without worrying about it.
• Secure payments: casinos that are properly licenced and regulated also have fast payouts and numerous ways to withdraw and deposit. They also only use secure payment methods so that you know your funds will arrive where they are supposed to, as well as not provide your data to third parties. Better still, these casinos will ensure all transaction limits are fair, so you’re not going to be stuck trying to meet huge minimum withdrawal requirements. 
• Responsible gambling tools: top Aussie online casinos make sure that their players are safe and in control of their gambling. This means providing them with a range of tools such as deposit limits, time reminders and self-exclusion options. These protect you from going overboard. 
• Transparent terms and conditions: safe Australian casinos also make sure that they have transparent terms and conditions throughout their entire site. This includes regular casino conditions as well as those linked to any bonuses. This means getting real value from the casino without any unpleasant surprises. 

Types of Games at Aussie Online Casinos

Australia’s online casinos offer a wide array of different games for you to enjoy. The game variety is suited to all types of players, so let’s take a look at some of the options available to you:

• Pokies: also known as slots, these are one of the most popular and prevalent online casino games. There are literally thousands to choose from, and they come in various forms. This includes classic three-reel games, five-reel video pokies and even progressive jackpots. The themes for these pokies are diverse, as are the win potentials and RTPs accompanying them. 
• Virtual table games: these give you RNG-based casino games in the form of popular table games. Typically, you can find roulette, blackjack, baccarat and craps games. There are many variants, each offering different rules and suiting various betting styles. 
• Live dealer games: again, these are typically traditional table games, but instead of being digital, they are live. Real dealers man the tables in a real studio, with the action live-streamed directly to your device. You can even enjoy an interactive chat with the dealer and other players to make this much more immersive.
• Video poker: a fun and easy way to access poker online, these games have some of the highest RTPs out there, giving you a good shot at a win when you play. It’s good for practising poker strategy and getting to grips with the game before trying out a tournament or live dealer game.
• Crash games: increasingly popular, these are fast-paced, often used with cryptocurrencies, and tend to have high risk. These games revolve around predicting when a multiplier will crash and cashing out before this occurs at the highest possible multiplier.
• Speciality games: this category includes instant win games such as keno, bingo, scratchies and even virtual sport games. They’re a little different from the rest of the games and often provide something light-hearted and chance-based rather than the more strategy-driven games. 

Best Real Money Bonuses 

The best online casinos in Australia all offer bonuses and promotions to players. These are both for newcomers and regular players. Here’s a quick look at the types of bonuses you can expect to see when you begin playing online:

• Welcome offer: typically the most lucrative offer, it often comes in a package. It’s best for new players who want to get extra funds to explore a casino or game, without risking too much, before they’re sure of the casino.
• No deposit bonus: an offer where no money is required from you to claim it, but it’s usually for newcomers. It’s the perfect way to try out a game or two in a completely risk-free manner.
• Free spins: often linked to a welcome offer, or sometimes as part of a no deposit bonus, free spins are, as they sound, linked to a specific pokie when you claim them. You can try out a pokie for free and potentially win some cash while doing so.
• Reload bonus: aimed at regular or returning players, this is for those who make regular deposits and is a way to give you an additional bonus. Depending on the casino, this can be daily, weekly or monthly and provides ongoing value for loyalty players.
• Cashback bonus: gives you money on any net losses over a specific period of time. This is a great offer for players who like live dealer games as it’s typically the only bonus that applies to these games. It’s also good for players who play for longer sessions and want to recoup losses after a losing streak.
• Loyalty or VIP rewards: often in the form of a tier system, players who continually play earn points, move up through the levels and unlock all manner of rewards. These can include cash prizes, exclusive offers, personal managers and faster withdrawals.

No matter which bonus you take, it’s essential you check out the terms and conditions before taking it on. 

Tips for Playing at an Online Casino

It’s all about having fun when you play online, but with some tips and tricks as outlined below, you can even boost your playing experience and maybe even grab a win or two. 

Set a Loss Limit 

Knowing when to stop is key, so set a limit and stick to it, whether this is per game, day or week. This will stop you chasing losses and help to maintain your bankroll for playing later on. Use the responsible gambling tools provided.

Play High RTP Games 

High RTP games can improve your odds if you’re playing over extended periods of time. The higher the RTP, the bigger the percentage of the bets you’ve placed that go back to you. Over time, this works in your favour, though it is theoretical. For example, if you wager A$100 on a game with 97% RTP, you can expect to get back A$97 over a period of play.