10 Top-Rated Live Casinos in Australia

A Look Back at Gambling in Australia

Australia has a long-standing and strong affinity for gambling, with numerous studies confirming that Aussies have always been enthusiastic gamblers. The majority have participated in gambling activities, whether at land-based or online establishments, at least once.

The earliest recorded gambling event in Australia dates back to 1810 with a horse race held in Sydney. Lotteries soon followed, and the gambling industry saw a significant boom in the 1950s with the introduction of slot machines.

In Australia, slot machines are affectionately known as 'pokies,' and their popularity soared rapidly. Even today, they remain one of the most played game categories nationwide. For online gambling, Microgaming is recognised for developing the first casino software in Australia in 1994. At that time, however, live casinos were not yet a widely popular concept.

Over time, online gambling sites gained traction, and Australians were eager to explore them. As more people started accessing live casinos, the government found it increasingly challenging to regulate this sector as intended.

This led to the crafting of the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001, specifically targeting online gambling sites. Under this Act, live casinos were strictly prohibited, and offshore companies offering services were deemed illegal. Sports betting and auto racing remain exceptions to this law.

Gambling Today in Australia

As mentioned, online gambling is not legal in Australia, meaning there are no licensed operators within the country. Land-based casinos and online sports betting are the only fully legal forms of gambling available.

While this might seem restrictive for Australian punters at first glance, the reality is quite different. Despite the government's stance on offshore live casinos and efforts to block market access, these sites have found ways to remain accessible.

The government has acknowledged that it cannot fully control this sector as envisioned. Consequently, Australians are now largely free to access any international live casino that accepts players from the country, without facing any repercussions. With numerous live casino options available, Australians should prioritise registering with a licensed platform to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

The Future of Live Casino Play in Australia

Online casinos are experiencing a surge in popularity globally, and Australia is no exception. With increasing accessibility to these platforms, the future of online casinos appears promising.

However, a significant hurdle remains: the Australian government has shown little inclination to legalise online casinos within the country. No domestic site currently holds such a license, and a change in this situation seems unlikely in the near future.

There is growing pressure on the Australian government to legalise online casinos, particularly from younger demographics. However, there has been no positive response to date. Despite this, Australians have found ways to engage with offshore live casinos, and effective measures to prevent this are not in place.

Legalising online casinos would bring numerous benefits, including the government's ability to impose taxes, a significant increase in employment within the sector, and a substantial boost to the country's economy.

Players, in turn, would receive better protection. Knowing they are registering on a fully licensed site would safeguard them from fraud, and in the rare event of an issue, the government would provide recourse. While these advantages are appealing, the final decision rests with the Australian government, where progress has been slow. It is anticipated that in the long term, the online casino sector may eventually become fully legalised.

Mobile Casino Play in Australia

The convenience and accessibility of mobile phones have made them indispensable tools for daily life among Australians. This extends to live casinos, as Aussies have embraced playing their favourite live dealer games on their mobile devices.

Offshore live casinos have noted the increasing demand for mobile gaming year on year. As a result, the majority of sites catering to Australian players have developed dedicated mobile apps, downloadable for both Android and iOS users.

Mobile phones and live casinos are a natural fit. Given Australia's developed infrastructure, most citizens own a capable smartphone, enabling them to play live dealer games from virtually anywhere.

Are Casinos Legal in Australia?

Land-based casinos operate legally throughout Australia and represent a highly profitable industry nationwide. Past estimates suggest Australian residents spend over $150 billion annually on casino games like roulette, pokies, poker, blackjack, and baccarat. This substantial figure underscores the immense popularity of gambling in the country.

With such widespread popularity, casinos are found everywhere. Australia boasts approximately 200,000 pokies, an astonishing number. The scenario for online gambling and live casinos, however, is markedly different.

The Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 prohibits all forms of online gambling, with the exception of sports betting. No offshore companies can obtain an Australian license, meaning no website operating within the country can offer services to Australian punters.

As a result, Australian gamblers often turn to the international market for live casinos, and thankfully, there are abundant options available. There are no reported cases of Australians facing criminal charges for gambling at offshore live casinos, so individuals are generally free to access any site that accepts players from the country.

Regulation: Laws and Authorities in Australia

As stated above, the gambling market in Australia is complicated, to say the least. Land-based casinos are completely legal in the country, and they are a major contributor to the economy, and gambling, in general, is accepted as a good pastime activity for most Australians.

The legislation in place that controls all aspects of gambling in Australia is the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA), which was introduced back in 2001. It specifically forbids all types of online gambling, except for sports betting.

So, live casinos are not accepted in Australia, and there is no licensed operator that offers such services to Australian punters. The Australian Communication and Media Authority is the body in charge of overseeing the whole gambling sector in the country.

Even though online gambling is illegal on paper, there are tons of offshore live casinos that accept punters from Australia, and the government does not stop them from gambling at such sites. The Interactive Gambling Act was introduced to minimize the harms of online gambling in Australia, but punters still find a way around it, and they are free to play their favourite live games at any international live casino.

Australian Players Favourite Live Games

After all, the most important factor that determines the success of every live casino is its selection of live dealer games. As online gambling is very popular among Australian punters, sites need to have the best possible games at their disposal, otherwise, players will not hesitate to search for another live casino.

The most popular live dealer games among Australian punters are:

• Live poker
• Live blackjack
• Live baccarat
• Live roulette

These games come in many different categories, so every live casino needs to make sure to have them all integrated.

The live casino games in Australia like poker, blackjack, baccarat and roulette give players the chance to experience real-life casinos from their desktop or mobile screen, as they will be up against a real human dealer, with whom they can communicate. Poker, blackjack, and baccarat are games that require a specific skillset, while roulette is based purely on luck, hence the excitement while playing it.

Game Providers

Not only the quantity of games is important to Australian punters, but the quality must also be there as well. There are certain game providers that every live casino that accepts players from Australia needs to make sure to partner with.

Partnering with these big names will surely attract more players to register on the site. Every live casino should have providers’ information at disposal on their homepage, and Australian punters looking at the site need to see whether the live casino has partnered with the likes of:

• NetEnt
• Microgaming
• Evolution Gaming
• Yggdrasil

These are some of the names that set the bar high in the industry, and their games are sure to be overwhelmed with quality.

Other Live Casino Games

Live dealer games are the favourites among Australians, but they are not the only category of games that can be found in international live casinos. It is necessary for any casino to offer a wide range of games so that every player will find something that matches their preferences.

Online pokies, or known as slots in the rest of the world, are a very popular option among Australian players, and every casino needs to have an abundance of them. There are different versions, such as 3-reels or 5-reels pokies, as well as progressive jackpot pokies.

Bingo also has to be mentioned here, as it is one of the easiest games to learn, so Australian punters love it. Similarly, keno can be found in most international casino sites, and it is a similar logic with bingo.

Lastly, craps is a game that is very common among international casino sites, and it is a classic dice game. Players from Australia will need to land a certain number using two dice while betting on the outcome.

Top Live Casino Bonuses in Australia

Free spins are very popular among Australian punters in live casinos they play at, and it is very easy to see why. It doesn’t cost anything, and free spins can help them secure some big wins without risking any of their money. Free spins are common among pokies, not in live dealer games.

Welcome bonuses are available for live dealer games, and they are a good way to attract newly registered players to the site. Usually, the most reliable live casinos that accept Australian players will match the first deposit made by them, while some will even go as far as matching the second and third deposit.

VIP bonuses are also very common in the best live casinos in the world, and they are a type of bonus that can be claimed by the most experienced punters on the site. They can come in many different forms, but almost always they have wagering requirements.

Next, there are the cashback and the different casino tournaments that the player can take part in. Cashbacks are very rare, hence their popularity and the special live casino tournaments are there for the most active players on the site, and they can always lead to some very handsome wins.

How to Claim These Bonuses

Firstly, every player in Australia needs to know that all bonuses have terms and conditions which have to be read carefully. Sometimes, the bonus just might not be ideal for some players to be claimed.

Welcome bonuses are a good example of this, as they always have the longest terms and conditions. Additionally, they also come with wagering requirements, so not always players will be excited to claim them. They are valid for a few days as well, so players need to be fast in claiming and using the bonus.

Cashbacks are self-explanatory, and they meant that the live casino may offer players the chance to retrieve some of the money they have wagered and lost. Special tournaments and loyalty programs are very different in every live casino, but one general rule states that the more time the player spends playing games on the site, the higher the loyalty ladder will climb, so the rewards will be bigger.

AUD in Australia Live Casinos

Greetings, dear gaming enthusiasts in Australia! Prepare to embark on a thrilling live casino adventure tailor-made for you. Today, we unravel the myriad benefits of playing with the Australian Dollar (AUD) in Australia's live casinos, leveraging our expertise in iGaming to provide valuable insights, especially for newcomers.

Advantages of AUD in Live Casinos

Let's delve into the world of live casinos and the undeniable advantages of wagering in your native currency, the Australian Dollar (AUD). The benefits are twofold: seamless transactions and access to a captivating array of live casino games, carefully designed to cater to the preferences of Australian players. From the heart-pounding excitement of live poker tournaments to the spin of the roulette wheel and the strategic allure of blackjack, these live casinos offer a diverse and immersive gaming experience.

At the core of this experience are the seasoned live dealers, fluent in your language, who create an engaging atmosphere that enhances your gaming journey. It's more than just a game; it's an authentic and exhilarating casino experience brought directly to your screen.

To further elevate your live casino adventure, we've thoughtfully curated a selection of top-rated live casinos that readily embrace the Australian Dollar (AUD) in our esteemed CasinoRank toplist. These distinguished casinos are renowned for their unwavering commitment to security, an extensive selection of live games, and user-friendly interfaces, ensuring a safe, seamless, and captivating gaming experience.

Ready to immerse yourself fully in the world of live gaming with the Australian Dollar (AUD)?

Top Payment Methods in an online casino in Australia

As is the case in many markets in the world, Australians prefer credit/debit cards as well as e-Wallets for all their transactions in live casinos. Card transactions are very common, and as everyone owns a credit/debit card, it is easy to see why.

• Visa
• MasterCard
• Maestro

These payment methods are very common in Australia, so it is the dominant payment method in live casinos that accept Australian punters.

They offer instant deposits, and when it comes to withdrawals, players might need to wait 3-5 days for withdrawal requests to be completed. For that reason, e-Wallets have gained so much popularity in recent years, as they are known to process withdrawal requests almost instantly, which is a major advantage over credit/debit cards.

Some of the E-wallets are slowly becoming the number one choice for Australians in live casinos. Examples of e-Wallets include:

• PayPal
• Neteller
• Skrill

Other Payment Methods in Australia

Apart from e-Wallets and credit/debit cards, there are also tons of other payment methods that Australians will find at live casinos they play at. Some of those are not very popular due to one reason – slow withdrawal requests.

Every player wants to have instant access to their money, and with payment methods such as prepaid cards, they need to wait several days before they can make any withdrawal. Examples of prepaid cards include Entropay and Astropay.

Cryptocurrencies need to be mentioned here as well. They are a new addition to the payment methods in live casinos, but they are not yet generally accepted by Australian players. They have all the advantages of the previously-mentioned payment methods, so cryptos will definitely become more and more popular in the near future.

Responsible Gambling

For those who wish to read more about responsible gaming or need help with addiction, please visit these websites below. Gambling addictions can be hard to spot, so please make sure to always gamble responsibly.

• GamCare
• Gamble Aware
• Gamblers Anonymous