Like in many other countries across the world the laws here are very unclear when it comes to playing at online casinos. Gambling is regulated by the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001, which states that online casinos are not allowed to offer their services to Australian residents.
This act is enforced for both local and offshore companies, regardless of their ownership. In this article we will try to explain whether you can play online pokies in Australia, which are the best Australian slot sites and which pokies you can play at legal online casinos. We will also talk about the best payment methods for making real money deposits and withdrawals from gambling sites in the country.
Best Sites For Online Pokies In Australia
Are online pokies legal or illegal?
This question comes with a confusing answer even to us. Online pokies casinos don’t have a license to offer the games legally. But on the other hand the current laws don’t restrict you to play at online casinos as a resident. So you won’t be prosecuted if you play at online slot sites, but it is illegal according to the government and you may not be paid if you win. So basically you are left to mend for yourself.
Who is responsible for regulating the market?
Online gambling in Australia is regulated under the Interactive Gambling Act from 2001, who is the main regulator when it comes to online gambling. The gambling act went through several changes over the years and today bans online gambling in all forms.
But each separate state in Australia has its own gambling laws which are primarily focused on land based gambling of all forms, so what can be legal in one state can be deemed illegal in another one. Here’s a list of all of the states and what each one has to say about gambling.
Australian Capital Territory
Gambling in this state is regulated by the Gambling and Racing Commission. The laws in this state are quite relaxed when it comes to gambling.
New South Wales
New South Wales is considered to be a gambling heaven. The state has the most pokies than in any other state across Australia and the world. The only other state with a bigger number of pokies is considered to be Nevada, USA.
Norfolk Island
This is a small state which has very relaxed laws and low taxes. This is why Norfolk Island is considered to be a tax haven for casinos.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory has strict laws about who can offer gambling services on it’s territory. But on the other hand the gambling taxes are quite law, resulting in a big number of casino establishments.
Queensland
Gambling in Queensland is regulated by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation. The laws in this state are quite relaxed, but on the other hand the taxes are high.
South Australia
Gambling in South Australia is regulated by the Lottery and Gaming Act of 1936. The state has strict gambling laws and is the most independent state when it comes to gambling on its territory.
Tasmania
The gambling laws in Tasmania are relaxed. All gambling operations are regulated by the Gaming Control Act of 1993.
Victoria
Gambling in Victoria is regulated by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor regulation. The gambling laws in this state are quite strict and extensive.
Western Australia
Gambling operations in Western Australia are regulated by the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor. The gambling laws in this state are quite strict.
What online pokies can I play in Australia?
Unfortunately the offer of online pokies sites in Australia is limited to a number of providers. This is due to the passing of the Interactive Gambling Act from 2001, which lead to all of the reputable providers in the world to stop offering their games to Australian residents. So today you can’t play pokies coming from NetEnt, Play’n Go or Microgaming at Australian friendly casinos. But at the same time there are still enough providers which offer their pokies to Australian residents. Some of the most popular ones are Realtime Gaming, Big Time Gaming, Habanero, iSoftBet and Aristocrat. You can easily find their games at many online casinos and play them for real money.
What payment methods can you use?
When it comes to making real money deposits at Australian casinos with slots you can use some of the most popular payment methods, like Poli, Neosurf and Flexepin. These payment methods are the most used ones by Australian players at online casinos, since they’re easily accessible and are easy to use. Poli is widely used since it allows you to easily make a deposit directly from your bank account. But at the same time you can use a lot of international payment methods to manage your funds at online casinos.
Some of the most popular international payment providers for making deposits and withdrawals from Australian casinos with slots are Skrill and Neteller. These are e-wallets which allow you to easily upload funds to the wallet and deposit them to the casino. At the same time when the casino processes your winnings they will arrive instantly on your account, since the money transfer is instant from one account to another. You can also use a crypto wallet for making deposits and withdrawals, since many Australian friendly casinos have this method in their ranks. Depending on your needs you can also use other payment methods like Credit and Debit Cards.
