Australian Online Casinos

For players who reside in Australia, one of the most common questions regarding gambling is whether online gambling is legal. The laws in Australia are not always easy to understand and many residents think it is illegal for them to access an online casino. This is not the case. There are no laws that restrict any resident from engaging on online gambling activities. The laws that are in place prevent online casinos from operating within Australia. This means there are no true Australian casino sites, but it does not mean that players do not have options. There are hundreds of off shore online casino sites that will accept players who are from Australia, providing them with access to leading games, great bonuses and stellar payouts.

While it is not illegal for players to gamble online, they do have to contend with the IGA, which was passed in 2001. This act had the intention of protecting Australian residents from the harmful effects of gambling online. The IGA prohibits casino sites from offering interactive gambling services for real money and advertising these services. These gambling services include popular casino games like roulette, poker and blackjack. These laws did nothing to prevent players from accessing off shore sites and there are many casinos that are operating that will offer services to any player from Australia.

When these players do make a selection, they should always choose a casino site that is fully licensed and regulated. To take even more precautions, players should only play at sites that have been accredited by reliable organisations, such as eCOGRA. Since Australian players will not be protected by Australian laws, they must choose casinos that will offer them the best layers of protection possible. Another thing that Aussie players need to consider is whether their own currency is supported. Most online casinos will want to attract Aussie players and will conduct all transactions in Australian Dollars. Finding a casino that offers this is beneficial so players do not have to deal with any currency conversions, which can incur fees.

Aussie players will have the ability to choose from a number of payment methods when they open a real money account. The majority of players who are from Australia will use debit or credit cards to manage their casino accounts. These players will also be able to use popular ewallet services like Neteller and Skrill. One of the alternative methods that caters to Australian players is POLi. This is an online debit payment service that operates in real time. It offers secure processing and is a great alternative to PayPal and credit cards because it allows the deposits to come directly from a bank account. This lets players have complete control over what they spend and they can easily manage their funds.

When players chose a casino site, they will not have any limitations in regards to software. They are free to play at top rates Microgaming or Playtech sites and can access sites using any other software, such as Net Entertainment, RTG, WagerWorks or Cryptologic. By not having any restrictions, players will have access to all of the leading casino games and will never miss out on any gambling action. A number of newer online casinos are using a combination of software providers to present players with more than 600 game titles and these sites have become a popular choice for players who hail from Down Under.

Australian Online Casino Resources:

Wikipedia.org - Provides a legal overview and details on the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001. A good read for anyone interested in fully understanding the state of online gambling in Australia.

GamblingHelpOnline.org.au - Great for people seeking help with a gambling problem. Not only a source of great information surrounding problem gambling but also provides active support and help services.

ProblemGambling.gov.au - Official government website that provides information and help services to those with gambling problems who are in need of help.