Top 10 Australia Casinos
Best Online Casinos for Australia in December 2024
Over 80% of Australian adults enjoy engaging regularly in some form of gambling activity, per capita this leaves Australia among the highest rated in gambling around the globe. Some believe gambling is so ingrained in the Australian lifestyle that an estimated 4% of the Aussie population plays pokies as regularly as once a week.
Australia is also home to an estimated 200,000 residents with high-level gambling problems, and it’s the country wherein gambling losses reach record highs close to AU$24bn. The enormously high rates of gambling-related problems and massive financial losses resulted in legislators taking steps to curb the trend by regulating all forms of gambling in the country, with specific focus paid to online gambling.
Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 – Remote Gambling Services
The Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 imposes restrictions and enforces limitations to prevent the further increases to the negative effects of online gambling. At first, it proved to be fairly successful until several technical loopholes forced Australia to enact further law changes that would protect residents from the risks associated with online gambling.
The Australian Government reviewed the gambling act in 2012 and found the IGA ineffective which caused many gamblers in Australia to continue utilising prohibited services. Determined players found several ways around the laws and restrictions.
2017 & 2019 Changes and Amendments to the 2001 Interactive Gambling Act
2017 amendments and new additions to the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 prevent groups, gambling sites, and online casino operators outside Australia from providing illegal gambling services to Australian residents via the internet. It included the publishing of a register listing interactive Australian-licensed service providers. Operators were prevented from offering lines of credits to Australian players and new tools were utilised to enforce the rules.
More changes followed in 2019, these included instituting the National Self-Exclusion Register as well as the banning of online casinos by the 2001 Interactive Gambling Act, in-play sports betting, sports betting services not holding an Australian licence, and all forms of betting, or wagering on lottery outcomes.
The new amendments also made it illegal to advertise banned services in Australia, credit for online betting cannot be promoted, and complaints can be made against anyone breaking the rules.
Strict Gambling Act Amendments and Consequences
Since instituting stricter rules and regulations, more than 150 online gambling service providers have withdrawn from offering their services in the country and reports show a marked reduction in money lost by Australians on gambling services outside the country. These stricter regulations are not appreciated by Aussies who previously enjoyed great benefits offered at the best Australian online casinos.
The Future of Online Gambling in Australia
Australian gambling laws once left many grey areas open to interpretation, currently many feel that strict regulation turned it most of them black. Although, as much as regulations are required to control gambling problems, it left many without an identifiable gambling problem out in the cold, new regulations and solutions could soon follow to cater to all player's gambling requirements.
Studies by ACMA in 2021 again revealed an increase in the number of Australians participating in online gambling. ACMA has blocked 21 affiliate sites and 354 illegal gambling websites since instituting changes to the country’s Interactive Gambling Act.
Legalisation & Effective Regulations Ensure Positive Online Gambling Impact
The UK Gambling Commission found a variety of effective solutions that provide online operators with numerous tools to prevent and combat underage gambling. Their scope includes ensuring players gamble within their means.
There is no doubt that ACMA will find its own way to regulate online gambling while protecting vulnerable players. Strict regulations and legalisation could see a huge increase in licensed online casinos that accept Australian players and obey strict rules set by ACMA.
The AUS online casino industry has the potential to grow to become one of the largest in the gambling world. The UK treasury received £3.02 billion in taxes from gambling companies in the 2020 to 2021 tax year, which was double that of the 2000 to 2001 tax year.
Should effective regulations be part of the next changes to the Interactive Gambling Act, new online casinos for Australian players will bring major benefits not only in terms of high gambling tax incomes but more so with creating additional employment opportunities.
Licensed and Regulated Australian Online Casinos & Responsible Gambling
The advantages to members at a new Australian online casino will include the utilisation of the latest encryption technology to provide increased privacy and security. Australian online casino members will enjoy access to an enormous variety of the most popular and the newest casinos Australia games. While new online casinos Australia payment methods will include the most reliable instant deposit and the fastest withdrawal options.
Most importantly the best Australian online casinos will provide online casinos Australia players with legit services that focus on the well-being of each player. Such Aussie online casinos will need to use the most effective systems for verifying the player’s age and simultaneously set limits on deposits according to Australian standards and income confirming documentation.
Proper regulation will also ensure that new Australian online casinos offer attractive bonuses with reasonable wagering terms imposed on the bonus amount only. Most importantly, legalisation will provide Australian online casino members with a safety net allowing anyone treated unfairly to report these Aussie Online casinos to the ACMA.