FAQ
Playing at casinos in Australia is a fun and exciting experience, but it can also be quite expensive if you don't know what you're doing. Take some time to learn about how gambling in Australia works and what you can do to make the most of the money that you invest into the games you play. While you shouldn't expect to earn money gambling, you will have a lot of fun trying and that's what really matters.
Australia:
Are online casinos legal in Australia?
Yes online casinos are completely legal to play in Australia. If you've heard that they are illegal before, that's likely because there are a large number of restrictions around casino games being run online in Australia by companies based in Australia. Any casino game you can find online in Australia is likely legal for you to participate in, but could cause legal complications for the person running it if they aren't following the rules.
Do I need to pay taxes on any winnings?
In most cases you don't have to worry about paying for any winnings that you receive from gambling if you live in Australia. This is different than most of the rest of the world, but the Australian government does not view gambling winnings as a form of income. That means that most of the time you'll be able to keep all your earnings free and clear.
Can I play in AUD?
There are plenty of online casinos that will allow you to play in AUD and you simply have to look around for these options. If you aren't too concerned about being able to play in AUD you can also transfer your money to another currency and play in that one over the Internet as well.
Are there any Australian based casinos?
There are many Australian based casinos, but most of these aren't available over the Internet and instead only available in person. The majority of the online casinos are based overseas somewhere. That's because legally owning an online casino in Australia is quite difficult and would be hard for most casino operators. It's simpler to offer services from offshores.
Online Casinos
How do I setup and start playing?
You can setup and start playing on an online casino by installing any software that's necessary to play and by creating an account with the site. While creating your new account you will have to deposit some of your own money into the account if you want to play for real money. This can be accomplished with a debit card or an electronic transfer.
How do online casinos make money?
Online casinos make money the same as real-lift casinos do. They have a slight edge in the games that you play and they earn a profit from the games more often than you do. This means that over time the casinos generate money from the deposits that the players make, even if some players come out winners.
Are the games rigged?
The games aren't necessarily rigged, but the casino owner has a better chance of winning than you do. This is known as the house edge, and it's present in any casino around the world. This means you have a fair chance of winning, but you don’t have as good of a chance as the casino does. Over time most gamblers lose money because of this.
What is the house edge?
The house edge is the favourable odds that a casino has toward winning. In every game throughout the casino the casino is going to earn more money over time than it pays out. Whether you are playing cards, pokies, or any other form of game you'll lose more than you win over time thanks to the house edge.
Online vs Offline casinos - which is better?
When you are considering online and offline casinos it's hard to say exactly which is better. It all depends on what you prefer. Online casinos are easier to access and can be played at any time that you would like. Offline casinos are harder to get to, but you get to experience the games in real life and be surrounded by the casino atmosphere.
Can I cheat?
Most of the time you cannot cheat while playing online casino games, but people have been known to cheat in some real-life casino games. Doing things like counting cards or employing other tactics can help tip the odds in favour of the player, but this generally isn’t possible online.
Games:
What online casino game is easiest to win?
When you are searching for a game that is easiest to win online it makes sense to look at blackjack or roulette. These games rely on simple rules and afford you the best odds of winning versus the other options. You can learn to play one of them quickly and can start winning in just a few minutes.
Which games are the most popular in Australia?
In Australia, pokies and poker are two of the most popularly played games. If you are interested in getting started with a simple game pokies is the way to go. If you want something more challenging with a fair bit of strategy involved it makes more sense to take a look at one of the poker variants available.
What games have the best odds?
If you are interested in the games with the best odds you should check out roulette and black jack. These two games have the best odds of success for the players and can help you lose the least amount of money. As long as you understand the strategy behind these games and how to play properly you'll have a reasonable chance of winning money at either.
Is there a good place for beginners to start?
As a beginner it makes sense to play at a play-money casino or to play for real money on a simple game with rules that you can learn quickly. You can start with a game like pokies if you simply want to put in a bit of money and begin playing immediately, but you'll have better odds with blackjack or roulette.
Can I play online for free?
There are plenty of online casinos that allow players to participate using play money. You can play at one of these using fake money offered by the casino, but you will not be able to earn any real money if you win. If you want to play for real money you will have to deposit some of your own real money first.
Pokies:
How do they work?
Pokies are simple machines that you put money into and pull a lever. The faces will spin and if you match certain face combinations you'll earn a prize. The games are very simple to play and can be learned in just a few minutes time.
How safe are online pokies?
Online pokies are very safe to play because they are all programmed to offer a fair level of winnings to the players enjoying them. If you are playing online pokies you can expect to lose more than win, but there will be times that you win as well.
Are they rigged?
Each of the machines for online pokies is made up of software that gives the casino a greater chance of earning money than losing it. This does not mean they are rigged, but it does mean you aren't likely to earn money from the machines if you play them over the long term.
What are progressive pokies?
Progressive pokies are machines that increase the jackpot amount they pay out over time. That means the more players that play the machine the better the jackpot amount becomes over time. Getting onto a pokies machine with a high jackpot is usually a better way to earn a good return for your investment.
Which game offers the best odds?
It's hard to say which of the pokies games offer the best odds. Your best bet is to try out a few of them and see which ones offer you the best results. Most games provide similar odds, but in general the older style seem to offer better odds than the newer ones when you play in person.
Which has the highest jackpots?
You can quickly learn the jackpots of each machine by reading the rules and looking at the possible winning combinations of a machine. The highest jackpot available depends on which casino you are playing at. When going to a casino site check the different jackpot amounts on the machines to decide which ones you want to play.
How to win?
To win at pokies you simply pull the lever and have the right combination of pictures, letters or numbers pop up on the display. It's as easy as that, and that's why so many people are comfortable playing the machines.
Safety:
How safe are online casinos?
There are safety concerns with the smaller online casinos that don't have many reviews and don't seem to be very popular. Some of these establishments are at an increased risk of attack and could compromise your money or your financial information. That's why it's vital you choose an established online casino.
How can I tell if a casino is safe?
To verify a casino is safe look at the company that designed the software. The casinos that run on well-known software are generally safe. You can read reviews about casinos and assess their overall popularity to determine which are safe as well.
Which online casino is the safest?
The safest online casinos are designed by major software publishers like NetEnt and Playtech. They have the most experience building software and have had time to improve safety measures that keep information and money safe.
Deposits & Withdrawals:
Which payment method is the safest?
The fastest payment method to get money into your account is a casino debit card. These cards can be purchased quickly and easily.
Is a credit card recommended?
A credit card is only recommended when dealing with a very reputable online casino. Otherwise it makes more sense to go with a prepaid debit card that won't share your financial information with the website.
What sites have the fastest payouts?
The sites with the fastest payouts are the ones that support electronic payment methods. The sites that provide the slower payouts rely on methods like checks and money orders that take longer to send and process.
What casinos accept PayPal?
A large majority of casinos today accept PayPal. To find out what casinos accept this form of currency look at the website and see what the deposit and withdrawal methods are. You'll be surprised by how many are available that take PayPal payments.
Welcome Bonuses:
What are bonuses?
Welcome bonuses are free money bonuses given to players that meet specific conditions when they join a new site. They are designed to draw in new players that haven't been to the casino before. They can help you earn more while at the casino initially.
What's the catch?
The main catch to bonus money is that you have to play for a specified period before you can withdraw the money that you are given. That period gives you plenty of time to lose all your money before you even qualify for the bonus. Many players will lose their balance before getting the bonus.
Can I withdraw bonus money?
As long as you meet the requirements to receive the bonus money from the casino there is no reason that you can't withdraw the money as well. You can take it out just as you would your own money, because when you meet the requirements the bonus money becomes part of your casino balance.