The bill termed it as illegal to offer real money interactive online betting services to residents. This bill also prohibited gambling providers from advertising their gaming and betting services in Australia. With such law, it is clear that it was not legal for one to play in online gambling or betting in Australia. Australians love playing games. Whether it is sports, horse racing, casino games, lotteries or other such tournaments Australians have full entertainment and enjoyment in all gaming activities. All the fun is not for leisure but also Aussies love to bet and play for real money. Whether online, on gaming tables, or on “pokies,” the native Australian term for slot machines.

Online pokies (also known as slots outside Australia and New Zealand) are a popular online casino game.

Pokies are a fast-paced game in which the aim is to align symbols to get a big payday. Most modern pokies have bonus features where you can get insanely high winnings as well.

Pokies are a staple at all online casinos. There are many different pokie variations, such as progressive, jackpot, 3-reel, 5-reel, megaways, and much more! You’re guaranteed to find a game you’ll enjoy at one of our recommended casinos.

On this page, we’ll cover everything you need to know about pokies, including the best online casinos to play at and the pokies with the highest RTPs.

Best Online Pokies Casinos In Australia And NZ

The table above shows the best casinos you can play pokies at in Australia and New Zealand. It goes without saying that you must play real money pokies at a safe and trusted online casino. It pays dividends to play at a site that values security.

Legitimate Casino verifies every single casino we recommend by evaluating the licenses they hold and by studying their credentials.

Are Online Pokies Legal In Australia?

It is legal to play pokies online in Australia. The law that regulates online gambling in the country is the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001.

The law states that it is illegal to play real money games on a website that is registered in Australian territory. It does not regulate offshore companies.

Therefore it is perfectly okay for Australian citizens to play on websites that are registered out of Australia.

There is nothing to indicate that online gambling’s legality is under threat in the region, so Australian residents should feel comfortable playing their favorite pokies.

Why Play Real Money Pokies Online?

There has been a massive and sudden shift in the modern-day, where we have seen an exodus of players from physical brick-and-mortar casinos. Instead, they’ve transitioned online.

While traditional locations such as pubs and brick-and-mortar casinos are readily accessible in Australia, the pros of playing real money pokies online far outweigh any cons.

Here are a few of the pros of playing pokies online:

• Playing from the comfort of your home: When playing online, you can be a couch potato and play on a handheld device or computer. You never have to feel uncomfortable again at an inconvenient casino table or at a noisy pub.
• Playing on-the-go: If you’re ever bored while you’re out and about, you have the freedom to play your favorite pokie games while on-the-go. Just be careful, and never play when you’re in a dynamic environment like walking or driving.
• Juicy bonuses & free spins: When you play pokies online, you’ll have the choice to play games that have lucrative bonus features. Not only that, but online casinos always provide some sort of incentive to keep players playing, like welcome bonuses or no deposit bonuses.
• Higher RTPs: Modern online pokies have a much higher “Return-To-Player,” as they have more ways to win than traditional pokies you’ll see at a pub. This way, you have a higher chance of winning money playing your favorite games.

Types of Online Pokies

There’s a lot of choices when it comes to online pokies, and it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll find a game that will keep you satisfied. All pokies are not created equal, though, so it’s crucial you understand which one caters to your taste! Here’s a breakdown of the most common types of pokie:

• 3-reel pokies: 3-reel pokies are the most traditional games out there. These are likely to be stuffed in the corner of your local pub, and they typically lack innovation and don’t have very high payouts.
• 5-reel pokies: 5-reel games are the archetypal modern pokie. It’s the perfect balance between high RTP and insane payouts if you can match symbols across five reels. Here, you’ll see cool bonus features depending on the game that can swell your account balance.
• 7-reel pokies: 7-reel pokies are rare as they are more of a ploy that online casinos use to show their customers they have unique pokies. It is uncommon to see 7-reel pokies, but if you do get to play on them, they have the highest payouts available on the Internet if all goes well.
• Video Pokies: The term “video” in video pokies refers to the graphics and animations implemented in the online game rather than the actual gameplay itself. This means that technically all online pokies are video pokies, but there is a clear distinction between games that heavily promote its graphics versus those that don’t.
• 3D Pokies: 3D pokies are currently the pinnacle of online pokies today. You’ll find certain software developers like Betsoft and Evolution Gaming, providing users with awesome pokies with insane graphics, storylines, and amazing features.
• High Payouts/Progressive Pokies: High payout/progressive pokies are very volatile games with huge prizes to win up top. If you hit the jackpot symbols, then you’ll have a chance to win millions potentially.

Review Of The Best Online Pokies In Australia

The only way you can find out what type of pokie you like the most is by playing a bunch of different games. By experiencing the full spectrum of what online casinos have to offer, you will understand which pokie caters to your taste.

We investigated and discovered some of the best slots with the highest RTP at our recommended casinos. Read on below for our selection:

Pokies With Highest RTPs

Frog Fortune

Frog Fortune is a hexagonal pokie that has an RTP percentage of 96%.

The minimum bet is $0.25, and the maximum is $25. Perfect for those who want a more casual occasion.

It was created by Real Time Gaming.

Dragon Hatch

Dragon Hatch is an exciting 5-reel video pokie with clean animations with a high RTP of 96.83%!

The minimum bet for this pokie is $0.20, and the maximum is as high as $200, great for those looking for some high-stakes play.

Ancient Gods

Ancient Gods is a 5-reel pokie with an ancient Chinese theme.

Ancient Gods has an excellent RTP of 96%, with a minimum bet of $0.01 and as high as $6.25. Ancient Gods is available to play at Fair Go Casino.

Kung Fu Rooster

Kung Fu Rooster is one of the most popular pokies out there today as it has a high RTP of 96.30%, with a betting range of $0.12 – 3.

You can play Kung Fu Rooster at Red Dog casino today!

Dragon Match Megaways

Dragon Match Megaways is a beautifully themed modern pokie with a brilliant RTP of 96.11%.

Created by iSoftBet, you can have the “fortune” of playing this pokie over at Joe Fortune.

Panda’s Gold

Panda’s Gold is a contemporary classic when it comes to 5-reel pokies.

You have all the necessary features included in the game, and you can bet as low as $0.01 or as high as $12.50 with an RTP of 96.81%!

You can have a crack at Panda’s Gold over at Fair Go Casino.

Top Bonuses To Play Pokies Online

Online casinos provide customers with great bonuses to entice players to sign up at their website. Every casino has its unique bonuses and promotions, but generally, welcome bonuses are the most attractive.

You can expect to get free bonus funds, free spins, or sometimes even no deposit bonuses!

Check out the top pokie bonuses at our recommended casinos below:

• Red Dog Casino: Grab yourself a lucrative welcome bonus at Red Dog Casino with a sweltering $12,250 welcome bonus with code WAGGINGTAILS. The code is valid five times, and you must wager x35 the deposit amount to withdraw your bonus winnings.
• Joe Fortune: Over at Joe Fortune, you can get a cool welcome bonus of $2,250 with no deposit limit. That means you can deposit as much as you want and get that same amount extra in bonus funds. On top of that, you can claim 20 free spins on selected pokies.
• Fair Go Casino: Fair Go Casino gives you a $1000 welcome bonus (in your first five deposits)! That means you can claim up to $1000 in bonus funds with code WELCOME. You must wager at least x60 your deposit amount in order to redeem funds.

Ready To Play Online Pokies For Real Money?

So now you have all you need to know about online pokies. There are a ton of games out there that can satisfy all different types of players.

It’s always essential that you pick the right online casino for you, as it can make a world of difference. Check out our recommended casinos for Aussie players, and don’t forget to apply your welcome bonuses!

Get playing today and potentially earn yourself a massive payday on these enjoyable online pokies. You’ll never know how much you could make on some of the crazy features that some of these pokies offer. Find out for yourself today!

Australia is one of the leaders in the gambling world as players here spend almost $1,000 per capita yearly. It’s widely considered that the local laws prohibit online casinos since 2001 but, actually, things are more complicated. The catch is in the country’s mode of governance, because Australia is a federal region with several states featuring their own local regulations. Hence, gambling is regulated by both common laws and state bills.

Each state must comply with national laws, but also has local authorities which control gambling. Read on to learn about the differences in state rules and how each local commission works.

Federal Gambling Laws in Australia

Overall, offline and online gambling is regulated by both federal and state institutions. The Commonwealth focuses on global issues like problems of irresponsible gambling, expansion of interactive betting services, and suggestions for territories. Local regulators decide whether to allow or prohibit gambling as it is or certain forms of it, specify which venues can provide these services, and so on.

Further, we want to focus on the laws related to land-based facilities, gambling websites, and taxation.

Regulation of Land-Based Casinos

Basically, all states and territories in Australia have legalized offline forms of gambling. This means, citizens and tourists can freely enjoy various games in casinos anywhere. You can find at least one dedicated facility in each region. Usually, they’re located in capital cities. However, there are more restrictions when it comes to gambling outside licensed casinos.

For instance, it’s prohibited to gamble in non-casino facilities in Western Australia but all other states allow this form of entertainment. Moreover, if you visited New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria you could see gaming machines in night clubs, but other regions aren’t so friendly.

Regulation of Online Casinos

With online platforms like Aussie online pokies, things are more complicated. In 2001, the IGA was passed and Australia faced new regulations. The Act prohibits both providing and advertising online gambling services to the citizens. As well, it provides for the system of complaints and specifies penalties.

Furthermore, in 2016 the government proposed and accepted the Amendment Bill to close all loopholes. According to this document, all forms of online gambling which aren’t officially allowed are prohibited, ads during live sports events are banned, and offshore casinos have to get licenses to provide their services to Australians. Due to the last point, large operators were forced to leave the market.

However, citizens of Australia can place bets online in national and foreign casinos freely without fear of being penalized. Only operators and advertisers are responsible for these violations. Plus, there are some legal online betting activities for local operators:

• Auto races
• Sports excluding in-game wagers
• Online lotteries except for instant-win cards

Taxation Rules

First and foremost, money received from winnings isn’t taxed at all. The Commonwealth considers gambling as a hobby or recreation, while individual profits from it are the result of pure luck and not real work.

However, the government imposes various taxes on casino operators. They vary across different states but we can look at the general types:

• Turnover tax – sports betting, racing, lotteries, card machines, and keno.
• Tax on loss – sports betting, racing, poker machines, keno, and casinos in general.
• Net profits tax – poker machines and totalizator.
• Fees – sports betting, racing, lotteries, poker, bingo, raffles, and casinos in general.

Local Laws

Now, let’s move to the differences in local laws. Since regulations are pretty complicated because of various legislative documents accepted, we will focus on gaming machines (i.e. pokies) and laws related to them. For extra information, you can explore the list of bills and acts which regulate gambling in specific states. The highest number of papers is in New South Wales while the lowest one is in Tasmania.

Australian Capital Territory

The main department is based in Canberra. It controls all aspects of land-based and web gambling as well as sports betting. The Commission regulates and approves activities, monitors problem gambling rates, provides educational services for citizens, collects taxes and charges, and so on. The core social goals of this agency are focused on protecting consumers, spotting and fighting criminal activity, and enhancing responsible gambling.

Key Laws

Apart from papers related to gaming machines, the authority regulates land-based casinos and bookmakers, racing bets, and lotteries. This region has also adopted the Code of Practice, and the Interactive Gambling Act 1998 with a bit outdated rules related to online casinos. This means, new amendments presented in 2016 aren’t valid here.

Tax Rules

• Casino pokies: 10.9% revenue
• Table games: N/A
• Pokies in hotels: 26.5% revenue
• Pokies in night clubs: restricted
• Keno: 2.53% turnover

New South Wales

As New South Wales is one of the most significant areas in Australia, it also has a dedicated authority in Sydney. It covers not only gambling but also regulates issues related to the alcohol market. The authority helps entrepreneurs set up a business and receive a license, hire workers, and handle legislative concerns. It also protects customers from irresponsible gambling and provides community support.

Key Laws

The department regulates both gaming and liquor operations and has a lot of related bills passed. For example, you can find the Liquor Act 2007 or the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991. Documents regulate casino operations, racing, lotteries, totalizators, and general betting.

Tax Rules

• Casino pokies: 18.41-40.91% revenue
• Table games: 16.41-38.91% revenue
• Pokies in hotels: 0-50% player losses
• Pokies in night clubs: 0-28.05% player losses
• Keno: 8.91-14.91% player losses

Northern Territory

This state doesn’t have a dedicated department or commission because all issues related to gambling and racing are handled by the NT Government with the head office in Darwin. The authority can issue and revoke licenses, regulate casino operations, and educate people. They pay close attention to fighting illegal gambling, as well. You can explore key info on the official website, though.

Key Laws

Mainly, the government relies on the Gaming Control Act 1993 with different amendments to regulate the industry. Plus, there are separate laws for racing and illegal gaming. Northern Territory also has a dedicated office which covers licensing issues regardless of the business’ type. So, both casinos and alcohol-related companies can contact it.

Tax Rules

• Casino pokies: 21-25% profits
• Table games: the GST only
• Pokies in hotels: 12.91-42.91% profits
• Pokies in night clubs: restricted
• Keno: 10 % profits minus the GST

Queensland

Similarly to New South Wales, the Government of Queensland has a separate department for gambling regulation. Its main office is in Brisbane. The authority focuses not only on licensing and penalizing casinos, but also on gaming-related research, stats, and even community fundraising.

Key Laws

Just like other territories with elaborate gambling policies, Queensland is guided by various acts related to gaming and alcohol. The government has also published separate acts for each casino in the state, a separate bill for Keno, and several lists of gaming rules.

Tax Rules

• Casino pokies: 20-30% revenue
• Table games: 10-20% revenue
• Pokies in hotels: 35-55% metered wins
• Pokies in night clubs: 0-35% metered wins
• Keno: 10-29.4% revenue

South Australia

The government of South Australia doesn’t have a local commission but it has a center of Consumer and Business Services with the support office in Adelaide which covers the issues of gambling. The website has a lot of helpful information from casino licensing to promoting responsible gambling. You can find info about opening your own casino, accessing bookmakers’ services, and using lotteries.

Key Laws

Although South Australia has fewer laws than previous territories, this one has recently introduced a few important changes to their regulation policies. Particularly, they have provided a new framework for online punters’ protection, insights on self-exclusion, new Codes of Practice, and overall suggestions on optimizing gaming regulation.

Tax Rules

• Casino pokies: 0-41% revenue
• Table games: 3.41-10.91% revenue
• Pokies in hotels: 0-65% revenue
• Pokies in night clubs: restricted
• Keno: 41% revenue

Tasmania

The local authority acts as a part of the financial department. It has offices in Hobart and Launceston. The group is responsible for traditional regulatory activities, licensing, promotions, and elimination of problem gambling. It charges fees and payments, helps to establish responsible gambling venues, and collects industry-specific data to analyze performance.

Legal Online Pokies Australia Fires

Key Laws

Although Tasmania has only a few major bills like the Gaming Control Act 1983, it regularly makes new amendments. For example, in 2014, the authority introduced new rules for license applications, renewals, and operation. Plus, the state has a unique act which regulates gambling activities aboard the local vessels called Spirit of Tasmania I and II.

Tax Rules

• Casino pokies: 25.88% profits
• Table games: 0.88% profits
• Pokies in hotels: 29.88% profits
• Pokies in night clubs: restricted
• Keno: 5.88% profits

Victoria

This territory has a separate regulatory body with the head office in Melbourne. On the website, you can find a big knowledge base with info about getting, renewing, and changing licenses, making complaints, and learning about casino operators. There are even dedicated sections for minor games like raffles.

Key Laws

Similarly to Tasmania, this state works according to the global Gaming Control Act which is a bit newer (1991). As for the most recent laws, Victoria passed a 2015 bill which covers changes to the fee policy.

Tax Rules

• Casino pokies: 32.57-52.57% revenue
• Table games: 22.25-42.25% revenue
• Pokies in hotels: 8.33-62.53% player losses
• Pokies in night clubs: 0.54-20% player losses
• Keno: 23.24% player losses

Western Australia

Here’s the last territory with a separate gambling authority based in Perth. The authority has a bit outdated website but you can still find essential info about casino licenses, support centers, and even employment. The department focuses on the social and economic wealth of citizens as well as lawful gambling, racing, and liquor activities.

Key Laws

Again, this is a territory with a few acts approved. It’s very similar to Tasmania as it operates under the Gaming Control Act 1984 and has other papers issued in 1985-1987. Probably, Western Australia has the most stringent regulation in terms of gambling in non-casino venues.

Tax Rules

• Casino pokies: 14.42% of revenue
• Casino table games: 9.37-12.92% of revenue
• Pokies in hotels: N/A
• Pokies in night clubs: N/A
• Keno: 1.75-9.37% of player losses

History of Online Gambling Legislation in Australia

For the final section, we have prepared some historical info related to Australian gambling laws. If you want to learn why the country introduced all these bans and what to do now, sit back and enjoy the recap. The first part is dedicated to online casinos and traditional games like pokies or table games, while the second one focuses on legal gambling such as sports betting or lotteries.

Online Casinos

Past

Online casinos first appeared in the early 1990s and were fully legal. The first ever platform that entered the Australian market was The Gaming Club which operates until today. However, in 1999, the officials filed their report to the government recommending to ban all forms of online gambling. The federal authorities decided to impose strict regulations and asked the states to put gambling activities on hold in 2000.

Present

2001 became the game-changing year. The Australian Parliament passed the IGA with clear statements about what’s legal and what’s illegal in the online gambling industry. Three key takeaways from this act are as follows:

• Australian companies are prohibited to provide gambling services in the country.
• Australian companies are prohibited to provide gambling services worldwide.
• Australian companies are prohibited to advertise gambling services.

Depending on the type of violation and its severity, companies can be penalized and forced to pay $1.1 million per day of illegal activity, while persons face a $220,000 fine per day.

In 2016, the government presented another pack of changes. Minister of Human Services Alan Tudge in cooperation with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull created the IGB 2016 with several amendments to the previous official paper. This bill was passed in 2017, so now we can explore its changes:

• Ban on all online gambling activities which aren’t specified as legal.
• Ban on foreign casino operators which don’t have the Australian license.
• Ban on gambling ads during live sports events.
• Ban on in-game online sports bets.
• Ban on credit lines and “free bets” in sportsbooks.

Plus, the document requires that online bookmakers and other legal platforms which allow online gambling (yes, some forms are still available and we will look at them further) provide self-exclusion options to all gamblers. As a result, a lot of overseas operators like PokerStars and 888 left the Australian online market in 2016-2017.

Future

The main catch in both the IGA and its amendments is that documents don’t prohibit gambling for individuals. Only the provision and promotion of gambling services are illegal, while ordinary people can still gamble online without issues at all. Using VPNs, cryptocurrency, and decentralized platforms, you can easily access a lot of casino games.

Moreover, it is expected that the Australian government will abandon its stance on online gambling in the future. Today, money wagered by Aussies moves to foreign online casinos and, respectively, their governments. Due to the fact that Australia is a leader in gambling spending per capita, local authorities should realize that they can keep these funds inside the country.

Legal Betting Options

It’s interesting that neither the IGA 2001 nor its further amendment prohibits several forms of online betting:

Legal Online Pokies Australia Hot

• Sports betting excluding in-game wagers.
• Lotteries except for scratch cards.
• Bets on auto and horse races.

Precisely, betting on horse races was the first officially legalized form of gambling in Australia. With the rise of Internet casinos and bookies, a lot of national operators decided to open online platforms for punters. Most likely, Australian authorities think that betting is a safer activity than playing real-money pokies or table games online.

Further, the legal state of online betting can motivate gambling supporters to come out for online casino legalization. Gamblers can launch their social campaigns by showing that free access to online casinos and other gambling terminals isn’t harmful. Moreover, it can benefit both people and the national government because of the industry’s high popularity.

Final Words

Playing games in Australian casinos is legal as long as you are doing this offline. When it comes to online platforms, laws become stricter but you can still be assured that the regulatory papers do not impose penalties on the customers. You can enjoy games provided by offshore operators, but to avoid any misinterpretation of law you want to know both federal and local restrictions.