With more than 4+ years of experience in the iGaming industry, Boris Atanasov writes exciting content about slots, video poker, roulette and blackjack.
, | Updated: September 30, 2024
When it comes to online gambling, Australians are undoubtedly among the most ardent fans of this pastime. The country has a long history of restrictive and even outright prohibitive regulations, but locals have proven that nothing can keep them from wagering on their favorite slots, table games, bingo titles, and other gaming library constituents. This necessitates the use of foreign-based platforms, as local regulated gambling operators offer predominantly sports betting.
The online casinos that Australians do access compete for their attention by providing a full range of casino bonuses and promotional incentives. They are the subject of this review, as are the legislative provisions that you must follow if you are on the country’s territory.
Casino Sites in Australia
Choosing the right platform can be difficult given the vast number of web-based casinos available. If you want to save yourself the time of browsing and researching hundreds of gambling operators, take a look at our suggestions for top-notch trustworthy online casinos.
18+ and of legal age to gamble. First deposit only. $20 Min deposit. Max bonus 1 BTC or currency equivalent. First deposit free spins are added as a set of 50 per day for 2 days, amounting to 100 free spins in total. The first 50 free spins are added immediately after a successful activation of the bonus. The next 50 free spins are added in 24 hours. Winnings obtained with the help of free spins have a x40 wagering requirement. All deposit bonuses must be wagered at least 40 times before the player can withdraw the winnings received through them. General Bonus Terms & Conditions must be observed.
18+. New customers only. Promocode: ENCHANTED is valid once for new players on pokies, keno, bingo, scratch cards, and specialty games on deposit $25+, playthrough 30x(the deposit+bonus amount), no max cash-out.
18+ New Customers only. Min deposit $20. Max bonus $5000. EXCLUSIVE: Up to 25% Rakeback on each bet! Instant, Weekly, and Monthly Rakeback. No wagering requirements. No upper limits on the Rakeback amount. The Rakeback percentage depends on the Rakeback reward level.
This bonus comes with a 35X wagering requirement (Slots and Keno Only), based on the amount of your deposit plus bonus, and no limits on how much you are allowed to withdraw. Bonus amount is non-cashable and will be removed from the amount of your withdrawal request. You must play all spins before switching games. Free spins have 5x additional wagering requirements and no added restrictions on withdrawal. Unless noted, standard rules apply.
This bonus comes with a 5x wagering requirement (on Slots and Keno AND on All-Allowed Games where applicable), based on the amount of your deposit plus bonus, and no limits on how much you are allowed to withdraw. Bonus amount is non-cashable and will be removed from the amount of your withdrawal request. You must play all spins before switching games. Free spins have 5x additional wagering requirements and no added restrictions on withdrawal. Unless noted, standard rules apply.
18+. New customers only. 30x Deposit + Bonus wagering requirement. 10 days expiration time. €5 max bet. Deposits made with Skrill and Neteller do not qualify for this promotion.
18+. New customers only. 40x Bonus wagering requirement. 14 days expiration time. LOKI100 bonus code. The Free Spins can be played only on Prince of the Sky Slot.
18+. New customers only. 30x Deposit + Bonus wagering requirement. 7 days expiration time. €5 max bet. No wagering requirements on free spins winnings.
18+. New customers only. 30x Deposit + Bonus wagering requirement. 10 days expiration time. €5 max bet. Deposits made with Skrill and Neteller do not qualify for this promotion.
18+ New customers only. Spins valued at €0.25 for deposits of less then €100 and €1.25 for deposits of €100 or more. 35x Bonus wagering. Winnings from spins are wager free.
150% match bonus and 150 free spins on players’ first deposit and 50% match bonus of up to 1 BTC on their second, third, and fourth deposits. 60x wagering for 1st deposit bonus and 50x for the rest. 30 Days expiration time.
18+ New customers only. 110% up to 1BTC 1st deposit bonus. 55% up to 1BTC 2nd deposit bonus. 50% up to 2BTC 3rd deposit bonus. 40x D+B wagering required. Each bonus is valid for 30 days.
18+ New customers only. €10 min deposit. First deposit bonus 100% up to €100 + 100 Free Spins. Second deposit bonus 50% up to €200 + 50 Free Spins. Third deposit bonus 75% up to €200 + 75 Free Spins. High-roller bonus 50% up to €2,000. 40x wagering applies. 5 days expiration time for each bonus.
18+ New customers only. Min deposit €25. 30x Wagering. Bonuses are cashable after the completion of the wagering. Maximum bets with bonuses are restricted to €7.50. Bonus terms and conditions apply.
18+. New players only. One offer per player. Min Dep €10. Max bonus bet €5. 1st Dep offer is 100% up to €100 + 25 Bonus spins on Gonzo’s Quest & Starburst. Spins expire after 10 days, funds after 30 days. Bonus funds separate to Cash. Wager Req of 35x Deposit + Bonus apply. Terms Apply. BeGambleAware.org.
18+ New customers only. Min deposit €10. 35x wagering applies to the bonus amount and 40x of winnings from the Free Spins.
Best Casino Bonuses in Australia
Both newly registered and existing Australian casino players have numerous opportunities to enhance their gaming sessions and boost their account balances by taking advantage of the no deposit bonuses offered by their preferred virtual casinos. These may greatly vary depending on the platform but still, there are some common principles they are based on. We recommend that you preliminarily familiarize yourself with the various types of free bonuses and promotions that you may encounter at online casinos.
Welcome Offers
No Deposit Bonuses
Loyalty Programs
Welcome Offers
Welcome no deposit casino bonuses are among the most popular and sought-after types of casino incentives. They can be single offers or entire packages that cover several deposits. Typically percentage-based and requiring players to process a deposit after the account registration is complete, they are an excellent opportunity to get off to a flying start with any online casino. The respective deposit is matched with a percentage usually between 25% and 100% of the deposited amount.
Let’s look at one example. If you claim a 50% Welcome bonus and top up your balance with $150, you will benefit from the additional sum of $75. Thus the total you will play with becomes $225. There is a certain playthrough that should be met within a specific period of time. Otherwise, players’ bonus-generated winnings will be forfeited. Different types of games contribute differently to meeting the requirement, with slots being the most valuable in this regard almost always.
Some operators go even further and supplement the offer with a fixed number of free spins. According to the casino’s policy, these spins can be used for all available slots or for specific titles, usually those that are currently being promoted.
No Deposit Bonuses
As enticing as the online gambling scene may seem, if you are an absolute novice, the endeavor may seem complicated and overly risky. The best way to make sure if casino games are your thing is to find a platform that offers the so-called no deposit bonuses. Although sums on the order of $10 or $20 may seem too modest, they are actually quite enough to cotton on with game specifics and decide if they fit your taste and budget. No deposit bonuses, like any other type of casino promotion, can result in real money winnings. Of course, there is always the “catch” that you must complete the wagering requirements before cashing out and read the terms and conditions for any other rules that must be followed.
Loyalty Programs
The presence of a Loyalty Program is an indication that a brand whose services are used by Australian players is of high caliber. These promotional initiatives are frequently divided into tiers, with the higher players climbing the loyalty ladder, the more lucrative benefits and rewards they receive. Each real-money wager matters and can earn you a certain number of Comp points. When you have collected enough points, you can choose to exchange them for cash or bonus casino credits, for example. Some casinos go even further and pamper their most active players with personal VIP assistants, tickets to sporting events, and other perks.
Don’t be misled by flashy headlines, instead, carefully read the terms and conditions to reap the promised benefits. It is worth participating in loyalty programs that offer awards that are appealing to you personally. It is also important to check that the requirements for moving from one level to the next are feasible.
Before engaging in any gambling activity, regardless of where you are in the world, it is critical to familiarize yourself with the local legislative environment. This way, you will avoid the risk, albeit unintentionally, of being a violator of a law or regulation and being subject to sanctions. In Australia, the situation is complicated by the fact that some provinces have relative autonomy in the regulation of online sports betting and virtual casino wagering. But first, let’s define gambling. This is an activity in which money or something of real-world value is staked on the outcome of an event that is dependent entirely or partially on chance.
All jurisdictions in Australia must comply with a general prohibition on the conduct and promotion of gambling. However, there is a range of legislative exemptions for gambling activities that are licensed:
Lotteries (land-based and online);
Sports betting (land-based and online);
Electronic slot machines (land-based only);
Brick-and-mortar casinos where table games can be played in person.
The Australian federal and state oppressive approach to the conduct of gambling services is a reaction to the rising concerns about the negative social consequences of this type of activity. Nonetheless, gambling has long been a part of Australian culture and identity and is deeply ingrained in the national mentality. Despite the ongoing conflict between the economic returns provided by the sports betting and casino sector and the pressure on governments to take action to reduce problem gambling behavior, the industry continues to thrive.
Legislation and Case Law Summary
Offshore Gambling
Legislation and Case Law Summary
Although Australia has a comprehensive gambling regulatory environment at the federal, state, and territory levels, discrepancy in requirements across jurisdictions weakens its effectiveness. The country has eight continental states and territories – Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, and Northern Territory. Each of them independently regulates gambling within the respective jurisdiction and complies with a different number of legislative documents.
On a federal level, these are the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth), the Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988 (Cth), and the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth). In addition, the Constitution empowers the federal government to regulate telecommunications, money, and trade. With these powers, the federal government has passed legislation regarding the control and regulation of interactive gambling, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing as well as consumer and competition protections.
Offshore Gambling
Given the legal specifics of the local market and the online offering of mostly sports betting and lotteries, fans of classic casino games have to turn to offshore gambling platforms to enjoy their favorite pastime. Legislation in this direction began in the distant 2001 when the federal government enacted the IGA prohibiting the provision of interactive (online) gambling products bearing an ‘Australian customer link’. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and the Australian Federal Police are in charge of ensuring that players and operators follow the Act.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment Act 2017 amended the IGA in September 2017, introducing new increased penalties and giving ACMA expanded investigative and enforcement powers, including the right to issue formal warnings and infringement notices. Furthermore, there is a ban on advertising prohibited interactive gambling services, and unless the company is licensed in Australia, the regulated ones. The IGA, which targets the supply of online gambling by offshore operators, does not prevent Australian residents from accessing offshore casino platforms, which is of course beneficial to local casino players. In other words, no one has ever faced criminal charges as a result of participating in online gambling. You can gamble online without fear as long as you use an online gambling site that accepts Australian players and is licensed by a reputable regulatory body.
Given that the majority of Australian casino players use international platforms registered outside of the country, no type of no deposit casino bonus is particularly popular in the local gambling market. Very often, gamblers join an online casino because of the tempting welcome bonus and only then pay attention to what other promotional offers are available.
As mentioned in this article, although the local legislation is restrictive, it does not expressly prohibit the use of the services of foreign online casinos. Your only concern is to check that the respective platform is properly regulated and you can safely register an account. For your peace of mind, you can also read customer reviews so you know what to expect from a gaming perspective.
Before claiming a bonus, make sure the wagering requirements are reasonable. If you have to wager the bonus amount hundreds of times in a very short period of time to be eligible to withdraw your eventual winnings, you better look for another operator. Watch for three factors – playthrough, maximum payout, and expiration period.
Most gambling platforms that accept players from Australia do not allow the simultaneous use of different promotional offers. However, nothing prevents you from taking advantage of multiple bonuses one after the other.
Casino cashback is a bonus in the form of a percentage of your losses returned to you in bonus money or, in rare cases, real money. Regular bonuses, on the other hand, are usually rather fixed. They range from free spins to bonus money, all in fixed amounts/quantities.