Online Casinos in Australia in 2025

Online gambling reached the Aussie shores in the late 18th century with European settlers. They started playing gambling games like “two-up”, a coin-tossing game that flourished during the gold rush. In the early 19th century, horse racing was the first form of legal gambling permitted, with the first race held in Sydney in 1810.

• 1810: The first legal and official horse races mark the start of regulated gambling in Australia.
• 1850s: Turf clubs were established in every capital Australian city, further confirming the popularity of horse racing and betting options.
• 1920s: The Government approved and introduced state-run lotteries available across all of Australia.
• 1956: Pokies were legalised in NSW clubs.
• 1961: State-run off-course betting companies (TABs) were introduced, with Victoria the first
• 1973: The first brick-and-mortar casino was opened in Tasmania.
• 1980s-90s: Pokies became available in more states, and casino expansions occurred.
• 2001: Online gambling regulations come into play wth the introduction of the Interactive Gambling Act.

One of the top perks of playing at the best online casinos in Australia, besides the extensive range of online casino games, is the variety of generous bonuses. These help to increase the playable balance and, in turn, extend your playtime and winning chances. Next, we showcase the most popular casino bonuses, explain how they work, and highlight key considerations to keep in mind before claiming them.

• Welcome Bonus: This is offered to new Australian players as a deposit match on their first casino deposit and often includes rewarding free spins on the pokies. The percentage boost is usually 100% or higher, and some casinos offer thousands of AUD to claim, which suits higher rollers.
• Deposit Bonus: These percentage boosts are usually lower, ranging from around 40% to 100%. Some of these promotions are offered as one-time deals, but many casinos also provide them every week. Existing players can claim a deposit match to increase gaming bankroll.
• Reload Bonuses: An encouraging casino reload bonus helps its existing players to continue returning to the site and playing. They will consist of either a deposit bonus, free spins or a combination of both.
• Cashback Rewards: A cashback bonus is a percentage-based return that compensates for lost wagers. Providing players with weekly or monthly cashback incentives keeps them engaged. Unfortunately, not all games count towards cashback.
• No Deposit Bonus: This bonus allows players to try out online casino games without any financial commitment. Enticing no-deposit bonuses may come in the form of bonus cash or free spins. However, they are rare to find, and wagering requirements may be on the steep side.

Online casino bonuses come with various terms and conditions. These may be followed for successful claims and payouts. Factors to check are eligible payments and minimum deposits. Other checks include the allowed games for wagering requirements and the number of times you have to wager the bonus funds. Also, confirm the time at which you have to claim and complete any attached wagering.

Most Australian online casinos offer thousands of games for players, often exceeding 5,000 or more. It offers a wide range of real-money game options, providing easy access to play casino games online. Top casino game providers, such as Pragmatic Play, Big Time Gaming, and Play’n GO, will power the popular online casino games.

• Real Money Pokies: Online casinos in Australia offer a variety of pokies, including classic, video, and progressive jackpot slots. The pokies category is usually the largest game category at many Australian online casinos. Exciting pokies for Australian players come in numerous formats with varying themes, bonus features and winning potential.
• Crash Games: Players are drawn to crash games for their fast-paced style and simple mechanics, which allow them to cash out before a multiplier ‘crashes’. They come in various fun formats, such as planes, balloons, or spacemen.
• Table Games: Top Aussie online casinos offer RNG-powered table games like roulette, poker, and blackjack, which are played against the house rather than other players. This casino game category provides you with the option to choose your pace, particularly with games where you are still learning the rules.
• Speciality Games: The speciality category has been gaining more attraction. This category usually includes bingo, scratch cards, keno, and dice games, offering extra gaming options for all players at Australian online casino sites.
• Live Casino Games: Live casinos with immersive gaming stream in real time with real hosts and other players. The live dealer games include online blackjack, which combines chance and strategy, and has a lower house edge. Another top live casino game is roulette, featuring its giant spinning wheel, which is popular due to the wide range of betting options. Other games in this category include baccarat, poker, game shows, and live pokie play.

Any winnings you earn while playing at real-money casino sites are not subject to Australian taxes for casual players, according to the Australian Taxation Office. If, however, you use it as a form of income and class yourself as a professional gambler, or your gambling is tied to a business, then potential winnings must be declared and included on your annual tax returns.

Most Australian real-money casinos, unless they are a Pay N’ Play platform where you can sign up with your payment method, such as a crypto wallet address, will require you to supply ID documents. There are several reasons for this process. This includes confirming your identity, as well as preventing anti-money laundering and underage persons from attempting to circumvent the rules.

• Acceptable ID documents: The first document required is proof of your identity. The types of documents casinos will accept include a driver’s licence, a passport, or a government-issued photo ID card.
• Proof of Address Rules: Casinos are very strict about the address documentation they will accept. To ensure it is acceptable, it must be a document, preferably a utility bill or government letter, dated within the last three months. When taking a picture, ensure that all four corners are visible as well, as casinos often reject them if they don’t meet this criterion.
• Proof of Payment: Another document they may require is proof of the source of your gambling funds. If you used a bank card, they will require pictures of the front and back with some numbers blacked out for security. If using e-wallets or crypto, take a screenshot of the wallet with your name displayed to confirm its authenticity.

Responsible gambling is essential for continued enjoyment. Playing within your means is crucial to maintaining healthy habits, and some casinos offer tools to help you stay on track.

• Deposit Limits: These allow you to set the maximum amount of funds you are willing to spend on gambling. You can put them in place for a day, a week, or a month. It helps to keep the budget healthy and in check.
• Time Limits: When enjoying the casino games, players often lose track of time. The time limits allow you to set healthy time limits, keeping the time spent within what spare time you can afford.
• Self-Exclusion: If the gambling spirals out of control and is interfering with other areas of a player’s daily life, then a self-exclusion is often used. This allows a user to block their access for a period of their choosing, which can be anywhere from a week to 5 years.

Real money casinos in Australia also offer resources to local organisations that can provide advice, offer phone support, or let players take quizzes to assess if they need help. We’ve included some top Australian responsible gaming agencies and BetStop, which is the national self-exclusion program.

• Responsible Wagering Australia
• Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation
• Liquor and Gaming NSW
• TAB Responsible Gaming
• BetStop

When choosing a real money casino site to play in Australia, we recommend finding trusted platforms that comply with Australian regulations and choosing licensed and regulated casinos. Most online casinos share many similarities, but they differ in their game selections, bonuses, and payment options. Pay attention to terms and conditions, game fairness and integrity.

Always compare casino sites by reading casino reviews, testing them out, especially if they offer a demo version of their games, and checking the promotions page to confirm the available bonus offers and their terms. Be aware of the risks that you are taking while playing at offshore casinos. If one doesn’t suit you after joining, there are plenty of other options for you to try.