Online Casinos 2024

How We Review Online Casinos

We’re often asked how we physically go about reviewing online casinos - and what specific metrics we look for. While our review process involves a huge number of factors, there are a few core areas we look at. Below, we’re going to be showing you what these core areas include - and why they’re so important to look at.

Reputation

One of the first things that we look at when reviewing new Australian casinos is the site’s history and reputation. Even if the site is brand new, there’s a good chance that they are connected to other sites and operators - and this gives us an idea of how trustworthy (or not) a site is likely to be. For example, if a new casino is launched, and it’s connected to shady, dodgy operators - we know with near certainty that it’s going to end up being a rogue operation.

If a casino truly is brand new - it doesn’t have any connected or sister sites - then we’ll pay close attention to how they treat their customers upon launching. We frequently adjust our ratings and recommendations, taking into account any new information that comes to light.

Site Design

Usability is always important - and that’s why we always pay attention to the design, look, and feel of a website we review. For example, we look at the navigation menus; do they allow you to easily access different game areas? Is there a search function, allowing you to look up games by name?

Only when we’re convinced a site is truly user-friendly, easy-to-use and easy-to-navigate do we consider listing them on our website as a recommendation.

Game Choice

Once we’re happy that Australian online casinos are operated by legitimate owners and the site is user-friendly, we’ll then begin looking at the selection of games available. For example, firstly, we’ll look at the game developers and software providers; does the casino offer a varied selection of providers? Can you find big-name developers and smaller, independent game studios?

Secondly, we’ll look at the different categories of games on offer. Most online casinos offer a decent selection of video slots and casino table games - but not all offer the biggest selection of pokies, progressive jackpots and live dealer games. Generally speaking, the more games on offer - the better - and this is always something we pay close attention to when writing casino reviews.

Pokies

While we’ve just covered game selection in general, when we’re looking at Australian online casinos, we also pay close attention to the different pokies available. We always like to see casinos expanding their pokies offering - and when we’re reviewing a casino, we look to see whether a casino offers new releases, exclusive pokies, and unique, less-common machines.

With so many online casinos offering the same re-hashed products today, it’s always a big positive when we see sites going against the grain. Players like you should be able to play a large selection of games, and that’s why the pokies offering is something our online gambling reviewers look at intently.

Progressive Jackpots

It’s pretty rare to find an online casino that doesn’t offer progressive jackpot games today. More popular than ever, progressive jackpot games allow you the chance to win life-changing sums of money, without needing to increase your stake to levels you’re uncomfortable with.

While most Australian online casinos do offer progressive jackpot games, not all sites offer jackpots worth substantial amounts. Maybe they only offer progressive jackpot games from less-popular game developers like Betsoft and iSoftBet.

As a general rule of thumb, we like to see casinos offering a mixture of jackpot games; we’re especially happy when we see games from mainstream game developers.

Bonuses

One of the main reasons why players join an online casino in the first place is to claim welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions - and it probably doesn’t come as a surprise that this is one of the key areas we look at when reviewing a new (or existing) site.

Aside from the overall generosity of a bonus, our team of iGaming experts also looks “under the hood”. For example, we look at the wagering requirements; is there a realistic chance you can beat the wagering requirements and cashout your winnings? Can you play a decent selection of games using bonus funds, or are you limited to just a few titles?

Generally, we prefer to see parachute bonuses offered - as well as those that don’t have any maximum cashout limits. We also require clear terms and conditions to be available - ensuring you can easily and quickly read the bonus’ rules.

Ongoing Rewards

While the new-player welcome bonus is often most important to players, that doesn’t mean we neglect looking at what ongoing bonuses and promotions are available.

We’re always happy when we find Australian online casinos offering weekly reload bonuses, free spins promotions and other rewards on an ongoing basis - and it’s something that regular players often need. Our reviews contain an in-depth section looking solely at the ongoing bonuses and promotions, so that you know exactly what to expect when joining a new casino.

Payment Options

When gambling online, it’s natural you’re going to be spending money - that’s the whole point of it! However, in order to do so, it’s important you’re able to make deposits and withdrawals using convenient payment methods. For example, while most online casinos accept major debit and credit cards, not all allow you to use EWallets like Skrill and Netter - and even fewer accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

When we’re reviewing Australian casinos, we always look at the payment methods available to ensure you can make payments in a convenient and hassle-free manner.

Mobile Usability

Today, more players than ever are choosing to gamble from their mobile devices. As a result of this, most online casinos have chosen to become mobile-optimised. However, not all mobile casinos are built the same - and part of our review process involves looking at the mobile functionality of a casino.

For example, we’ll check how easy (or hard) it is to sign-up and create an account. We’ll look at whether it’s easy to browse the games, make deposits and withdrawals, and contact the customer support team. All of our online casino reviews have dedicated “mobile gaming” sections, where you can read all about the mobile gaming facilities available.

Customer Support

Don’t underestimate the importance of customer support when you’re playing at online casinos; the right casino will make it easy and hassle-free to contact one of their support agents. However, if you play at the wrong casino, you may find yourself unable to get the help and support that you need if you run into problems.

To ensure you enjoy a smooth online gambling experience, all of the online casinos we recommend have robust customer support facilities in place - usually, running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Most of our casinos offer customer support via live chat, email, and, where applicable, phone - so you can get in touch with the team conveniently.

Online Casino Bonuses

All of the top online casinos offer a wide variety of bonuses and promotions - allowing you to claim things like free spins, matched deposit bonuses and cashback. Most online casinos also offer a special promotion to new players - known as a welcome bonus.

Below, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the different bonuses and promotions that you can claim at online casinos. Australia-focused sites now offer a wide variety of promos, and you can claim the most generous ones by playing at a site listed at the top of this page under our “recommendations” section.

Welcome Bonus

A welcome bonus can be delivered in a number of different forms, although the most common is a matched deposit bonus. For example, you’ll often see a 100% matched deposit bonus up to, say, $400AUD - and this means the casino will match your first deposit, letting you play with the casino’s money in addition to yours. Other welcome bonus offers can include free spins, cashback, and some sites even let you spin a giant prize wheel!

Pokies Bonus

Pokies bonuses can be found on offer at many different online casinos. However, the way in which pokies bonuses are handed out can vary a lot, depending on the casino. For example, some online casinos will give you the chance to receive a certain percentage of your losses - on pokies - back as real cash. This can run for 24 hours, three days, or even up to seven days.

Some online casinos simply give you a matched deposit bonus which you are then free to use on any pokies game of your choice.

No-Wager Bonus

No-wager bonuses have, unfortunately, become increasingly rare. With online casinos’ profit margins smaller than ever before, many casinos simply can’t afford to give away wager-free cash anymore. However, if you know where to look, it is possible to come across them - but you should be aware that the terms and conditions are usually pretty strict. So, what is a wager-free bonus?

In short, a wager-free bonus is a bonus that doesn’t come with any wagering requirements. This means that any winnings you manage to accumulate are yours to keep; you can either withdraw them, or play on other games. You don’t need to complete any wagering requirements, so winnings from the bonus are credited immediately to your account balance.

Free Spins

Free spins, as the name suggests, awards you a certain number of free rounds on a specific slot machine. For example, a casino may award you with 25 free spins to use on a popular game; NetEnt’s Starurst, or Play’n Go’s Book of Dead are two common choices.

Once you’ve been given free spins, you simply need to load up the game they’ve been awarded on, and you'll be able to spin a certain number of times without spending any of your own cash!

Cashback

Cashback at online casinos works in a very similar way to conventional cash back programs you may see at your local grocery store. The online casino will simply give you a percentage of cash back - usually on your losses - on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Sometimes, this cashback is wager-free, so you don’t even need to worry about any wagering requirements!

Non-Sticky Bonus

In the past, most bonuses used to be tied to your real money balance; this meant you could not make a withdrawal before you completed the wagering requirements, even if you hit a nice win. However, today, some online casinos offer non-sticky bonuses. This means the bonus funds are kept separate from your real money balance.

The main advantage of this, is that if you hit a nice win before dipping into your bonus funds, you can withdraw it right away. Sure, you’ll lose your remaining bonus funds - but it’s great to be able to cashout without needing to worry about the wagering requirements.

VIP Bonus

A VIP bonus is a special bonus that’s offered to VIP players; this means you won’t be eligible for the bonus unless you’re already reached VIP status. Every VIP program is different, and some online casinos work on a points-based system while others prefer to use a staggered system - awarding prizes like free spins once you’ve wagered a certain amount of cash.

Different Games Available at Australian Online Casinos

When you play at Australian online casinos, you’ll be able to enjoy a huge selection of games - from many different game developers. While the range of software providers isn’t as big as those available in Europe (primarily due to licensing issues), you’ll be able to play games from many leading providers including Betsoft, iSoftBet, Pragmatic Play, and Nolimit City.

Online Pokies

Roulette

Roulette is one of the most popular casino games in the world - and this classic game of chance can be found at pretty much every casino in the world. Most Australian online casinos offer multiple variations of Roulette, including virtual games and live tables - and betting limits often start from as little as $0.10AUD, so players on all budgets can enjoy the action.

Blackjack

Blackjack, like Roulette, is another hugely popular casino game that’s found at almost every casino. While Blackjack doesn’t offer as much win potential as Roulette (unless you’re playing a progressive variation of the game), the casino’s house edge is much lower - letting you, usually, enjoy lengthier playing sessions without as much volatility.

Live Dealer Casino Games

Live dealer games have seen their popularity explode in recent years - and you’ll now find them offered at almost every casino in the world. As the name suggests, live dealer games pit you against a real, live dealer instead of a virtual interface. The gameplay is streamed to your device through a high-definition feed, and it’s a great way of immersing yourself deeper into the live casino gambling experience.

Many live dealer games are available, including classics like Roulette, Blackjack, and Baccarat, along with unique, provider-specific titles like Crazy Time and Monopoly LIVE.

Online Casino Software Providers

Unfortunately, due to licensing restrictions, Australian players don’t have as much choice in terms of software providers than their European counterparts. However, in recent years we’ve seen more developers entering the Aussie market - and this allows you to enjoy games from far more developers.

Some of the big-name brands you’ll be able to play at Australian online casinos include Konami, Pragmatic Play, Betsoft, iSoftBet, Nolimit City, and Aristocrat. In the future, as the market continues to open up in Australia, we’d expect to see the number of game developers available increase.

We should also point out that the vast majority of online casinos in Aus allow you to browse their game library before joining. This gives you the benefit of being able to see exactly which games are on offer before you commit to signing up - and depositing any of your own money.

Top Payment Methods at Australian Real Money Casinos

Australian real money casinos aim to make life as easy as possible for players when it comes to making deposits and withdrawals. This is why you’ll be able to make payments in a variety of methods - not just the conventional ones. Of course, all Aussie casinos accept debit and credit cards - think VISA and MasterCard - but many now support EWallet payments, too. This includes Neteller, Skrill, and others, like Paysafecard and Neosurf.

Many AUS-focused casinos also now support crypto gambling. This allows you to make deposits and withdrawals using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Using cryptocurrencies at online casinos offers a range of benefits including lightning-fast withdrawals, heightened privacy and increased security. However, compared to conventional payment methods, few casinos support them as of now. 

Australian Online Casinos FAQs

We hope you enjoy reading what we say here at Australian online casinos! Our aim is, and will always remain to be a trusted casino guide for the Australian market. We scan the market and online gambling industry to find the best casino deals at the best real money online casinos. Everything is tried and tested, and we only ever recommend casinos, pokies and bonuses that we are happy to play and claim ourselves. Below, we have compiled a handy FAQ section where you can find quick answers to your questions, fun facts, and general handy know-how tips.

What Are The Most Popular Online Casinos In Australia?

The most popular online casinos are those you know you can count on and rely on. Quite a few online casinos remain firm favourites for Aussie punters. The ones which are firmly established, or if new - are owned by reputable iGaming companies; we have compiled a list of the most popular real money online casinos for Australia above; check them out! We're confident you'll find one to hit all the right notes! 

Which Casinos Are Approved in Australia?

Approved casinos are ones you can trust and are ones known to pay out on time (and expedite withdrawals) and offer fair casino bonuses and offers with no outrageous terms or hidden sneaky rouge wagering requirements.  Approved casinos will also have plenty of responsible gambling tools at hand to help you stay safe and remain in control when you gamble online.

Can I Play Free Casino Games At Aussie Casino Sites?

Yes! Most real money online casinos in Australia offer players the opportunity to play fun and demo games and online pokies instead of playing for real money. To play free casino games and pokies, you must create an actual account at an online casino - such as those we recommend above. Then choose your game and play the demo / free play game version of it. Another way to play free casino is to claim a casino bonus, either a no deposit bonus or a small deposit bonus which can often give you free spins on a new pokie as well as a deposit bonus, which is the same thing as free credit (editors note: just be sure to read the bonuses terms and conditions though!) Remember that when you play free casino games and online pokies, you cannot cash out /withdraw funds, as they are free credits, you won't be gambling with real money.

Can I Win Real Money At Online Casinos?

Yes, it is possible to win real money at online casinos. You must be playing real money casino games and pokies to have a chance at winning. Remember that playing online pokies and casino games and winning jackpots is about luck, there is no skill involved, and you won't win all the time. But it is possible to win!

Are Australian Online Casinos Legit?

Suppose you play at trusted and reputable casino sites like those we recommend above and around this website. In that case, you will always be playing legit pokies and casino games, and the games will not be rigged in any way (they have 3rd party tested software that tests and ensures all game outcomes are random and fair). When choosing a new casino, always do some research into the credibility of the site. On this page, we give tips on how to choose a new casino and what to look out for. Take our advice on board - they are there to help you.

Can I Take A Casino Bonus at Casinos Australia?

Yes, most Aussie online casinos offer new players a welcome offer (also called a signup bonus). These bonuses are designed to be attractive and often offer bonuses where you can double and sometimes triple your deposit amount. Online casinos also give new players/customers free spins on a new or popular pokie. We've checked the market for the best casino bonuses - you'll find a great selection in our top Australian online casino list above.

Can I Play Online Pokies On My Mobile?

Yes, most online casinos in 2024 are more than equipped to be played on mobiles and tablets. Most games and online pokies are "mobile first" and are adaptable for whatever resolution and screen size you want to play on. The best casino sites will have a cracking mobile casino because most real money players prefer to play on the go. Moreover, you can also claim casino sign-up bonuses when playing on mobile. There's no downloading needed, either!