The Australian online gambling industry hasn’t been wiped out, but safe online pokies options are limited.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment Act 2016, introduced by the Minister for Human Services, Alan Tudge, came into effect this week and any well-known operators remaining in the casino market left.
The legislation was introduced to address the vague wording in the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, and while it does make it illegal for offshore operators to offer their services to Aussies, there are no penalties for Aussies playing at sites still operating in the market.
Microgaming and Net Entertainment games are no longer available, while Royal Vegas, Jackpot City Casino, G’day and other reputable sites with a stellar range of pokies have left.
Although the site you enjoyed your favourite pokies, which have a higher RTP than Australian land-based poker machines, may no longer be available to you, there are some options available.
These operators have chosen to remain in the market since the legislation does not pose a risk to their operations. The aforementioned sites that have exited hold licenses in the UK which would be taken from them if they chose to continue to operate in the Australian market.
But House of Jack, Casino-Mate, Emu Casino, Mucho Vegas and Mongoose casino, are all sticking around. We detail what they have below and why they’re your best options given the current gambling climate.
Online casinos with pokies available to Australians
It’s going to be harder than ever to find a secure online casino which you can deposit your funds safely, play fair games and withdraw your winnings without any fuss.
The following sites are not risking a UK Gambling Commission license, nor are they worried about the consequences of the new gambling reforms in Australia. But this doesn’t mean that they’re rogue.
House of Jack has been around since the start of the year and offers an instant-click layout with a huge range of online pokies. The games are powered by reputable providers, which have also chosen to stick around, including BetSoft, which offers 3D and progressive poker machines.
You may have played at Casino-Mate before when it was powered exclusively by Microgaming. Well, the site had a makeover and now features a range of software providers – Microgaming is no longer available to Aussies. You can find pokies by a range of BetSoft, Play’n Go and other developers.
Emu Casino has been catering to Australians for some time now, and it has chosen to remain in the market. The site has added a range of new titles, with some disappearing due to the reforms. You will find QuickSpin pokies, as well as Pragmatic Play games here. If you want to branch away from the pokies, you’ll find live stream games at Emu Casino too.
Mucho Vegas is one of our favourites due to the Mexican-theme, the huge range of pokies, and fair terms and conditions. They prioritise safety and verify your identity when you make your first deposit and claim a bonus. There are also 150 free spins on offer when you sign up.
Mongoose Casino has over 600 pokies from a variety of software providers you can sort using the handy filters. Some of the software developers may not show any games as these providers have left the Australian market. You can still play video pokies, 3D titles and the classics by 1×2 Gaming, BetSoft and Playson.
The online casinos are licensed by advanced gaming jurisdictions, just not the UK Gambling Commission which is why they are remaining in the Australian market.
While the online pokies environment has changed dramatically, you still have options. But we recommend reading the terms and conditions and doing your research, now more than ever, to ensure safe gaming which the government has unfortunately jeopardised.
If you are looking for online casinos which offer a variety of casino games head to our homepage to see the available options.