Newbies guide to online casinos

The online casino world is a confusing and mystifying place to those not in the know, seemingly filled with all kinds of taboos, doubts and concerns over legality and security. I know this because a year ago I was one of those bewildered Internet users, dubious about what online casinos were all about.

With proper research and dedicated investigation time it wasn’t long before I’d debunked the Internet gambling myths that I’d built for myself, realising that the Internet can provide an incredibly safe, convenient and varied place for Aussie punters; you just need to know what you’re doing. Armed with the knowledge I now have, I’ll take you newbies for a walk across all the things you need to know to make the move to playing for real money at online casinos.

Best online casinos

Advantages of playing online

First things first, playing at an online casino brings many advantages over gambling in a land based casino. It’s these benefits that will have you question ever walking into a real life casino again, save for special occasions:

• Convenience – online casinos now operate in fully functional mobile mode, so games are literally available in your pocket 24/7. Gone are the days of having to get dressed up and spend extra cash on transportation and drinks just to play your favourite table game. Simply whip out your smartphone or tablet, or fire up your PC or laptop and you’ll have instant access to hundreds of real money casino games, no dress code required.
• Variety – no matter how big or how comprehensive a bricks and mortar casino is, the choice of games is always restricted by what the casino vendor chooses to offer, typically games with higher house edges that leave the odds against the player. In contrast, online casinos offer huge game variety, giving punters the power to choose games they may never find in their local casino. This means you can play games with better odds, or hone your skills on games you don’t normally get access to.
• Online casino reward programs and bonuses – unlike a land based casino where you’re just another face in a crowd, online casino vendors reward their players for every dollar they spend playing at their site. When you register for a virtual casino account and start placing real money bets, you’ll rack up all kinds of bonuses and rewards points in loyalty programs, which can then be used to redeem as cash or casino credits. Online players are also eligible for ongoing casino promotions, including cash and real world prizes.

Best online casinos to play at

Make no mistake, there are plenty of rogue operators out there hoping to take advantage of vulnerable players and there’s been no shortage of online casino scams over the years. Unfortunately, it’s these cowboy vendors that have given a bad name to an otherwise reputable and well established industry. Playing at an online casino can be 100% safe and above board, with the best sites all running under strict industry laws and regulations, protecting players using the highest available Internet security measures.

At BestOnlineCasinos.net.au we only recommend casinos that use advanced SSL security, are regulated by the highly regarded eCOGRA and are licensed by leading gambling jurisdictions. The following are the best, safest and most reputable online casinos that welcome Australian players:

• Royal Vegas Casino
• Guts Casino
• G’day Casino
• Slots Million
• Thrills Casino
• Jackpot City Casino

One of the great things about these sites is that they allow you to try games for free in demo mode, without even having to register for an account. For online casino newbies, this is the perfect chance to give online play a crack, experiencing what virtual game play is like and checking out the huge variety before committing to deposit any of your own money.

Follow our links to take advantage of special welcome bonuses, yet another advantage to playing online.

What games are available to play at online casinos?

There aren’t many games you won’t find on the Internet, including some rare and obscure variants. The best online casinos offer an expansive collection of these games along with many more:

• Pokies
• Roulette
• Blackjack
• Video poker
• Lotto
• Keno
• Scratch cards
• Baccarat
• Craps
• Bingo
• Poker
• Live dealer casino games

How to play online for real money

Depositing money to gamble online is not as complex as you may think. In fact, it’s just as easy as making any other online transaction. All you need to do is head to a reputable, safe casino (like the ones recommended on our site) and follow the links to register for a new account, which requires standard information like name, age, contact details, etc. Once you’ve signed up, head to the casino cashier lobby to deposit some funds to your account. The following payment options are typically available for Australians:

• Visa and MasterCard credit cards and debit cards
• Direct bank transfers
• POLi
• Neteller
• Skrill
• UKash
• Paysafecard

Most payment methods give you immediate access to your funds, so once you’ve followed the prompts to complete your deposit you can start playing games for real money straight away.

Is it legal for Australians to play at online casinos

This is the biggest question that seems to deter newbies from making the switch to playing online, with inexperienced players unsure of the legalities when it comes to Internet gambling. The short answer is yes, it is 100% legal for Australians to place real money bets at online casinos.

For a more detailed look into the question, it’s the Interactive Gaming Act (IGA) of 2001 that governs the laws surrounding online gambling in Australia. The IGA states that it’s illegal for any casino operator within Australia to advertise its services to players within our borders, essentially making it impossible for Aussies to bet at Aussie run casinos. The loophole here is that there’s nothing in the IGA or any other Australian law to restrict us from gambling online, so long as the site is owned and operated offshore.

All the casinos recommended on our site are foreign owned and legally licensed by reputable gambling jurisdictions, providing 100% safe, legal places for Australians to play.