Australian Online Gambling Laws
Gambling is an activity undertaken by many Australians. Over 80% of Australian adults engage in gambling of some kind, which is the highest rate of gambling in the world. This number includes some 4% of the adult population who play the pokies once a week, accounting for some 62% of locals’ annual gambling spend.
Gambling is a significant public health issue, with around 80,000 to 160,000 (or 0.5 – 1.0%) of Australian adults experiencing significant problems from gambling and a further 250,000 to 350,000 (or 1.4 – 2.1% of adults) experiencing moderate risks that may make them vulnerable to problem gambling. The social cost of problem gambling to the community is estimated to be at least $4.7 billion each year.
Australia Online Casinos caters to Australian players looking to gamble at best online casinos. We search for, evaluate and recommend online casino sites that are most suited for Australians. Our assessment is carried out by a group of experts that has long hands down experience in this business. They are not linked with any online casino and provide only objective information. The web site has sections on different aspects of online casino wagering and you will find it easy to navigate through.
What is the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001?
Operating an online casino in this country and offering its services to the Australian public was legal before 2001. However, the Interactive Gambling Act, passed by the Howard-Government in June 2001 with the intention of ‘protecting’ the public from the harmful effects of gambling over the Internet, prohibited the following:
- Offering ‘real-money online interactive gambling services’ to Australian citizens.
- Advertising ‘real-money interactive gambling services’ to Australian citizens.
Such services include Internet games such as Roulette, Blackjack and Poker, as well as in-play online sports betting.
While the Act did not warrant the operation of online casinos illegal; it did target those operating and advertising an online casino within Australian borders directed at Australians, which carries a maximum penalty of $220,000 per day (for individuals of an online gambling operation) or $1.1 million per day for the company.
Most importantly, the Act does not contain laws that prohibit individuals from placing online wagers, and many foreign online gaming operators offer their betting services to Aussie players. Sports betting sites and lotteries are not outlawed in this Act as well, which is great news for licensed bookmakers. Since the act specifically bans in-play betting, any Australian-based, bookmaker that offers odds live sports betting – after the kick off, are considered ‘interactive’ and illegal due to this Act. Placing a wager before the game is completely legal, and acceptable in the eyes of the IGA. Licensed online lotteries are also allowed to provide lotto services and products online, except instant-win scratch cards, which are the one limitation to the online lotto operators.
Mobile Capabilities
All the online casinos, sports betting sites, and other forms of wagering we endorse here, are compatible with smartphones and tablets. Players can log in, place a wager with real money, right on their mobile device. It’s growing to be one of the most popular methods, and mobile accessibility is one of the key criteria we look at before promoting a casino or sportsbook. Android, Apple, Windows, and even Blackberry can be used to place a wager for real money.For more information Please have a Click on Bonus Prezzy
