How To Choose The Right Online Casino

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Article by Simon Young
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Last Updated: Feb 19th, 2024 Share On Your Network:

With so many online casinos available to players in Australia, it can be difficult to choose the best one. The online casino you pick will depend on several factors, like the variety of games, the payment methods, and the desktop and mobile usability. But overall, it will be up to you to decide what you value more. Some players are keen on bonuses and promotions, others care more about quick payments, while others still look for specific games.

Read on for some expert guidance on how you can choose the right platform for you.

Check License and Regulations

online casino without license

If you’re new to playing online, it’s important first to understand the regulations that govern gambling in Australia. The Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 states that it’s illegal for companies to provide services like online gambling in Australia, but the act doesn’t make it illegal for Australian players to use licensed and regulated offshore websites. This means that if you find a website licensed by a major body like the Malta Gaming Authority or the Government of Curacao, you can sign up and play from Australia. The laws are the same throughout the country, so it doesn’t matter which province you’re in.

Before you play, it’s important to make sure that it is licensed. You can usually find all of this information – including license numbers – within the footer of the online casino website. When a casino is licensed, it needs to adhere to strict rules regarding game fairness, payments, and data protection so you can feel totally safe while playing at one of these casinos. 

Security & Credibility

Online casino security

When you play at a licensed and regulated site, you’ll know you’re getting a safe and secure experience. When you’re assessing platform security, you must be aware of various factors, like payment methods, data security, and website security. When it comes to payment methods, most online casinos that accept Aussie players offer options like bank cards and reputable e-wallets, so you’ll know that your money is safe.

Trustworthy sites use only SSL encryption technology to ensure that no unauthorised third parties ever have access to your personal or financial data and that the way your personal information is collected, stored, and transmitted conforms to regulatory guidelines. It’s also important to ensure that the casino you choose has a good reputation. Chances are, you’ll have heard of some of the bigger online casino websites, but even smaller casinos might be just as reputable. A good way to find out about a casino’s reputation is by reading reviews like the ones here at Betsquare.

Look for a Good Selection of Games

Game selection is one of the most important factors in choosing your online casino. In fact, it’s probably just as important, if not more so, than the sign-up offers and regular bonuses. Some of the main types of games to look out for include pokies, table games like roulette and blackjack, bingo, and live dealer games.  The best Australian sites have hundreds and thousands of pokies, from retro games to totally themed, interactive video pokies. It’s always a good idea to look out for games packed with special features like bonus rounds and free spins, exciting jackpot slots, and games with high payout percentages.

Card and table games are also super popular in Australia, and many offer live dealer tables where the games stream in HD from a studio, and you’ll get to play with a real dealer and tablemates. In addition to the usual pokies and table games, some sites also have other game options like bingo, keno, scratchers, and arcade-style games. Overall, Australians are really spoiled for choice when it comes to games. 

Software Providers

There’s a huge number of software providers, each with its speciality in casino games. Some studios focus on pokies, while others are more concerned with table or live dealer games. The best Aussie sites carry games from various providers rather than just one or two. This is how you can be guaranteed the best quality games and the best variety. If you love a certain pokie, chances are you’ll be a big fan of other similar games from the same provider.

Some of the main pokie studios are Microgaming (one of the biggest providers in the world and maker of some huge progressive jackpots), NetEnt, and PlayTech, but it’s worth exploring the selection of smaller studios, too, as they often have some great niche games. When it comes to live casino games, the major provider to look out for is Evolution Gaming, a studio that brings you casino classics, interactive game shows, and live dealer experiences based on popular pokies. Evolution tables all stream in HD, the dealers are professional, and there are many ways to win!

Bonuses and Promotions

Almost all gambling sites offer Australian players some kind of special promo for signing up. These offers can take the form of a deposit match on your first transaction, some free spins to help you get started on top pokies or a cashback offer where you can claim a certain percentage of your losses back after your first day or first week. While it might be tempting to just pick a site with the biggest percentage match, it’s not quite that simple. For a deposit match offer, read the T&Cs, and choose a casino that offers a low minimum deposit amount and low wagering requirements so that it’s easier to withdraw winnings and plenty of time to use your bonus and meet those wagering requirements.

While some platforms boast free spins just for signing up, it’s also important to check that there aren’t any hefty wagering requirements attached to those either – the last thing you want to do is lose all your winnings before you can withdraw! The fun shouldn’t end with welcome offers. The best casinos also have regular promotional calendars for existing players, where you can claim exciting bonuses or participate in special tournaments to win prizes. You should also look out for VIP and loyalty programmes, which offer extra perks to top-tier players. 

User Experience – How Easy is it to Navigate?

Some sites opt for a totally simple and stripped-down experience, while others have more complex journeys and themes for you to navigate while you’re playing. Whatever the case may be, it should always aim to be 100% user-friendly. 

When you’re assessing a site, make sure it’s easy to navigate on both desktop and mobile. For example, you should be able to move between various website sections with just a few clicks, the cashier should always be easily accessible, and you shouldn’t have to hunt to find your account information. It’s always great when an online casino website has a dedicated promotions section where you can see any offers with just one click.

The navigation of the games lobby is also important. Almost all platforms have a search function where you can locate your preferred game by name, but it’s also ideal to have a well-laid-out games lobby where you can browse games by categories like pokies, jackpots, live dealer games, or table games. Some sites break down these categories even more, for example, by theme or by special feature.

Finally, the navigation must be as good on mobile as on desktop. Look for clean and simple menus, graphics that resize for your screen, and games that can be played in landscape mode to get the most out of the mobile experience.

Wide Selection of Secure Banking Options

Secure gambling

When you’re depositing, it’s super important to know that you’re using a safe and secure payment method – after all, that’s your own real money you’re entrusting online. Luckily, casinos with a license from major authorities, like Malta, all offer a range of payment options that should work well for Aussies. The best online casinos support instant deposits, and don’t charge any fees for deposits, so whatever you add to your account is yours to play with. Keep in mind that sometimes you might need to play in a currency like Euro or US Dollars (depending on the casino).

Bank cards like Visa and Mastercard are accepted by almost every site, so these are the ideal option if you don’t want to sign up for e-wallets or other methods. Using your bank card is safe, and the transaction works like any other e-commerce transaction you’d make online. Many online casinos also support some more modern methods like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller, and some also allow you to deposit using cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.

Withdrawal Method

If you’ve been lucky enough to land a win, it’s time to withdraw. Just as it’s important to check out the deposit options before you sign up, you should do the same for the withdrawal methods. Most top Australian casino sites let you withdraw using the same method you used to make the deposit, with a few exceptions, for example, if you used a prepaid card.

The withdrawal timelines can vary depending on the casino, so we’d recommend looking for one that supports instant withdrawals or withdrawals within 24 hours. The time it takes to withdraw will also depend on the method you use. Bank cards tend to take longer than other methods like e-wallets.

All of the banking options offered at reputable online casinos will be safe and secure, so when you’re choosing one like a bank card or trusted e-wallet, you can rest assured that after the processing time, you’ll get your money.

Read Customer Reviews

One way to judge whether or not an online casino is good is by reading our reviews and opinions here at Betsquare, as we’ll give you an expert, unbiased view of each site. However, if you’re looking for more reviews and personal experiences of an online casino, it can be as easy as simply googling it. If you try searching for the name of a site along with keywords such as “customer reviews”, you’ll soon find out what others think of it. Keep in mind that there will always be some negative reviews, even of the best online casinos – usually from disgruntled, losing players.

Nevertheless, this is a great way to learn more about an online casino and ensure it’s legit. After all, if you see hundreds of reviews saying that a certain site is a scam or has bad service, you’d probably do well to simply avoid it! To help other customers in your position, you can always leave your reviews of online casinos once you’ve sussed them out.

Customer Service and Support

No matter how good a casino is, there’s always a chance that you’ll need some kind of customer support during your journey. Excellent customer support is also an indicator of a great company, so it’s one of the first things you should look at when you’re evaluating a place to play. Top sites offer support via a number of channels, and the most important one to look out for is live chat. It’s much easier to get the answers you need when speaking to someone in real time, and you’ll often have your query resolved within minutes. It’s also preferable for a site to have 24/7 customer support, especially as many of them operate out of Europe, which can make it tricky for Australians, considering the time difference. 

Even if a platform has good support channels like live chat, email, and phone support, we always like to see a comprehensive FAQs section with answers to common questions, as this is often a way to avoid having to contact someone.

Recommended Casino

We understand that everyone has different opinions on the best online casino, so we’ve compiled a selection of some of our favourites, which we’d recommend to any players in Australia. These casinos all come with a great selection of games from top providers, enticing welcome offers to help you get started in style, and, of course, they’re all safe and secure so that you’ll have complete peace of mind while playing.

Supported Devices

In general, all casino websites function well on desktop, but that’s not enough. In the modern world, you’re probably very busy, and that’s why many people choose to play games on the go, using their mobile phones or tablets. For this reason, all top Australian sites must create an optimised mobile experience.  In the past, many online casinos opted to develop a downloadable mobile app, usually for iOS and Android devices. However, as technology has progressed, most online casinos now spend their time and effort creating a responsive mobile website that functions perfectly on all mobile devices.

It doesn’t matter whether you have an iPhone, Android, or even a Windows phone, the best sites let you play all of the games, plus make use of other features like banking, claiming promos, and even signing up for your account using mobile. Before you sign up at an online casino, head to the mobile site and look at the navigation and overall experience.

Find the Best Online Casino for You

Overall, it’s safe to say that the best online casino for you might not be the best for someone else. But, with such a great range of online casinos available to players in Australia, you have loads to choose from, and you shouldn’t have any trouble finding one you’ll love. Of course, there are some really important factors to keep in mind, like security, reputation, and game selection, and by following our simple guide to choosing a site, you’ll be armed with all the knowledge you need.

Remember, if you sign up at an online casino and don’t like it, you can always close your account or move on to the next casino on our recommended list.

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