Online casino safety for Australian pokies players has become a common discussion point in recent years. It’s been over eight years since the blanket ban on online casinos took place in Australia, resulting in some of the world’s biggest and most reputable brands exiting the country. Following this, as was seen with the U.S. iGaming market after the infamous “Black Friday” takedown of Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars by the FBI, many unscrupulous providers entered the market to fill the gap.
Online Casino Licensing Is Still a Critical Area
Although there is no formal licensing of online casinos in the Australian market (only for online betting products), real-money online casino players can still use licensing criteria to narrow down their options. While you won’t find any UK- or Malta-licensed online casinos, two of the most reputable licensing authorities in the world for offshore gambling sites, Curaçao still stands out as one of the safer options when choosing an online casino brand.
Online Casino Game Software
Beyond licensing, another area casino players should evaluate is the casino software. Back in the early 2000s, there were fewer than five major providers, including Microgaming, Playtech, and RealTime Gaming. However, over the last decade, the number of gaming software providers has exploded, with many offering their own games and variations to real-money online pokies players. But with that growth comes the risk of low-quality or untrustworthy providers. Australian online casino players are encouraged to research the game providers and learn who stands behind each brand.
Of course, you won’t find the likes of Microgaming or NetEnt games in the Australian market due to legal restrictions. RealTime Gaming has remained a relatively safe option for players in less-regulated markets.
Player Reviews on External Platforms
It goes without saying that real player feedback is one of the most trusted ways to determine whether a casino is worth your time. Many players turn to Reddit or Quora; however, in recent years, industry professionals have noted that many of these “reviews” are actually generated by casinos themselves, using bots to flood forums with positive comments and manipulate player sentiment.
If you research a casino on a public forum and the reviews sound too good to be true, they probably are. Until these platforms implement stronger verification systems, take what you read with a pinch of salt.
For more reliable insights, scroll to the bottom of a casino’s website and look for the affiliate program name. Researching that program on affiliate forums can give you an idea of how the casino treats its business partners, often a good indicator of how they treat their players.
Conclusion
Selecting a top Australian online casino site has become a challenging task. However, safety and precaution should always be the top priority for every Australian player looking to gamble online. Although locally regulated options are limited, players must still take precautions when choosing where to play.
Until the legal framework allows for proper local regulation, Australian online casino players are urged to:
- Check licensing credentials
- Verify the game software providers
- Seek authentic reviews through affiliate or professional forums
By doing so, players can make safer, more informed decisions when enjoying online pokies in Australia.
