Online slots remain one the more popular forms of gambling in a post-COVID-19 world, with many players coming to prefer the convenience of being able to enjoy a few games from anywhere, at any time, without the game necessarily eating into their daily schedules.
Understanding Australian regulation of the platforms and apps players are using to play online pokies is all the more important given the relationship Australians have historically had with gambling. Finding legal operators to gamble money with means players won’t be gambling with the law at the same time.
Key Regulations Affecting Online Slots
In 2001, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) enacted the Interactive Gambling Act (ICA) to regulate certain forms of online gambling with the rise of online casinos at the time.
Under this act, it is illegal to provide and advertise ‘interactive gambling activities’ to someone in Australia, examples of which can be:
- Roulette
- Poker
- Slots
- Blackjack
The act explicitly seeks to target operators of games of mixed chance and skill played over the internet and is an overarching federal legislation. This is important to keep in mind as players will find that from state to state and territory to territory, there could be varying laws and jurisdictions over gambling, but all must comply with the ICA.
This means that it is not explicitly illegal for players in Australia to participate and enjoy the features and games found on online casinos and apps, but it is illegal for companies to offer these services to said players.
Implications for Players
The solution many players have found is to turn to offshore online casinos, but this entails greater risk. Finding online slots that are not subject to Australian law and regulation means that while players might be able to engage with legally offered services freely, they will also have to do their due diligence in researching safe and trusted operators who provide a fair experience.
How to Stay Safe and Legal
Every time a player accesses an untrustworthy site, they risk their data and put themselves at risk of financial fraud. As they would be accessing an offshore casino that is unregulated by Australian law, they might not necessarily be protected by it either. Thus, it is crucial players know what to look out for when trying to avoid falling victim to these predatory sites and operators.
Be on the lookout for the following:
Licencing Permit
Licences are general requirements that all casinos – online or land-based – require to operate. Typically, the licence can be found at the bottom of the casino’s homepage, with the licensee’s name, licence number, and expiration date.
Peer-Reviewed
Finding reviews of online casinos can give a better idea of trustworthiness, as more legitimate operators will often have more reviews and be better reviewed than others. Players can find many expert-reviewed online casinos.
Payment and Cash Out Policies
Typically, avoid online casinos that avoid using default preferred payment methods such as credit cards and that have lengthy withdrawal processing that takes longer than two days at maximum.
Conclusion
To reiterate, knowing the ICA is essential for both players and operators as those seeking to tap into the Australian market must better understand the laws of what they can and cannot do when trying to entice Australian gamers. Australian players also need to understand how to identify safe and legal gaming spaces to ensure they and their money are safe and in trusted hands at all times.
