Australian Online Casinos restricted

[DJDAMAGE]

Today online casino play in Australia has been permanently restricted, Is there any way of still playing at any casino online?

[ValDes]

Any chance you could shed some more light upon it and provide some official source of information? 

 

Welcome to AskGamblers though.

[pinnit2015]

The IGA Bill - Big Government don't like losing out on taxes - Big Government clamp down on online casinos. Have you seen the government gaming site in Aussie regarding this? They're treating online casino players as if they're mass murderers.

 

I know GIG run casinos pulled out last year - Betspin/Guts etc. Then casino, 32 red etc. 

 

Neteller/Paysafe/Skrill will be stopping deposits/withdrawals in a few days

 

I've heard that Videoslots are going to offer Bitcoin so that may be the only option in the future.

[manson]

Some of the online casinos that I knew sent me an email last September that they will be closing the market in Australia, Is it true that Video Slots will offer bitcoin?? I hope more casinos will adopt bitcoin in the future.

[pinnit2015]

Some of the online casinos that I knew sent me an email last September that they will be closing the market in Australia, Is it true that Video Slots will offer bitcoin?? I hope more casinos will adopt bitcoin in the future.

I think so....To my knowledge those who offer it to aussies are at their own risk but as the payment providers pull out, Bitcoin ones are the only option if they do so. 

 

Casinomax accept aussies - you wouldn't go far wrong with them. 

[VFerrari]

I think there's a great lack of news and information about this topic. I basically could only find this article where the latest date for Australian players to gamble on FairGo Casino was December 5. 

Edited December 7, 2017 by ValDes
External link removed, please stick to the Forum Rules!

[pinnit2015]

I think there's a great lack of news and information about this topic. I basically could only find this article where the latest date for Australian players to gamble on FairGo Casino was December 5. 

Same things happening with Canada....

 

Still a bit unclear as to how some casinos are still 'aussie friendly' - e.g.. even if offer bitcoin, would that still breach the aussie rules and if so, what can australia actually do about it?

 

But yeah Neteller etc pulled the plug on the 5th

[manson]

 

Same things happening with Canada....

 

Still a bit unclear as to how some casinos are still 'aussie friendly' - e.g.. even if offer bitcoin, would that still breach the aussie rules and if so, what can australia actually do about it?

 

But yeah Neteller etc pulled the plug on the 5th

I guess not much, unless they can come up with a brilliant idea on how to stop transfers of funds to bitcoin wallets and totally ban the use of bitcoin there.

Same things happening with Canada....

 

Still a bit unclear as to how some casinos are still 'aussie friendly' - e.g.. even if offer bitcoin, would that still breach the aussie rules and if so, what can australia actually do about it?

 

But yeah Neteller etc pulled the plug on the 5th

[SuperShell64]

I don't know if this is helpful.. Or an option for Australians..

But a couple years ago when Neteller and Skrill stopped allowing Canadians to use their services to fund online gambling, Ecopayz remained a good option. Eventually new payment options for Canadians popped up and today funding online gambling is quite easy.

[jazzgeoff]

So.. I have not gambled for a while, now I'm really confused.. Australians can't online gamble unless using bitcoin? Australians can't use Neteller now? If the laws have changed is there now a penalty for online gambling? Is it just offshore based casino's? I'm still getting a lot of advertising from Australian based casino's, I logged into Neteller and my account page is littered with gambling advertisements.

 

I've tried searching for information online and everything seems a little vague, last time I gambled everything was business as usual. If anyone has a clear understanding of what we can and can't do, what providers/casino's are still available to Australians (if any), I would really appreciate some explanation as to where we stand on this issue.

 

edit: Thanks pinnit2015 for replying to me about Neteller on another thread.

[pinnit2015]

So.. I have not gambled for a while, now I'm really confused.. Australians can't online gamble unless using bitcoin? Australians can't use Neteller now? If the laws have changed is there now a penalty for online gambling? Is it just offshore based casino's? I'm still getting a lot of advertising from Australian based casino's, I logged into Neteller and my account page is littered with gambling advertisements.

 

I've tried searching for information online and everything seems a little vague, last time I gambled everything was business as usual. If anyone has a clear understanding of what we can and can't do, what providers/casino's are still available to Australians (if any), I would really appreciate some explanation as to where we stand on this issue.

 

edit: Thanks pinnit2015 for replying to me about Neteller on another thread.

House of Jack, Slotsmillion, Casinomax, Slotocash still accept Aussies. MG and Netent games, again, to my knowledge, won't be available as they pulled the plug in Sept-17 (my friend in Canada has been complaining she can no longer play Dead or Alive)

 

I don't think the individual can be prosecuted for online gambling - to be honest, neither will the casino - whats the chances of Videoslots being sued by the Aussie Govt? But they've jumped to avoid the risk.

 

It'll be a business decision to take the risk and offer services via Bitcoin - part of the reasons many americas for example are able to gambling online using BTC due to the traceability. But again, it's at their own risk. Videoslots have intimated this may be on their agenda i think

 

As Australians are one of the biggest punters in the world some may see it as worth taking. 

 

Most worrying is that when you get all these reputable companies leaving like 32 Red etc, what potentially comes in their place? Black market rogue operators. 

 

I've only picked the above up through snippets of conversation so i take no responsibility as to the veracity of the information

[pinnit2015]

I think it's offshore operators - those who offer services to Australians but operate outside Australian jurisdiction. They've used words like 'scams' to describe some of these operators - which is absolute BS considering the rightful high status of your 32 reds etc. It's all about lost revenues. 

 

As for the gambling advertisements on Neteller - I wouldn't take much note of that. Neteller themselves are one of the reasons why a lot of casinos have grown hostile to their use in their own establishments, even here in the UK, given their apparent indifference to frauds. I'd say email them but their support is awful. 

[jazzgeoff]

House of Jack, Slotsmillion, Casinomax, Slotocash still accept Aussies. MG and Netent games, again, to my knowledge, won't be available as they pulled the plug in Sept-17 (my friend in Canada has been complaining she can no longer play Dead or Alive)

 

I don't think the individual can be prosecuted for online gambling - to be honest, neither will the casino - whats the chances of Videoslots being sued by the Aussie Govt? But they've jumped to avoid the risk.

 

It'll be a business decision to take the risk and offer services via Bitcoin - part of the reasons many americas for example are able to gambling online using BTC due to the traceability. But again, it's at their own risk. Videoslots have intimated this may be on their agenda i think

 

As Australians are one of the biggest punters in the world some may see it as worth taking. 

 

Most worrying is that when you get all these reputable companies leaving like 32 Red etc, what potentially comes in their place? Black market rogue operators. 

 

I've only picked the above up through snippets of conversation so i take no responsibility as to the veracity of the information

Thanks again pinnit

 

I'm reading in to bitcoin, really unhappy that it looks like it's my only option. I'm not a big gambler, so I will weigh it all up and decide whether I'm better off not participating in online gambling anymore. I just liked being able to spend a couple of hundred $ every once in a while, to be be honest I rarely even try and make withdrawals, i just burn it and move on.

 

So I'm assuming by your comment  that Mg and Netent games won't be available anywhere for Australian users... That is upsetting.

 

If there are Australians here who are using bitcoin, I'd love to hear how you've found the experience and perhaps what casino you'd recommend.

[pinnit2015]

Thanks again pinnit

 

I'm reading in to bitcoin, really unhappy that it looks like it's my only option. I'm not a big gambler, so I will weigh it all up and decide whether I'm better off not participating in online gambling anymore. I just liked being able to spend a couple of hundred $ every once in a while, to be be honest I rarely even try and make withdrawals, i just burn it and move on.

 

So I'm assuming by your comment  that Mg and Netent games won't be available anywhere for Australian users... That is upsetting.

 

If there are Australians here who are using bitcoin, I'd love to hear how you've found the experience and perhaps what casino you'd recommend.

As far as I know Dead or Alive days/immortal romance are gone - for now. Unless a less protectionist government comes in and repeals it.

 

If it happened to me i'd probably jack it in - right now, BTC isn't for me

[pinnit2015]

Tobacco - kills you, that's ok. Alcohol - can ruin lives, but that's ok too.

 

Want a Dead or Alive Wild line? You reprobate, off to the jail and think about your sick fetish. 

 

How the world spins 

[jazzgeoff]

Tobacco - kills you, that's ok. Alcohol - can ruin lives, but that's ok too.

 

Want a Dead or Alive Wild line? You reprobate, off to the jail and think about your sick fetish. 

 

How the world spins 

yes well, In Australia a packet of cigarettes costs about $35 thanks to tax. alcohol is not too much better. If the Australian government could cash in on Netent.....

[Afi4wins]

yes well, In Australia a packet of cigarettes costs about $35 thanks to tax. alcohol is not too much better. If the Australian government could cash in on Netent.....

 

I would say that all government would simply love to get all those lovey dovey tax revenues from gambling...just as they are getting from tobacco and alcohol too...BUT...in the eyes of the public, government must show that they have good butts...hahaha. 

[jazzgeoff]

So I'm a long way behind the 8 ball on this, as I have mentioned I'm not a regular gambler. And only the last couple of days have I realised the effect of the new Australian interactive gaming amendment act. So being a little unhappy to find one of my guilty pleasures being taken away from me like a punished child, I spent most of today scanning the Internet for information. Most of you will already know all of this, but I thought I'd make a short summary of my findings should any other disgruntled Aussie wander into this thread looking for information.

 

So... the laws passed recently is to directly prevent gambling providers from providing services to Australian players under threat of heavy fines. what this means is that gaming providers and casino's that operate under offshore licences and regulations, that is providers and casino's that operate legally and generally come with the trust of the gambling community have withdrawn support for Australian players. The result is Casino's that have been safe havens for players are no longer available to Australians, further, providers such as Microgaming and Netent have withdrawn support for Aussie players along with payment processors such as neteller. 

 

Now it is important to note that these providers, and I will use the example of Netent here, have shown a willingness to work with various global regulations, and have applied for and gained licences with other countries in similar situations to continue to provide their games, and this includes paying tax to the countries in question. The IGA act holds that providers will not be permitted to provide their games to Australians without a licence. great! so Netent just needs to apply for and obtain a licence right? well as it happens, Australia has no government body to provide such a licence, and it would seem no plans to create such a body or implement the means to provide such a licence.

 

So where are we now... Players can still legally gamble online there is no penalty, however providers are threatened with heavy fines, so it's up the player to find casino's that are willing to support Australian players at their own risk. currently some casino's that hold licences in Malta and united kingdom are continuing to accept Australian players with a wait and see approach, the only payment methods available in most cases are credit card and bitcoin. So the current landscape for Aussie gamblers is that there are vastly fewer safe places for online gambling, by it's very nature the law targets those casino's that offer a fair and regulated gaming environment, but it remains to be seen whether it will see any reduction in 'dodgy' online gambling venues.

 

I tried to be objective in writing this post but to be honest I'm a little unhappy so probably doesn't come across that way. Truth is I gamble so infrequently that I can probably live without, but the handling of this law and the implications, in my opinion, has been a backward step that makes gambling more dangerous. And I don't like having my toys taken away from me.

 

anyway that's my vent, I'm going to watch some TV now.

[pinnit2015]

You hit on the point above that i forgot....if all done in the name of safeguarding players then, er, set up a licensing regulator to grant and monitor. But no.

 

It's weird - YOU must have a licence...err, ok, where do i apply? You can't. 

 

Despite some criticism, the UKGC makes a decent fist of it. 

 

Big Government, nanny states - all furthering their own agenda and interests, usually under the auspices of 'public interest'

[ValDes]

So I'm a long way behind the 8 ball on this, as I have mentioned I'm not a regular gambler. And only the last couple of days have I realised the effect of the new Australian interactive gaming amendment act. So being a little unhappy to find one of my guilty pleasures being taken away from me like a punished child, I spent most of today scanning the Internet for information. Most of you will already know all of this, but I thought I'd make a short summary of my findings should any other disgruntled Aussie wander into this thread looking for information.

 

So... the laws passed recently is to directly prevent gambling providers from providing services to Australian players under threat of heavy fines. what this means is that gaming providers and casino's that operate under offshore licences and regulations, that is providers and casino's that operate legally and generally come with the trust of the gambling community have withdrawn support for Australian players. The result is Casino's that have been safe havens for players are no longer available to Australians, further, providers such as Microgaming and Netent have withdrawn support for Aussie players along with payment processors such as neteller. 

 

Now it is important to note that these providers, and I will use the example of Netent here, have shown a willingness to work with various global regulations, and have applied for and gained licences with other countries in similar situations to continue to provide their games, and this includes paying tax to the countries in question. The IGA act holds that providers will not be permitted to provide their games to Australians without a licence. great! so Netent just needs to apply for and obtain a licence right? well as it happens, Australia has no government body to provide such a licence, and it would seem no plans to create such a body or implement the means to provide such a licence.

 

So where are we now... Players can still legally gamble online there is no penalty, however providers are threatened with heavy fines, so it's up the player to find casino's that are willing to support Australian players at their own risk. currently some casino's that hold licences in Malta and united kingdom are continuing to accept Australian players with a wait and see approach, the only payment methods available in most cases are credit card and bitcoin. So the current landscape for Aussie gamblers is that there are vastly fewer safe places for online gambling, by it's very nature the law targets those casino's that offer a fair and regulated gaming environment, but it remains to be seen whether it will see any reduction in 'dodgy' online gambling venues.

 

I tried to be objective in writing this post but to be honest I'm a little unhappy so probably doesn't come across that way. Truth is I gamble so infrequently that I can probably live without, but the handling of this law and the implications, in my opinion, has been a backward step that makes gambling more dangerous. And I don't like having my toys taken away from me.

 

anyway that's my vent, I'm going to watch some TV now.

 

Now this is what I call a detailed and informative forum post! Thanks a lot on behalf all those Australian  players who are kinda lazy digging all the above info on their own.

[jazzgeoff]

You hit on the point above that i forgot....if all done in the name of safeguarding players then, er, set up a licensing regulator to grant and monitor. But no.

 

It's weird - YOU must have a licence...err, ok, where do i apply? You can't. 

 

Despite some criticism, the UKGC makes a decent fist of it. 

 

Big Government, nanny states - all furthering their own agenda and interests, usually under the auspices of 'public interest'

Yeah..

 

That's the frustrating part of it, it's not to help players keep safe, because we are now heading into black market gambling territory. The claim as I understand it is by preventing Australian residents from gambling in offshore casino's we keep money in the country.. But come on, we all know this won't stop anyone who wants to gamble from doing so, it just forces people to use different payment methods and search out less reputable casino's. I'll be having a session or two later this week, because now after reading up on all this I really, really feel like gambling. 

[pinnit2015]

Yeah..

 

That's the frustrating part of it, it's not to help players keep safe, because we are now heading into black market gambling territory. The claim as I understand it is by preventing Australian residents from gambling in offshore casino's we keep money in the country.. But come on, we all know this won't stop anyone who wants to gamble from doing so, it just forces people to use different payment methods and search out less reputable casino's. I'll be having a session or two later this week, because now after reading up on all this I really, really feel like gambling. 

If you win big send the Government 3% and tell them that's their cut 

[missmess]

Its not actually illegal for us to gamble online. The law affects the casinos ability to offer us the services there will be a way around this shortly I'm sure

[Cpotaka]

Grand reef casino has changed management recently. I thought id give them another go. They allow deposits using neteller and skrill but surprise surprise having trouble withdrawing my winnings, they shouldnt be allowed in business if they cant sort this properly. They shouldn’t be allowed to one way it, especially when they force you to use the same payment method that you used for deposit.

[ValDes]

Grand reef casino has changed management recently. I thought id give them another go. They allow deposits using neteller and skrill but surprise surprise having trouble withdrawing my winnings, they shouldnt be allowed in business if they cant sort this properly. They shouldn’t be allowed to one way it, especially when they force you to use the same payment method that you used for deposit.

 

Cannot believe someone would give a try to an online casino with such AGCCS history?!