Gambling is a highly appreciated entertainment in Australia, and a large business too. When it comes to online casinos and real-money bets, there’s a great divide between native and offshore gaming services. While a large number of players remain loyal to legal entertainment, others try foreign operators, like 5gringos, to diversify their leisure.
What drives their choices? And what do regulators say? This article addresses these questions and digs into the current state of things.
Playing at Native Casinos in Australia
Online gambling in Australia is strictly regulated by the Interactive Gambling Act, which was signed into law in 2001. The document prohibits the majority of digital casino activities in the country, including 5gringo, which offers real-money bets to local inhabitants. So people here can’t simply find a native online casino to enjoy poker, blackjack, roulette, or other similar entertainment.
The solution for many responsible players lies in visiting physical casino destinations, legally operated on the territory or enjoying other forms of gambling, which remains an exception.
Why Does the Government Prohibit Online Casinos in Australia?
Interactive gambling is considered illegal on the mainland due to concerns around losing players’ finances and money laundering. Any online casino activity should be licensed by a local authority, which means they have control over the service actions, monitor financial flows, check the fairness of games, and much more. This can also ensure that in case of any disputes with the operator, the problem can be solved locally with minimal challenges.
Australia also obliged a special organization named the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to accept complaints from customers in case of identifying any suspicious online activity in the region. So anyone detecting a website which offers an unlicensed gambling service can leave a report without revealing their identity.
So, let’s draw a bottom line:
- All casino services without licenses (even brick-and-mortar ones) are prohibited in Australia.
- It’s not allowed to target Australian players when advertising a foreign gambling website.
- Aussie customers, who enable such responsible gambling tools as self-exclusion, are prohibited from entering any casino in the country. The process is regulated by a special Self-Exclusion Register from ACMA and is intended to protect vulnerable players from overspending and to save their mental health.
When is Playing Online Casino Games Legal In Australia?
Regardless of strict regulation, the federal prohibition allows for several exceptions to online gambling. Thus, Australian users can enjoy online betting sites if they obtain a license from the state or local authority. This part doesn’t cover live betting (placing stakes on the game result or another event during the game in real-time).
Another case, where providing and participating in online gambling is legal in Australia, is lotteries. International betting services approved by the state or a certain territory can also operate in the region and target local players.
Why Some Aussies Play Only At Native Casinos?
Australia is known for its long gambling history, and some local players still prefer playing in native casinos regardless of the prohibition on their most favourite games, like poker. And here are several reasons for their loyalty:
- Legality and player protection. ACMA background ensures fair games and complaint resolution in case users face any issues with the gambling company. Such players prefer not to joke with authorities and avoid an offence.
- Local currency support. There are a plethora of customers who prefer placing bets in AUD and withdrawing money (if they are lucky to win) without conversion and cryptocurrency volatility risks.
- Responsible gambling tools. No one wants to get a gambling addiction, and such limitations as self-exclusion, supported by ACMA supervision, may be the key reason to play at locally regulated gambling hubs.
Offshore Casinos and Australian Players
Despite restrictions, many Australian players continue to visit offshore online casinos such as 5gringo in search of the latest trends in the iGaming industry, new entertainment prohibited in their territories, and deep impressions from the gameplay. Various risks, including the absence of service regulation on the local market, potential challenges with payments and games fairness don’t stop enthusiasts from exploring fresh casino products. The actual number may vary due to the grey market nature of the activity, still around 27% of players in Australia visit offshore casinos to play online games.
The main factors which encourage Aussie customers to visit offshore online casinos are listed in the table below.
| Reason | Why it matters for players |
|---|---|
| Game variety | Offshore casinos offer a large assortment of top-notch online games covering various topics. They are characterized by diverse mechanics, bonuses, unique design and animation, mini games hidden inside, and more. Such a significant choice attracts people seeking new experiences. |
| Promotions | Often, foreign casinos encourage customers to join their communities and get bonuses for creating a personal account, making a first deposit, etc. VIP and Loyalty programs also provide special conditions for regular stakes and reward limited perks to the most active participants. |
| Crypto-friendly payments | Those Aussie players who have some cryptocurrency in their wallets and prefer making financial transactions without any links to personal bank accounts often select offshore casinos which provide decentralized and secure crypto payments. |
| Mobile access | Gamblers who don’t want to attend noisy land-based playing halls and prefer quick sessions on the go right from their smartphones appreciate mobile casinos. They can satisfy their gaming preferences without any effort required to reach a physical destination. |
Bottom Line
The divide between native and offshore casinos in Australia is directly tied to regulation and demand. While native casinos ensure legitimacy and protection, foreign gambling operators attract customers with a greater variety of games and payment flexibility.
While many Aussies play at offshore wagering platforms like 5gringo, things may change if the government softens the prohibition and modernizes its approach towards online casino websites. Until then, the offshore market will probably be a side effect of Australian gambling regulations.