Australian gambling market and offshore casinos online

Are Offshore Casinos Taking Over the Australian Market?

Australia is among the countries with the highest spending on online entertainment. According to data provided by the popular review portal featuring various Australian casinos online in 2025, more than 80% of adult Aussies at least once participated in gambling, and total spending on online betting and gaming exceeded A$25 bln a year. Against this background, there is growing interest in the local market of offshore casinos — platforms registered outside Australia. Their activities are not subject to strict control, as the country’s legislation prohibits only the provision of gambling services, not their consumption.

Additionally, the situation is complicated by the limited number of licensed online casinos within the country. In some states, the activity of such websites is completely prohibited. As a result, non-local platforms are the main players in the niche of gambling on the Internet and occupy leading positions in the Top best online casinos in Australia. How safe their activities and whether they can finally displace the local sites – we will analyse below.

Legality of Offshore Casinos in Australia

According to the Interactive Gambling Act, passed in 2001 and amended in 2017, offshore operators are not allowed to offer their services to Australian citizens without a local licence. However, the operator is solely responsible for the violation, not the user. Thus, Australian residents can legally play on non-local platforms, as long as they do not violate other laws, such as data protection and transparency of financial transactions.

The industry regulator is the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). It has the power to block sites operating without a licence, but in practice, many offshore casinos continue to operate, circumventing technical restrictions. The number of such websites is steadily growing. This is facilitated by attractive conditions for Aussies, including generous welcome bonuses and support for cryptocurrencies.

Pros and Cons of Playing in Offshore Casinos

Most platforms with pokies registered outside Australia are quite attractive to local punters. The best non-local platforms provide features that local projects often lack. The main reasons why Aussies favour overseas operators are:

• Wider and more diverse selection of games. Such platforms co-operate with dozens of software providers, including leading Australian studios BTG and Aristocrat Leisure. This allows punters to choose from thousands of pokies, instant games, and live casinos. In general, the range of non-local projects is much wider than that of licensed Australian operators.
• More attractive promotions. Offshore casinos often provide low wager bonuses, no deposit offers and regular promotions. This is due to the high competition between international platforms and the desire to gain the trust of users.
• Minimum verification requirements. Many offshore operators allow you to register and start playing without the mandatory uploading of documents. This is especially convenient for those who value anonymity and do not want to share personal data unnecessarily.
• Wider range of payment methods. In addition to the Australian dollar, non-local platforms support US dollars, euros and different cryptocurrencies. This is convenient for punters who settle in different currencies or prefer blockchain payments.
• Multilingual interface. Offshore platforms target an international audience, so they offer websites, apps and support in different languages. This is especially relevant for foreigners living in Australia, for whom English is not their first language.

Due to these factors, non-local casinos continue to strengthen their position in the market. Their convenience and variety are especially important when local choice is limited.

With all the advantages listed above, playing at non-local websites has a few downsides. Firstly, the lack of an Australian licence means that the user will not be able to seek protection of their rights in case of disputes. Complaints against offshore operators are not dealt with by the ACMA or other local bodies.

Secondly, there is a risk of encountering fraudulent sites. Although many platforms have licences from regulators such as Curacao or Panama, the controls there are much weaker than in Australia. Some sites may suddenly cease operations or hide behind a complex structure of subsidiaries.

Despite this, you should not completely exclude offshore casinos from being a viable option. With a careful approach to the choice of platform, you can avoid most of the risks. Preference should be given only to those sites that have a valid international licence, high ratings on independent aggregators, positive user reviews and transparent rules.

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