Australia loves a pokie, and we always have. Since way back in the days when a pokie was a big machine that stood in the corner of your local pub or social club, flashing its lights as it waited for the next punter, Australians have loved a spin of the reels. And you’d be forgiven for thinking that we’re living in a golden age of pokies these days. First of all, along came the online casinos to revolutionise the way we enjoy our pokies, and to bring them straight into every home in Australia that has an internet connection. And we’re just starting to see the mobile casinos coming into their own: they haven’t got the range of games that the online casinos have, but they’re coming on in leaps and bounds.
But which are the very best online casinos for Australians to enjoy? It’s a difficult question to answer, but we’ve come up with a shortlist of the very best options for Australians: you’ll find the half-dozen online casinos that we rate the most highly featured on this site. We’ve used a number of criteria in our selection, and we thought it’d be useful to break down how we’re judging these online casinos for you. All the six casinos that we recommend to you score highly in each of these areas – and that’s what makes them the best Australia-focused online casinos…
So below are the criteria on which we judge the online casinos we feature on this site, and we think you’ll agree, if you visit them, that they all rate very highly in those areas. Don’t take our word for it, of course: make sure you give them a go before you make your mind up. And before you do, our reviews are here to help…
There’s nothing more important than your security when you’re enjoying online pokies and casino games. It might not be the most obvious or easily noticeable feature of the top online casinos, but it’s absolutely vital that you have confidence that your bank details and your personal information are completely safe. What that knowledge gives you is peace of mind, and that lets you really concentrate on the best and newest pokies hitting the online casinos all the time. Fortunately, there are some key things to look for when you’re choosing your online casino home-from-home. A top-quality online casino will proudly display its license, and it will be in a well-regulated state – look out for Malta and Kahnawake amongst others. A listing on the London Stock Exchange or similar tells you that your online casino isn’t afraid of close scrutiny, and also that they have a good reputation to protect. All that adds up to airtight security. Look out, too, for the eCOGRA accreditation, which is a scheme that online casinos opt into, and that guarantees a good standard of security for your cash and your details. And remember that there are some brutally honest folk out there on the internet who aren’t afraid of sharing their opinions, so a few reviews will tell you all you need to know about an online casino.
You always have to be careful on the internet – and this is a point that ties into our concerns about security, too – to make sure that the sites you visit are genuine and completely above-board. The same things that will tell you about security should give you a decent guide to an online casino’s authenticity, but we’d add another: the time that they’ve been in business, and especially the time they’ve spent at the top of the market. The Gaming Club is a great example of this: one of the first online casinos available in Australia back in the early nineties, The Gaming Club has established a great reputation, and maintained it for more than two decades. That makes it an authentic online casino, and one that you can trust.
This is the stuff you’ll notice as soon as you land on an online casino’s welcome page. If you’re anything like us, and you intend to spend time at an online casino, revisiting it whenever you fancy a spin on your favourite pokies, then you need to like what you see. The very best online casinos will feature great graphics and they will be easy to navigate. You don’t want to be frustrated, jumping from page to page when you’re trying to get to the games, and it should be clear what’s going on all the time. When we talk about the accessibility of an online casino, we’re talking about its ease of use – especially for a newcomer. You want to be able to find out quickly and easily, for instance, what the rules are for the specific game you’re playing, and what your betting options are. And then there’s the games: if an online casino is going to be a regular stop for you, you need to know that there are high-quality games waiting for you. All the online casinos we recommend on this site have literally hundreds…
Which brings us to our next measure of a great online casino: the range of games on offer. In the early days of the online casinos, there were dozens of classic casino games and pokies that you could play. Now – at the best sites – there are hundreds of choices. The sheer volume of games can be intimidating, but only at first. Once you dive in, you’ll find that great online casinos like 32Red just give you the chance to try new games, and to find new favourites. Plus, with new pokies hitting the online casinos all the time, you can be sure that there’s always something fresh and exciting to have a go at. We’re especially keen on the Australia-focused online casinos that give us the chance to enjoy the newest and best Australian-style pokies…
A modern online casino exists in a fiercely competitive environment – and they want you to take your business to their site instead of a rival’s. In reality, of course, you might want to choose a number of online casinos that you like and that suit you. But, these days, all will offer you a tempting bonus, especially as a new player. We’ll assess the offers that each of our recommended online casinos is featuring, so you can be sure that you’re making the most of any sign-up bonuses and special deals, maximising your fun and making your cash last as long as possible. And then, of course, there are the loyalty schemes and regular rewards offered by top online casinos…
And the final measure of a great online casino? The level of service you can expect as a customer. Loyalty schemes and bonuses are nice, but you also want to make sure that your chosen online casino offers you a high level of customer service all the time. That includes, as at the online casinos we recommend here, a wide range of payment options so that you can move your money to and from the site easily and safely, and a team of dedicated support staff who are on hand to help you out with any technical difficulties that might crop up, as well and making sure that any problems are dealt with quickly and professionally.