Despite Crown Melbourne being one of the world’s most famous brick-and-mortar casinos, there is still a big drive for Victoria’s online casinos. After all, if you don’t live in the state’s capital, your gambling options aren’t as diverse.
Online casinos in Victoria let you play a wide range of pokies and table games, such as poker, blackjack, roulette, and craps, for real money.
If you want to find out more about online casinos that accept Vic players, we suggest you stick around. Below we go through all you need to know about playing online in Victoria, including the list of the best land-based casinos in Victoria and an overview of the laws governing both online and offline casinos.
Victoria Gambling Laws
Victoria’s brick-and-mortar casinos all report to the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR). The VCGLR ensures that all casinos in the area follow regulations to the T. If they don’t, they have to deal with legal action (which has been frequent over the last few years.)
Online Gambling Laws in Victoria
Currently, the federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001 governs online gambling across Australia. The act says that no company based in Australia can offer online casino gaming options to Australians. Furthermore, the law will fine any company that does such and potentially take away their gaming license. So, you won’t find any casinos in Australia offering online services.
As the law focuses on businesses, it is not illegal for Australians to play at offshore online casinos. However, the businesses hold the risk, not the players.
How to Pick an Online Casino in Victoria
You should always analyse an online casino before you choose to sign up. Often, you can tell whether a casino will offer you a good or bad gambling experience before you even sign up. Here are the factors that will help you make such a distinction:
Safety and Security
Before you sign up at any online casino, you want to ensure it is safe to use. There are three factors we focus on when we do this:
- Is the casino licensed? If the casino is not licensed, it does not have an independent authority that tests whether practices are fair. As a result, more often than not, unlicensed casinos are rogue.
- Have the casino’s games been tested by a trusted third party for fairness? Casinos can get trusted third parties to test the authenticity of results. If the results are fair, they will get a certificate stating as such. How old is the certificate of the casino you want to play at?
- Does the site use SSL encryption? This is the standard encryption method used by trusted financial institutions to ensure your details are safe.
If an online casino does not comply with the above-stated rules, we strongly recommend not signing up. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Bonuses and Promotions
Bonuses are extremely common online. Practically all casinos will give you a bonus when you sign up. However, not all bonuses are worth it. As a general rule of thumb, a casino with unfair wagering requirements usually has a lot more wrong with it than just bad bonus terms and conditions.
Before you sign up or accept an offer, we suggest you look at the terms and conditions of the offer you are accepting. For example, if a casino expects you to wager $2000 on a $20 deposit, we suggest moving along. Nobody has time to get bogged down by such terrible requirements.
Games and Software
Firstly, when it comes to games, you want to make sure you join an online casino that offers the games you want to play. So, if you want to play craps, look at a casino’s game library before signing up and see if it features craps.
Secondly, you want to join a casino that is powered by a notable software provider. Usually, providers such as Realtime Gaming, Quickspin, iSoftBet, Betsoft, and Nucleus Gaming provide the best games.
Many players think that we recommend playing at casinos powered by trusted software providers solely due to the quality of the games. However, this is not true. Big-name providers would never tarnish their name by associating themselves with a questionable software provider. So, this is another sign of trust.
Banking
Before you deposit money at a casino, you need to ensure you understand the casino’s banking system. Not all casinos offer the same deposit and withdrawal options. But, then, deposit and withdrawal options may not even be the same at the same casino.
Don’t expect that because you deposited with a Visa card, you will be allowed to withdraw with one too.
You should also read up on the withdrawal policy, i.e., how long it will take you to get your money. Waiting around 1-5 days after your withdrawal request has been processed is pretty standard. It is important to remember that the wait time for different withdrawal methods varies, though.
Anything longer than this, and the casino is messing you around. We think you shouldn’t risk it with casinos that do not state the average wait time for a withdrawal.
Victoria Facts
Here are some facts you need to know about the state of Victoria if you are planning a visit any time soon:
- The nickname for Victoria is The Garden State (which is also the nickname for the US state of New Jersey).
- The capital of Victoria is Melbourne. It is the second-most populous city in Australia.
- The biggest horse racing event in Australia is held in Victoria yearly. Each year, the Melbourne Cup garners visitors from around the world.
- Victoria is the birthplace of Aussie Rules Football – the most popular sport in Australia.
- Melbourne is home to one of the largest Cricket grounds in the world. The stadium can host over 100,000 spectators.
Gambling in Victoria – FAQs
Are there land-based casinos in Victoria?
Yes, there are land-based casinos in Victoria. The most famous is Crown Melbourne, which is the flagship casino of James Packer’s casino empire. You will find thousands of pokies at this casino.
Are online casinos legal in Victoria?
The answer to this question is dependent on which casino you play at. For example, if you play at an online casino operating in Victoria, the casino is breaking the law. The Internet Gambling Act 2001 has banned Australian companies from offering any forms of online casino gambling.
However, it is not illegal to join an offshore online casino. This is because these casinos operate outside the realm of Australian law. So, you will not get prosecuted for gambling at one of these casinos. In addition to this, Australian law is worded that the liability for online casino gaming is on the provider, not the player.
Which are the best online casinos in Victoria?
The best online casinos in Victoria are:
- King Johnnie
2. Wild Card City
3. Jackpot Jill
4. Lucky Look
5. Get Slots
What is the gambling age in Victoria?
The gambling age in Victoria is 18. However, you will find that the age is the same in every Australian state because this is a federal law, not a state law.
Who regulates gambling in Victoria?
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation regulates all things gambling in the state of Victoria. So, if you want to know what is and isn’t legal in the state, we suggest you visit the site.
Is Melbourne Cup happening in 2021?
Yes, the Melbourne Cup will be taking place in 2021. The event is expected to take place on 2 November 2021.