The Interactive Gambling 2001 defines online gambling activities as illegal in Australia. The current federal law indicates that licensed sports betting sites can offer selected services Down Under, while all interactive casino games are not regulated. ACMA has been responsible for enforcing this law, by assigning fines and blocking offshore online casinos still marketing their activities in the Oz.
Due to this situation, selected payment methods are not serving online casinos in Australia. Although operators still accept players who casually gamble online since the law does not affect them specifically, some banking methods they offer in other markets are not available to Aussies. As a result, you can fund your online casino account using crypto or AUD but without mainstream payment processors such as:
- Skrill
- PayPal
- Neteller
- Visa
- Paysafecard
- Pay by Mobile
- And others
All credit cards have also stopped supporting online casino and sports betting deposits. The above restrictions can make playing online casino games for real money harder, yet several banking systems have emerged to facilitate gambling activities. Continue below for an explanation of why some payment methods do not work in Australia, the current restricted providers, and the main alternatives to fund your online casino account.
Which Banking Methods Are Not Available at Aussie Casino Sites?
PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, Neteller, Visa, and all Credit Cards are not available at Australian online casinos. Operators might list these options in their banking departments, yet you will not be able to use them. The reason online casinos list these payment processors is that they work in other areas, too. However, they outline in their T&Cs that Aussie players cannot use them to gamble online.
Banking method providers have been cautious about facilitating transactions in jurisdictions where online gambling is not regulated so that they are not subject to fines by the Government. Online casinos abide by the policies of their partners – similar restrictions are set out by certain iGaming developers like NetEnt and Playtech.
Although the above banking methods are not the only options restricted at Aussie casinos, they are the most notable since casino sites in most other jurisdictions work with them and they are the most popular among players.
Why Do Online Casinos Restrict Banking Methods?
Online casino sites partner with casino developers and payment providers to facilitate gambling in several countries. The license they hold determines the countries casinos can operate in, Australia is a no-go area due to the current laws. Curacao-licensed online casinos are the only ones still operating Down Under.
Still, payment processors and casino developers licensed by strict iGaming and financial institutions worldwide are cautious about facilitating unregulated gambling. That is because they risk losing their licenses; we have also seen Neteller and PayPal receiving massive fines for processing gambling transactions in grey markets like the US in the past.
On the other hand, online casinos that do not risk losing their license comply with the requirements of their banking partners to maintain their services in green-lighted markets. By doing so they still operate in Australia with limited services while risking getting fined by ACMA. They are glad to take the risk due to the profit they make. ISP blocks do not affect them, relaunching instantly under similar web addresses.
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The free-market economy ensures that demand is always met, and Aussie players do not seem to hold back their online gambling urges. The void left by major eWallets has been filled by local payment systems and emerging banking providers. The main facilitators of casino payments at Aussie casino sites are:
- Debit cards – Mastercard, Maestro, American Express, and others.
- Banks – most Aussie banks still support gambling payments.
- Bank Transfers via mediators – Trustly, PayID, POLi, STICPAY, and BPay.
- eWallets – MiFinity, eZeeWallet, AstroPay, ecoPayz, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
- Prepaid cards – Ukash, Neosurf, and Flexepin.
- Crypto – Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and via crypto wallets like Cash App.
I have added links to guides on how each payment method works for online gambling, so take a look to find the one that is most suitable for your needs.
Australian Banks That Do Not Allow Online Gambling
Most Aussie banks support instant bank transfers from online casinos to your bank account. This payment method is mostly used to withdraw money from the casino, while debit cards linked to a bank account are often employed for casino deposits. It is not uncommon for the latter to get blocked, since banking institutions don’t want to break the rules set by the Government.
Nonetheless, contacting your bank is the best way to determine whether your debit card casino deposits will go through, while casino withdrawals via bank transfer should not be blocked. Players still have the option to freeze their cards from processing gambling payments.
Are Credit Cards Available for Online Gambling in Australia?
The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Act 2023 was passed to block gambling payments using credit cards. This measure has been enforced for decades now for physical casino venues. The new bill aims to protect players from overspending or gambling with funds they don’t own.
All banks comply with this new regulation leaving debit card deposits and bank transfer casino withdrawals as the only two viable services.
The Best Payment Options for Gambling at Aussie Online Casinos
I have been playing online pokies in Australia for over a decade now, and I always use my debit card to fund my account. For cash outs, bank transfer is my go-to. I do not mind using the above since I only play at licensed and secure gambling sites.
Players who often switch casinos or prefer keeping their gambling transactions private should use prepaid cards or crypto for deposits and withdrawals. The latter is ideal if you have a crypto wallet and know how altcoins work.
Since most mainstream eWallets are not available at casino sites in Australia, you will need to get a new account to utilise this option. eWallets are great since they support both casino deposits and withdrawals, but they involve fees. On the other hand, you could use bank mediators like PayID and POLi to get the same benefits without the drawbacks.
In any case, despite the several restricted gambling payment methods, Aussie online casinos provide a few solid alternatives.
Conclusion
I created the above guide to inform you about the inconveniences you could encounter while trying to fund your online casino account. Most Australians use PayPal to make online transactions, so not having this option at a casino site can be frustrating. The ban on credit cards and occasional bank transfer blocks further complicate online gambling payments.
Still, the alternatives I have presented provide a safe and secure way to make deposits and withdrawals at online casinos. Just make sure that you know the available and restricted casino payment methods in advance so that you are not caught by surprise.
- About the Author
- Affiliate Disclosure
Michael has reviewed and verified all information on this page. Having worked in the iGaming industry for over 8 years, he is the most capable person to help you navigate online casinos, pokies, and the Australian gambling landscape.
