Is Online Blackjack Legal in Australia?
The Australian gambling tradition…
…dates back to the first settlers on the land of the Aborigines. It was the Chinese that first brought card games and tricks along with them, a pastime that would turn into one of the most potent industries on the continent.
Gambling Laws
When it comes to the legal regulative on games of luck and chance, the legislature has a two-stance treatment. For one, the Commonwealth as a supreme authority is concerned with the general results, consequences and benefits of legal gambling. Individual governing units, on the other hand, have been given the authority to practically regulate this sphere of human life with a series of laws and acts.
First Gambling Law in Australia
The first major law on gambling practices in Australia is recorded back in 1852 – the “Act to Restrain the Practice of Gambling and the Use of Obscene Language”. This was complemented by the “Vagrant Act” of 1853, with the purpose of fully annihilating any gambling practices.
The 1970s
The government became more aware of the potential to profit from taxes on regulated gambling practices. This brought about the first legal land-based casinos featuring blackjack tables among their most popular gameplay options. Along with sports betting and poker action, such regulative paved the way for the latest format of this entertainment type – interactive gambling.
The Interactive Gambling Act of 2001
The IGA (https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2017C00291) was first passed in June 2001, and put into effect only a month later, as the need to regulate remote gambling activities continued to rise. This Act defined the area of online gambling – it set up separate authorities to regulate the AUS casino platforms, but restricted them from offering their services to the locals. Yet, it said nothing against locals registering and playing real money games of chance and luck at the numerous international platforms that are not subject to AUS laws.
Moreover…
…the IGA prohibited any public advertising of such interactive, remote gambling service providers. Still, advances in the gaming content and staking possibilities brought about separate amendments to the 2001 Act, mainly banning in-play betting and free bets.
Local Casino & Gaming Regulatory Bodies
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ACT Gambling and Racing Commission, for the Australian Capital Territory;
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The Independent Gambling Authority, for the territory of South Australia;
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The Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor, for the territory of Western Australia;
- The Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing, for South Wales;
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The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, for the Victoria region.
Legalization of Online Blackjack
The aforementioned authorities are specifically dedicated to regulating the area of casino and gaming activities on their respective territories. With sports betting handled by a separate body, there is more than enough manpower to handle the matter properly. In this regard, gamblers have been looking into the matter of playing their favourite game and the laws related to the practice.
Blackjack Variants
The game of blackjack has a wide and diverse range of variants, due to the numerous aspects of the gameplay that can be altered. Thus, Aussie players can enjoy a selection of online blackjack tables featuring different stake sizes, card deck number, or in-game rules.
Popular Variants
The Australian player pool is able to choose from those that offer bonus bets, payouts or free bonus play-money. Some are even able to play at the blackjack tables featuring progressive jackpots, while others are simply interested in international gameplay that allows more bet variety than others.
Deposit & Withdrawal Methods
Due to the fact that players have been forced to turn to international platforms for legal gameplay, the payment methods provided by their chosen operator can vary drastically. They tend to include globally accepted payment processing services which are able to cater to a wide range of jurisdictions.
Nevertheless…
… in order to provide a more dedicated and personalized service, a growing number of operators have included more local payment methods. Nowadays, enthusiasts from Australia are able to fund their player accounts and withdraw their winnings using the top standard debit and credit card options – Visa and MasterCard, as well as numerous modern services and e-wallets. These include the globally-oriented Skrill, Neteller, PaySafeCard and the likes, as well as more local ones, such as POLi.
Land-based vs. Online Blackjack Action in Australia
The game of blackjack is one of few that offer the best odds in the players’ favour, which explains how it reached such massive popularity on Aussie territory. In recent times, members of this player pool have been able to choose between land-based and online blackjack variants, each offering its fair share of benefits.
On the one hand…
… land-based blackjack has a long-standing tradition which makes it an absolutely reliable favourite among the player pool. The social and entertaining effect of real-life blackjack gameplay is yet another advantage of this format. Ultimately, the fact that players can put their card-counting skills to use at these tables definitely makes land-based blackjack an attractive option.
However…
… most players are put off by the physical distance from the nearest blackjack tables and casino floor, as accessibility is quite restricted in this regard.
On the other hand…
… there are just as many perks of turning to the online blackjack variants available at global websites. Accessibility is widely recognized, as players nowadays can enjoy top real money action anywhere they have an Internet connection on their PC or mobile device. Due to lower maintenance costs in terms of brick-and-mortar facilities, staff and the likes, such online casino operators offer better odds and lower house edge, while retaining the same entertainment effect using virtual and design tools.
The Future of Legalities
Online blackjack has been widely accepted and adopted on the AUS online gambling marketplace, creating optimal conditions for its further development. While there is yet to be a formal proposal for more liberal legislation, the future in Australia has a positive outlook.
In Conclusion
In the context of legal online gambling in Australia, it is important to mention the presence of a separate legal authority dedicated to sports betting. Alternately, online blackjack and casino websites in general are legal only as long as they are provided by a foreign, off-shore operator. Locally operated websites, in their own right, turn to player pools in other countries, finding benevolent markets for their regulated and fair blackjack gameplay offering.
