The end of 2023 saw the Australian government banning credit card payments to online casinos. The same restriction was implemented in the early 2000s for in-person gambling. Until this new development, banks supported online casino payments through credit cards with optional or automatic gambling blocks to protect their customers from overspending. Transferring funds from your bank account to an Aussie online casino, and vice versa, through debit cards, Instant Bank Transfers, and Wire Transfers is still an option.
The ban on online casinos in 2001 resulted in popular eWallets like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller pulling their services from Aussie online casinos. Now that the most widely used payment method is also off-limits, what options are still in place for punters looking to gamble online? We explain the new restrictions, ways to gamble through your bank, and more in the following guide.
Do Australian Online Casinos Accept Credit Card Payments?
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Most countries, including the UK, already have or are now putting regulations in place to limit credit card payments for gambling purposes. This is a sensible approach to safeguard gamblers from their worst impulses. In-person casino venues, TAB shops, and racecourses have not accepted credit cards since the early 2000s.
Extending this limitation to online venues didn’t seem necessary, since the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 bans such activities altogether. Nonetheless, offshore gambling sites are still accepting Aussie players, and ACMA has failed to restrict their operators to this day. So, the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Act 2023 was introduced and upvoted at the end of December to transfer the liability of restricting online casino payments through credit cards to banking institutions instead. The bill passed with flying colours and was designed to take effect after six months so that banks have some time to introduce casinos in their block lists.
Although credit cards are just one casino payment method, some eWallets popular with gamblers worldwide have also restricted gambling payments to avoid legal recourses. This new development leaves Aussie players with one lesser option to gamble online. For now, debit card transactions and bank transfers are still approved for gambling purposes.
Before this amendment, each bank allowed customers to block gambling payments manually, while a few banking institutions enforced the block automatically to be on the safe side. This wasn’t a surprise considering the legal gambling laws in place.
Options to Deposit at Online Casinos Through Bank Account in 2024
Most payments Down Under are conducted through Visa and MasterCard credit cards. This included 75% of online casino payments until the new bill was passed. If you are not keen to set up a gambling-friendly eWallet or turn to other payment processors, here is an overview of how you can transfer funds from an Australian bank to an online casino:
Debit Cards
Debit card payments to casinos through Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Maestro, and most other brands will go through. Your bank won’t cause you any problems or reject transactions if you have enough funds in your bank account. Since most Australians already have a debit card, this is the best alternative to credit card online gambling right now.
Credit Cards
Gambling through credit card might now be impossible but it was never a good option. Most credit card providers treat gambling payments as cash advances and charge 20% fees.
Moreover, gambling with money you don’t currently have is a recipe for disaster. The Pokies.bet team welcomes this new measure, although we disagree with the overall premise of restricting online casino gambling instead of properly regulating it.
Bank Transfers (Instant & Wire)
Although credit and debit card online casinos usually support deposits only, direct bank transfers and wire transfers are an option for casino deposits and withdrawals. Nonetheless, most gamblers choose this option when cashing out their winnings, since it takes longer to be processed.
Online casino deposits are always instant, except for bank transfers. Withdrawals always take some time, no matter the method, and players usually prefer this option to receive their winnings.
It’s important to remember that Instant Bank Transfers are usually fee-free and take less time than Wire Transfers. The latter involves transferring funds between international banks or financial institutions and is therefore more time-consuming and expensive.
Aussie players who don’t want to use debit cards but still want to move the funds from their bank to the online casino directly should consider PayID and BPay. These two services work as an intermediary and enable faster casino payments without any extra steps. Most Aussies already have these two services set up to pay their bills online anyway.
Rejected Online Casino Bank Payments: Automatic vs Manual Card Blocks
No matter whether you were using a credit card or are now trying to make a debit card or online bank casino payment, your financial institution has the right to reject your payment. This wouldn’t be the case if online casinos were properly regulated Down Under.
Some banks even have automatic blocks in place, while others let you limit online casino payments manually through their apps. The feature lets you select the option and set a time limit. In most cases, it is listed as a gambling block, gambling freeze, or online casino block.
If you are trying to move funds from your bank account to an online casino and the payment is not going through, the best way to resolve it is by talking with your card or bank provider.
Banks with Optional Gambling Blocks:
- ANZ
- Bank of Melbourne
- Commonwealth Bank
- National Australia Bank
- St George Bank
- Westpac
Banks with Automatic Blocks:
- American Express
- Bank Australia
- Bank of Queensland
- Citibank
- Credit Union of Australia
- Macquarie Bank
- Suncorp
- Virgin Money
We always recommend blocking gambling payments if you cannot control your casino spending and things are getting out of hand. Online casinos also let you set spending and gameplay limits via your account, something we recommend when using other sources to fund your online casino gaming.
Steps to Fund Your Online Casino Through Australian Banks
So, with credit cards now being restricted for gambling online in Australia, how you can transfer funds from your bank to an online casino?
Well, the process is pretty much the same no matter what method you are using. The first step is to find a safe and reliable online casino you can trust with your personal information and banking details. You can consult our top list of Aussie casinos since the government doesn’t regulate or license such services.
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Then, set up an online casino account by following the registration prompts. You might be asked to verify your email or mobile number before being able to deposit funds. Following this step visit the cashier section to review the available banking options. The recommended online casinos accept a variety of methods, including debit cards, bank transfers, PayID, prepaid cards, crypto, and selected eWallets. Pick one, enter the required details, input the amount you want to deposit, and confirm the payment.
The amount should be transferred instantly. Instant Bank Transfers take a few hours to come through, though. If you’ve opted in for a casino bonus it should also be credited along with your real money funds, and you can now start playing.
Keep in mind that you can only use banking methods under your name to gamble online since casino operators enforce robust KYC checks to avoid fraudulent activities. Safety aspects you should also consider before transferring funds to an online casino include:
- Casino license
- Website encryption
- Owner
- Reputation and record
- User reviews
- Banking T&Cs
- Payment limits
- Fees
- Payment’s speed
- Privacy policy
Our reviews touch upon all these areas, so make sure to consult them before committing funds to any online casino you encounter on the web.
Alternative Banking Options at Aussie Online Casinos
I always gamble with my debit card online and cash out to my bank account since I never withdraw small wins, and the latter supports larger withdrawals.
Ewallets are heavily restricted Down Under. Neteller, PayPal, and Skrill don’t support gambling payments due to the lack of official regulation.
Visa credit card payments were also widely restricted even before the new bill was introduced for the same reason anyway.
If you used credit cards to gamble online and are now left hanging, we have your back. Aussie online casinos typically support all of the following banking methods. Click on our links to learn more about each and find operators that accept payments through them:
- PayID (Bank Transfer)
- BPay (Bank Transfer)
- Instant Bank Transfer
- Wire Transfer
- MasterCard (Debit)
- Maestro (Debit)
- Visa (Debit)
- Neosurf (Prepaid Voucher)
- Flexepin (Prepaid Voucher)
- CashtoCode (Prepaid Voucher)
- MiFinity (eWallet)
- AstroPay (eWallet)
- Sticpay (eWallet)
- eZeeWallet (eWallet)
- Apple Pay (eWallet)
- Google Pay (eWallet)
- Crypto (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and more)
Prepaid cards and debit cards are typically exclusively available for casino deposits.
Our Thoughts
We are proponents of responsible gambling and were never in favour of gambling with credit cards. To be honest, if the Aussie government regulated online casinos properly, they would have enforced this restriction years ago, as they did with physical gaming venues. The UK and other countries have placed similar restrictions to ensure that gambling only takes place with money players own, avoiding problems down the line.
Debit cards, PayID, and Instant Bank Transfers are the best alternatives to gambling with a credit card, and we’ve listed several casinos that support these options. Their top feature is the option to block gambling payments if things are getting out of control manually, although some institutions have such measures in place proactively. If your bank is among them, we recommend using eWallets and prepaid cards for withdrawals and deposits, respectively.
Bitcoin casino gambling can be great, too, but it isn’t for everyone. In any case, Aussies should be OK despite this new development. Probably even safer than before, despite the minor inconvenience it may cause.
- 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.
