Western Australia is the largest state in Australia, and Perth, its capital, is the 4th largest city Down Under. In total, WA has less than 3 million inhabitants, accounting for less than 11% of the total population of Australia.
Despite the modest population of WA compared to its size, the interest in pokies, casino gaming, and other gambling activities rivals that of AUS as a whole. Currently, Crown Perth is the only legal gambling venue in the state, with additional gaming activities permitted through selected locations.
Online casinos operating offshore also accept 18+ players located in WA; although they are not entirely legal, this is the most common way one plays pokies and casino games here. Our team provides a complete overview of the gambling landscape in Western Australia, stick with us to learn more about the available options.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Western Australia?
The Casino Control Act 1984 legalised casinos in Western Australia and enabled the establishment of the first venue – Burswood Island Casino. The casino has since changed hands and was renamed Crown Perth. Today, the only casino in Western Australia is home to 2500+ gaming machines and over 350 tables.
Although there are no plans for another casino establishment in WA, the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor and the Gaming and Wagering Commission of Western Australia oversee and approve such operations.
The next important milestone in the history of gambling in Western Australia was the Gaming and Wagering Commission Act 1987. This bill enabled bingo, lotteries, two-up and other gaming events.
The federal government, though, halted further expansion of gambling activities in Australia and WA through the Commonwealth Government’s Interactive Gambling Act 2001. This bill made it illegal for any Aussie-based company to offer online casino services. However, it failed to indicate whether offshore gambling companies were good to accept Aussie players, which was amended in 2017.
As of today, sports betting and all non-casino gaming activities are available online and through TAB shops and racecourses in Western Australia. Crown Perth is the only location to gamble in the state, while offshore gambling sites are not regulated at a local level.
Are Online Casinos Legal in Western Australia?
Although Western Australia hasn’t passed bills to explicitly ban online casinos, the federal government has. The IGA 2001 and amendments that followed in 2017 have made online casino gaming illegal throughout the country.
Offshore casino sites licensed in Curacao, Panama, and other jurisdictions still accept Aussies. They do so risking getting fined and blocked from Google and other ISPs. ACMA has been responsible for enforcing the current gambling laws in WA.
As a player, you can join online casinos licensed elsewhere and enjoy thousands of top casino games and online pokies for real money. 200+ operators accept users who are 18+ and enforce KYC checks like legit sites do. The government hasn’t assigned any fines or criminal charges to Aussies gambling online since 2017, they seem to chase operators mostly although unsuccessfully.
Best WA Online Casinos: Approved by Pokies.bet
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The above list has been curated to only show casinos the team at Pokies.bet has approved. You see, making an online casino selection without a structured process is a recipe for disaster. The lack of local regulation and iGaming licenses means operators based anywhere in the world can target this market, and they most certainly do.
Not all brands treat their players fairly, nor do they offer the same quality of services. Having reviewed all online casinos available in Western Australia, we are best placed to highlight the ones we consider a step above the rest. You can tap on the links listed above to sign up and claim the advertised welcome offers in less than five minutes. You could also read our in-depth reviews to learn more about our experience with each operator and why we have rated them as one of the best in WA.
How to Identify Top Casino Sites in Western Australia
We do more than just sign up and play casino games at Western Australia gambling sites. Our reviews explore 60+ criteria within nine main areas to ensure a casino provides players with a top-of-the-class gaming experience.
I urge you to pick sites that have passed our rating process or apply our approach to stay on the safe side even when gambling at international online casinos from Western Australia.
Reputation & Safety
New casinos launch regularly, and several of those accept players from Western Australia. As a user, it is your responsibility to carefully assess the available options and select one you can really trust with your money.
The longevity of the brand, its owner, how it treats its players, partnerships, and responsible gambling resources are indicators of how reputable a brand is. Add to the above transparency regarding data usage, website encryption, and alignment with industry-leading vendors for games and payments and you know a casino is trustworthy.
Games & Software
You don’t need to be a detective to visit a casino and check out its lobby searching for games you fancy. You should be assessing online casino gaming options in terms of quality (companies behind them), variety (number of games and categories), and relevancy (are your favourite games featured).
I always check for my top 10 online pokies and that enough new games are being added every week. Then, I ensure at least 20 live casino games and a few progressive jackpots are featured. Since most WA casinos we recommend feature 2000+ games, the above are easy to find.
Bonus Codes & Rewards
Our team looks beyond the welcome bonus size and number of free spins. The availability of generous bonuses and frequent promotions are positive signs; however, the funds must not be tied by unrealistic wagering requirements or capped to low cash-out amounts.
The majority of WA online casinos we have approved offer a welcome package, weekly reload bonuses, cashback, VIP schemes, and tournaments. A quick look in their promo lobby provides a clear overview of the offerings and their main T&Cs, something we consider essential.
Payments & Support
Casinos marketing their services to Western Australia residents must have AUD as their primary currency and support a few local banking options. PayID, BPay, Flexepin, Neosurf, Bank Transfer, and Mastercard are a few of the banking methods I trust for casino transactions. The operator must also ensure quick processing times and fee-free banking.
Support via email, live chat, and phone should be at hand 24/7, helping customers resolve payment or other problems. This is another crucial area we assess during our casino review process.
Gaming Experience
Lastly, the navigation and outlook of the website matter. Players should feel right at home after visiting an online casino and be one or two clicks away from any department. Games should be filtered through several categories, while banking, support, and profile info should be pinned on the homepage. Responsible gambling tools should be placed front and centre, activated without ifs ands or buts.
Although you won’t really find real money pokies apps or Aussie casino apps for Android/iOS, our team ensures all operators we recommend have nicely mobile-optimised online casinos. A large part of our testing takes place on smartphones to ensure this box is ticked as well.
Getting Started with WA Online Casinos
International online casinos adjust their minimum age limit to the jurisdiction in which they operate. In Western Australia, this is set at 18. So, if you are over the legal age limit you can register at any of the brands we’ve shortlisted and tap on the registration area.
Then, you will be asked to fill in some personal information, which usually includes:
- Full name
- Mobile number
- Email address
- Home address
- DOB
Extra details might be required at the registration or later point. Online casinos also enforce KYC checks before paying out any winnings. To meet this, you have to upload documents showcasing your name, home address, and banking method. The above might sound like a lot but it is generally a quick process any legitimate online casino must abide by.
Operators saying VPNs are permitted and KYC checks are not enforced should be avoided, they are unlikely to stick to their obligations when the time comes.
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Bonuses and promotions are a central part of our review process, as already stated. However, many WA players don’t know they can make strategic use of their funds to make the most of multiple online casino welcome offers.
Knowing that all casino bonuses we showcase on this page are valid, one click away, and come with fair T&Cs means they are worth claiming. So, every time you have cleared the wagering requirements and have at least A$20 in your balance, you should be registering at a new WA casino and claim its free spins and first deposit bonus.
We update this page regularly so don’t worry about running out of options.
Conclusion
Crown Perth is the only viable gambling option in Western Australia. Outside casino gaming, sports betting, eSports, fantasy sports, bingo, lottery, and most other gaming activities are also legal, albeit with certain limitations.
Online casinos won’t be legalised any time soon. The 2017 amendments to the IGA 2001 have solidified the government’s views, and WA legislators cannot affect that decision.
Nonetheless, residents can select from hundreds of online casinos accepting WA players. Making the right choice is challenging, which is why we have created this guide. Follow our guidelines and rely on our tested picks to play the best online pokies and casino games with thousands in bonuses and no safety concerns.
- 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.
