Welcome to the Jersey Gypsy column, where our resident travel reporter, Valentina, roams the globe in pursuit of stories.

For the past month, Valentina’s been traveling across Australia, taking in everything the land Down Under has to offer. So far, she’s:

• Swam with great whites off the Great Barrier Reef
• Ridden a luxury train from Darwin to Adelaide
• Shadow-boxed with a kangaroo at Narawntapu National Park (photo below)
• Imbibed questionable spirits in a speakeasy in Melbourne

Online Casinos I Tried in Australia

Locals recommended these three sites:

• Casinonic – I had a blast playing pokies here
• Joe Fortune – If your average Joe was an online casino
• Ignition – My favorite site overall

Armed with this information, I dedicated a rainy Sunday in my hotel room (and a $500 budget) to seeing what these newfangled casino sites had to offer.

I’ll give you my hands-on comparison, along with my personal recommendations, below.

But before I get to that, let me tell you a bit more about my trip to Australia (or skip to the review section and break my heart, your choice).

In my time in Australia, I’ve experienced many of the things I’d consider to be stereotypical tourist activities: I’ve checked out the beaches, drank with the locals, and encountered kangaroos. I’ve encountered so many kangaroos, often in places you wouldn’t expect.

One thing I didn’t expect before I came here? The gambling culture.

When you think of gambling havens, you think Vegas, Monte Carlo, Macau — not Melbourne and Adelaide. So I was shocked to learn that playing slots (er, pokies) is practically a national pastime here, every bit as big as footy or rugby.

And while having a spin at your local pub is still big business, today many players are chasing their action on the internet — and indeed, that’s what many of the locals I spoke to told me to do if I wanted the biggest bang for my buck.

What can I say? If there’s one thing I’ve learned about myself while in Australia, it’s that I’m a sucker for peer pressure when it comes to drinking and gambling.

View from my hotel room in Melbourne

For each of the sites, I took note of the games I played, bonuses I claimed, and how I did. Did I win or lose when I finally called it a night? Read on to find out…

First on the docket is Casinonic.

First AU Online Casino I Tried: Casinonic

• Games I played: Luck of Tiger, Lamp of Wonder, Zoom Roulette, Blackjack 16
• Hours spent testing: 3
• Bonus I claimed: AU$5,000 welcome package
• How I did: Won $250

I have to admit, I was warned about Casinonic before I visited the site. “So many pokies,” said Charlotte, one of several locals who recommended the site. “It’s honestly a bit much at first.”

I’ll say — I didn’t know where to start, exactly. Some of the categories I recognized; slots and roulette were pretty self-explanatory, but what’s a bonus buy? Luckily, they also have a category called “Top” for their most popular games, which seemed like the place to start.

I made an account and put $100 on it using Bitcoin (the site asks fewer questions that way). It was all simple and easy, and the process took only a minute or two.

One thing no one told me about? Deposit bonuses! Apparently they’re pretty common, and Casinonic has a good one — a 100% deposit match up to $5,000 in all. I wasn’t about to deposit that much, but I still took advantage of the offer, turning my $100 into $200 right off the bat.

I had already doubled my money, and I hadn’t even played a game yet.

The first game I played was a flashy pokie called “Luck of Tiger,” then I checked out another called “Lamp of Wonder” (who names these things?). To get a well-rounded view of the site, I finished things off with Zoom Roulette and Blackjack 16.

What I liked:

Someone hit the jackpot on this while I was on the site!

While having so many games to choose from was daunting at first, I can definitely see the appeal. It’s just like a real casino — if you get tired of one game, something completely different is right there.

Some of these games have insane payouts, too! I found one jackpot pokie that had a top prize of over $18 million — those are lottery numbers, but at significantly better odds.

The pokies here are definitely the main attraction, and I spent the bulk of my time on the site playing “Luck of Tiger.” Lots of fun, lots of excitement. Top marks all around.

The welcome offer was a nice touch as well. While it’s not quite as simple as getting free money, having a site willing to reward you up to $5,000 is a nice touch.

What I didn’t like:

The 1990s called. They want their roulette game back.

The pokies were awesome. I found the table games a little underwhelming.

Zoom Roulette feels like one of those free casino games that used to be included on Windows 95. It’s as bare-bones as it gets, and while it will do in a pinch, it doesn’t exactly make you feel like you’re in the thick of things at the Bellagio.

Blackjack 16 was better (and I actually went on a nice little run while playing it), but it wasn’t as fun as the pokies.

Also, wading through all those pokies is a bit of a chore. You can see about 40 at a time, then you have to click “See More.” I’m not doing that for long — those games at the bottom of the list will forever remain a mystery to me.

Check out Casinonic for yourself

Next Up – Joe Fortune

• Games tested: Gold Express, 777 Deluxe, Carnival Bonanza Caribbean Hold’Em, Hooked on Fishing
• Hours spent testing: 1.5
• Bonus claimed: AU$5,000 plus 450 free spins
• How I did: Lost $50

They say never judge a book by its cover — which is good news for Joe Fortune, as I found it to be very unimpressive at first glance.

Still, I’d had several people (including some very enthusiastic pokies fans) tell me it was the top spot for spinning the reels, so I had to check them out.

I followed the same setup process I used for Casinonic: make an account, deposit $100 with Bitcoin, etc.

The site is clearly geared towards pokies fans, especially those chasing big wins at jackpot machines. I also noticed that they don’t have anywhere near as many options as Casinonic — only a few hundred compared to Casinonic’s 1000+.

That felt like a bit of a relief, to be honest. Choice overload is a real thing, after all.

What I liked: That’s a lot of jackpot cash.

It’s honestly refreshing to only have a few recommended choices. I didn’t have that “missing out” feeling that I did when playing at Casinonic — I knew what the recommended games were, and I stuck to them.

The site also goes out of its way to have a personal feel, relying heavily on its Joe Fortune mascot to give you a “friend” in the gambling scene. Is it a cheap gimmick? To be sure, but it’s also a nice departure from the faceless casinos you’ll see everywhere else.

If you’re like me, the first thing you’ll notice here are the jackpot pokies. There are a bunch of them, and almost all of them have impressive payouts. It’s hard not to be tempted by the allure of all that free cash.

I started out with a pokie called “Gold Express” before moving on to “777 Deluxe,” largely because the latter had a big jackpot on tap.

The games were…fine. I didn’t enjoy either one of them as much as I had “Luck of Tiger,” to be honest, but that might just be personal bias.

It felt like just another pokies site after a few minutes. I’m sure my opinion would change if I hit one of those jackpots, but no luck there (yet).

What I didn’t like: 

That’s Joe. I think he made the site himself.

The site feels somewhat thrown together. While it doesn’t overwhelm you with options like Casinonic does, it also feels a bit…light.

While the lack of options is refreshing at first, I quickly began to understand that it might be a big negative in the long run. It wouldn’t take long to run through the offerings here.

The non-pokies section was just as unimpressive. It feels like they were just checking boxes — roulette? Check. Blackjack? Sure. It didn’t have the same thoughtful, curated feel I got from the first site I tried.

As for the bonus, it’s very similar to Casinonic’s: $5,000 over multiple deposits, although this one did offer 450 free spins (also over multiple deposits).

The spins are a nice touch, but they wouldn’t be enough to bring me back.

Check out Joe Fortune here

Last on My List – Ignition

• Games tested: Crash of Dragons, $1/$2 No-Limit Texas Hold Em, Jacks or Better, Double Double Bonus Poker
• Hours spent testing: 3
• Bonus claimed: AU$3,000 sign-up bonus
• How I did: Down $80

I was expecting more of the same with the last site on my list, Ignition, but I found that it excelled in some of the areas that the other two casinos lacked.

Namely: the non-pokies selection.

To be sure, there are plenty of slots you can play here as well, but the site seems more focused on table games and other fun options. It also has a full-fledged poker room, which is a rarity these days.

What I liked:

So many blackjack tables.

I started off with the pokies, just to be consistent. “Crash of Dragons” was fun, but not exactly earth-shattering.

One thing I did appreciate in the casino section, though: the fact that there are hot drop jackpots here. If you’re not familiar with the concept, hot drop games have jackpots that are guaranteed to pay out within a certain timeframe (usually 24 hours to a week).

After I was done with the pokies, I decided to check out the poker room. It was surprisingly hopping for a Sunday afternoon, and I sat down at a $1/2 NLHE table immediately.

The game was juicier than I expected — not quite back to the gold mine of the early 2000s, but not a shark-infested sea, either. I played tight for about 45 minutes before shoving a few hands just for fun. Sadly, my 73 off-suit was called by AK of spades and I lost my stack.

They have a ton of tournaments running round-the-clock as well, but I didn’t have the time to sit through one of those. There were certainly plenty of options at all limits, though.

To cap off my time, I explored the table games section, and the variety there was amazing. They had over 100 options between the regular casino and live dealer section. These games were truly different from one another as well, not just 50 different copies of the same blackjack table.

What I didn’t like:

Exhibit A on why you always read the fine print.

While the poker action was fairly juicy, the interface seems stuck in the past. It’s truly garish, although easy enough to use on both mobile and desktop.

I was split on the bonus. At $3,000, it’s considerably less than what you’d find at Casinonic or Joe Fortune. On the other hand, it only has a 25x playthrough requirement, so it’s easier to earn.

However, I ultimately listed it in the “didn’t like” section because it’s split evenly between the poker room and casino. This is great if you’re a well-rounded gambler like myself, but specialists might feel a bit cheated.

See the difference at Ignition for yourself

My Verdict: Comparing the Three Australian Online Casinos I Tried

I didn’t have time to try every online casino available in Australia (there are way more than you think). Still, from what I’ve heard talking to people around here, the three I played at are a pretty good representative sample.

Based on my time playing on each site, here’s how I would rank them:

Best for Pokies: Casinonic

To be honest, the sites were pretty close in this category, which is to be expected — pokies are the big moneymaker for any casino, so it’s where they focus most of their time.

But Casinonic had more options, and I had the most fun there. “Luck of Tiger” was a blast, and I could’ve spent hours playing it.

I barely even scratched the surface of what’s available, either. They have pokies tournaments which look like a lot of fun, as well as special bonuses for slots players every week.

I wasn’t as impressed by their table games, but if you like spinning the reels, my advice is to check out Casinonic first.

Best for Everything Else: Ignition

You can play pokies at Ignition as well, and they had a couple I liked, but it was their general casino offerings that stood out to me.

Like blackjack? There’s dozens of tables, including a ton of live dealer games. It’s not just table after table of the same thing, either; they have unique variations like Zappit blackjack, perfect pairs, super 7…it’s a long list.

There’s just as many roulette options, plus games like baccarat, andar bahar, craps, and more.

Not only that, but they have a full-fledged poker room that had excellent traffic when I checked it out. I only played for a bit, but from what I saw, there’s action at all stakes, plus some big money tournaments.

That could honestly get me in trouble every time Rounders comes on TV.

Good Site, But a Step Below the Other Two: Joe Fortune

Look, Joe Fortune isn’t a bad casino, and if I’d played there first maybe I’d have a different view of it. But it just doesn’t really do anything the other two online casinos don’t do better.

They have pokies, but not on par with Casinonic. The table game options aren’t as extensive as Ignition’s, and there’s no poker room at all.

They do have some decent rewards, such as a $5,000 welcome package with 450 free spins and a weekly deposit match, but I didn’t see the point of grinding out a bonus at a site that wasn’t as much fun as the competition.

Diving Into the Data: How the Sites Compare

While I’ve shared my opinions on these online casinos in Australia so far, it might be helpful to see some actual data on these sites as well. After I was done playing, I went back and did a little research on each site to see how they stacked up in certain categories, such as game selection and bonus offers.

I was interested to see whether the data would confirm my impressions of each casino. See for yourself how it shook out below.

Game Selection Comparison

As I thought, Casinonic led the pack with over 1,000 pokies. Ignition follows with over 400, while Joe Fortune brings up the rear (but it does have a few machines with big jackpots).

Ignition stands out in the table game department, with over 100 different options. Casinonic boasts 76, while Joe Fortune only offers 59.

When we turn to specialty titles, Ignition clocks in with 62, Joe Fortune offers 49, and Casinonic only has a handful.

So, as I suspected, Casinonic reigns supreme in the pokies department, while Ignition takes the lead in everything else. It’s always nice to be right every once in a while.

Bonuses and Promotions Comparison

Looking at the bonuses each site offers was interesting. For some reason, I had thought Casinonic had a better bonus than Joe Fortune when I played there, but they’re basically identical — except Joe Fortune tacks on 450 free spins.

The offer at Ignition is much different than what you’ll find at the other two. While it’s only about half as big, it’s also twice as easy to earn, so it’s basically a wash.

One thing to keep in mind, though: half of it is reserved for poker, so if you don’t play cards, the value plummets.

Beyond the initial offers, Casinonic gives you daily reload bonuses, so you can always get a deal when topping off your account. Ignition and Joe Fortune have these too, but they’re only available on a weekly basis.

Ultimately, there are some pretty clear advantages and drawbacks to each site’s offer, to the point where I can’t really pick one as the “best” here. Better to just decide on which site you prefer and take the bonus they offer (or take multiple offers if you can’t make up your mind).

Customer Support Comparison

Customer support is a lot like a parachute: you hope you won’t need it, but if you do, it had better do its job.

I reached out to support at each of the online casinos I visited. They’re all pretty similar: each offers a 24/7 live chat feature, which is definitely good news for players.

The reps I spoke to were all friendly and knowledgeable, and I felt like I could get a problem solved pretty easily if need be.

As far as response speed is concerned, Casinonic’s live chat representatives are the leaders, providing helpful answers in just a few seconds.

New to Australian Online Casinos? Here’s My Advice

If you’re just getting started with online gambling like I was, here are a few things I would advise to make the process go smoothly. Some of these I was warned about by locals ahead of time, while others I had to discover the hard way.

Know What You Want to Play Going In

Visiting an online casino site can be just as overwhelming as walking onto a casino floor for the first time. There are games everywhere — and most Australian online casinos don’t really do a whole lot to help you get oriented.

Rather than just show up and hope to find something that looks fun, have an idea of what you want to play ahead of time. This could be as general as knowing you want to play roulette or blackjack, or as detailed as having a specific pokie in mind.

The search function and categorization options at these sites are much more useful if you know where you’re trying to go.

Have Your Information Handy

These casinos don’t ask a ton of personal questions (and even fewer if you deposit with crypto), but you’ll still need to have some info handy.

I’m assuming you know your address and phone number — but to cash out, you might need to provide your ID and some sort of proof of residency. It varies from site to site, but just be prepared either way.

The faster you can get your account completely set up, the faster they’ll be able to get your winnings to you down the line.

Set Limits

There are all sorts of tricks that brick-and-mortar casinos use to get you to gamble longer (ever wonder why you’ve never seen a clock in a casino?). While online casinos are better in this regard, it’s still easy to get lost in the action.

When I sat down to play my first pokie at Casinonic, I only planned to play for fifteen minutes or so. Next thing I knew, an hour and a half had flown by!

It was time well spent, as I had a ton of fun, but it’s also easy to see how people get lost in these sites. Set limits for yourself ahead of time, whether that’s a set amount you’re willing to lose or a set amount of time you’re allowing yourself to play.

Basic Info About Online Casinos in Australia

If you’re just getting started with these games like I was, here are a few things you should know about the online gambling scene in general before you begin.

They Have All Your Favorite Games (and Then Some)

I feel confident saying that every game you’ve ever played in a brick-and-mortar casino is available somewhere on the internet.

I only played on the three Australian casino sites mentioned, but I did a quick perusal of some other leading casinos, and the game selection is truly astounding. Thousands of pokies, more table games than you can count, and all sorts of specialty options I’d never even heard of.

Whether you like playing classic three-reel slots or crazy new games like Aviator, you’re not likely to get bored at an online casino, that’s for sure.

Banking Options Can Be a Bit Overwhelming

Many sites accept literally dozens of payment methods, from traditional cards like Visa and MasterCard to a variety of cryptocurrencies. Having so many options is a bit overwhelming at first, honestly.

Even more confusing, they don’t all have the same limits or withdrawal times, and some may have processing fees. It can feel like having to do a research paper just to fund your account.

I used crypto to play, largely because I’m traveling and it’s just easier. The process was extremely simple, but I’m experienced with paying for things with Bitcoin.

I’ve heard from the locals that they like to use PayID to play at online casinos, but I haven’t had a chance to try it out. It’s good to know that it’s an option, though.

My advice would be to stick to the payment options you’re most familiar with, and be sure to read the fine print to make sure there aren’t any nasty surprises (like processing fees or 15 day payout periods) waiting for you.

There Are Almost as Many Bonuses as There Are Games

Every online casino I saw has a welcome bonus, which is a special offer for brand new players when they open up an account. These are usually deposit matches, which basically means they’ll match however much you deposit (I even saw some sites matching at 150% and higher).

Many also have ongoing offers for regular players called “reload bonuses.” These can be deposit matches, free spin offers, cashback promos, and more.

These offers are a great way to pad your bankroll and give you more time to play, so I recommend taking advantage of them. Just be aware that they’re not quite as generous as they appear.

For one thing, they come with wagering requirements, which is the number of times you have to wager the deposit amount before you can cash it in. For example, if a $1,000 bonus has a 40x wagering requirement, you’d have to put the equivalent of $40,000 in play before you could cash out.

That can take a while, obviously. Check the wagering requirements before you sign up, as they can make some bonuses very difficult to earn. If the requirements are over 50x, I’d give the site a miss.

Also, there can be other surprises lurking in the fine print, like expiry periods or restrictions on the type of payment method you can use to fund your account. As always, read the terms and conditions before signing up.

Signing Up is (Usually) Pretty Easy

I didn’t have any issue signing up at any of the online casinos in Australia I tried; it was a straightforward process that only took a minute or two.

However, the sites varied in terms of the information they asked for, and you may need to provide even more info when you try to cash out.

This is due to Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, which are in place to prevent money laundering. Of course, if you’re not laundering money, they’re just annoying — but again, the processes rarely take more than a few minutes to complete.

My Final Thoughts About Australian Online Casinos

Playing pokies and other casino games was honestly more fun than I thought it would be. I thought I would miss the hustle and bustle of the actual casino, and while there was a brief adjustment period, I actually found playing the games to be just as exciting as it is in person.

Plus, it was nice to miss a lot of the other little annoyances that come with going to a brick-and-mortar casino, like rowdy drunks, cigarette smoke, and seeing your favorite machine get monopolized by a granny on a three-day bender.

Is online gambling perfect? No, not yet — not by a long shot. The sites are still a bit confusing, you’re a slave to the strength of your wi-fi signal, and I can see how the ease of access would be dangerous to players with gambling problems.

For everyone else, though, these sites are definitely a fun alternative to a day at the casino.

I can see what the fuss is about — and I have a sneaking suspicion I’ll keep playing online once I’m back home.

Australian players have the privilege of exploring plenty of online casino sites, but top priority should be given to the best the land has to offer.

FAQs About These Casinos

I kept a log of the questions I had when I first got started playing at these sites, and then I did a little research to see what other people were commonly asking. Here’s my two cents on the most frequently asked questions I found:

What is the Best Online Casino in Australia?

First off, I only played at three — but based on my conversations with some gamblers here in Australia, they’re three of the biggest and most popular sites in the country.

Based on my experiences, I would say Casinonic is the best online casino for pokies, while Ignition is the spot for everything else.

Am I missing something? Maybe. But I don’t think you can go too far wrong playing at those two sites whenever you get the itch to gamble.

Are Online Casinos in Australia Safe?

I had this concern as well, so I did a little digging. The short answer is yes, they’re safe, while the longer answer is yes, they’re safe — as long as you pick the right ones.

Basically, a site needs to be licensed by a reputable gaming authority and have up-to-date cybersecurity software. Virtually every top site will meet these requirements with ease.

As with regular casinos, though, use your own judgment. Just like you wouldn’t go into a shady casino that’s filled with surly degenerates, skip any sites that set off alarm bells when you visit.

Can I Get Free Spins at Online Casinos in Australia?

Yes, most online casinos in Australia offer free spins. However, the manner in which these spins are credited will vary.

Many sites offer them as a sort of “sweetener” for their deposit bonus, so you’ll have to pony up some cash to get those spins (hard to call them “free” at that point).

Others may give you free spins without requiring a deposit first, but these are harder to find. They may be a perk for VIPs in many cases.

Which Payment Methods Do Online Casinos in Australia Accept?

Whoo boy, this is the part of my journey that surprised me the most.

You can pay in so many different ways at Australian online casinos. Debit cards, e-wallets, cryptocurrencies…you name it, they probably accept it.

All these methods are generally safe, but they may have other restrictions that make them more or less attractive, like varying payout times, the presence of transaction fees, or special bonuses.

It’s impossible to pick one “best” payment type, but I used crypto (Bitcoin, specifically) without any issues.

Are Online Casinos in Australia Mobile-Friendly?

Yes — it is 2024, after all. These sites work just as well on a mobile device as your computer. In fact, many are perfect for tablets.

Can I Play Free Casino Games at Online Casinos in Australia?

Many sites do offer free (or “demo”) versions of their games, yes. It’s a great way to test out a site before playing, but personally, I found playing for free to be a bit empty.

Maybe that says more about me than it does the games, I dunno.

Got a suggestion for where Valentina should travel next, or what she should do on her adventures? Reach out to her at [email protected] — she’s always looking for something new to try!