The banking and gambling industries in Australia are covertly intertwined. They mutually contribute towards the optimal operational and existence of each other. It is through banks that deposits and withdrawals are processed. The overall banking system in Australia is thus an essential link to customers. The connection is illustrated by the vast number of transfers through visa and debit card payments and direct bank transfers.

The importance of banking credits and debits has even gone higher with the increased embrace of online casinos. Nowadays, payments from banks are seamless to your casino account. This has led to the possible sliding into addictive gambling, especially among gamblers who do not adhere to self-control mechanisms as spelled out by respective casinos.

Stemming from this, Bank Australia, a consumer-owned financial institution, has announced plans to ban the use of credit cards for gambling purposes. With the new measure expected to come into force by December 1st, this bank argues that its decision is based on empirical data from the market. Research conducted on the subject matter shows that many of its customers believe that credit cards should not be used for gambling purposes.

The decision was largely based on the bank's responsible banking policy, limiting lending of money for gambling to online casinos or other related businesses that derive revenues from sports betting or poker machines. This decision has already seen green light from the Australian Banking Association, and it is expected to rally other members of the association into buying the idea.

Being a Part of Anti-Gaming Measures

Australia is taking proactive anti-gaming measures that are mainly targeting unlicensed and illegal operators. Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is expected to execute these measures regarding the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001. Among other things, ACMA works in conjunction with internet service providers to block access to foreign casinos that have not been licensed. By limiting gambling to licensed operators, Australian authorities have their eyes set on the protection of gamblers.

As part of Australia's wider anti-gaming measures, there are broad legal regulations that are overseen by various state bodies. For instance, across states, there are bodies like The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Gambling and Racing Commission, Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission, and The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, to mention just a few. These bodies regulate the market, providing a safer environment for pokie gaming.

These concerted efforts towards a legal and secure pokie gaming environment have led to pokie gaming popularity in Australia. According to 2018 gaming market statistics, around 21% of the Australians played pokie games. The latest developments point to increasing figures with over $9.3 billion in revenues from the gambling industry in 2019.

While pokies' popularity is rising, the appetite for free online pokies no download is also peaking. There are free pokies online and real money with no registration requirements. Enjoyable with free spins and no deposit offers, players can leverage free credits across gaming platforms as they play the best of Australian games.

Do Users Need to Withdraw Funds?

There is no such cause of alarm to prompt the withdrawal of funds from online casinos. Nonetheless, ACMA points out casinos that have a red flag tag on them. It is deposited in these casinos that clients need to withdraw their funds from. For example, the government-led initiative has earmarked casinos Fortune Clock casino advising players to withdraw funds or run the risk of losing it altogether.

Even in legit casinos, withdrawal of funds from an online casino is a process that may come with some restrictions. This is meant to tone down the notion that gambling is a money-making venture. Some of the limits touch on

• Verification processes. This measure is meant to protect gamers from possible online fraud. Before withdrawing funds, Aussie players must verify their account by using any of the following documents.

  1. Debit card used to fund your casino account. A clear and legible copy of the card used to top up your account is a requirement. For ultimate security, eight middle digits on the front page and the 3-digit code at the back must be crossed out.

  2. Address proof. It could be in the form of a recent utility bill or credit card statement. It must bear your full names and the physical address as listed under your casino account.

  3. Photo ID- A valid personal identification document like an ID, a passport, or driving license, is also used to verify a gambling account owner.

• The time lag between actual withdrawal and processing. When you make a withdrawal request, casinos take time to process the transaction. This is a security measure that averts possible credits to wrong accounts. When the casino verifies all the information, the transfer is approved. There are VIP players who enjoy faster processing within 24 hours. Credit cards and e-wallets also enjoy faster withdrawal times within a day. Bank transfers could take up to 5 days to complete the transfer. There are reverse withdrawals/withdrawal cancellations whereby casinos give you a certain period to reverse your request in case of any claims.

These are some of the withdrawal policies that make pokie gaming quite enjoyable. Apart from the element of security as underscored by verification processes, there is convenience. The use of e-wallets like Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, or POLi ensures that you can timelessly withdraw funds from your account whenever you feel like. In case you want to reverse the withdrawal, there is a provision for this across casinos. Besides, instant payment methods have made it possible for mobile-based gaming as you do not have to travel to physical banks for your account to reflect credits.

Finding Alternatives with Free Online Pokies

Online pokies appeal to diverse gamers. From classics to recently released pokies, Australians have a great basket to choose from. Here are some reasons why Australians love playing pokies

• They are optimized for mobile gaming as they come with HTML5, which does not require downloading as games are accessible through flash players.

• Real money pokies come with a possibility of winning real cash, including top jackpots.

• There is an option for free pokies, which are playable with no money put into risk.

• You can enjoy a range of deposit bonuses, no deposit bonuses, and free spins while playing pokies.

As beneficial as they seem, you ought to determine whether your chosen casino is fully licensed before registering for a real money account. Once satisfied that the casino is authorized, you can use the following methods to deposit and withdraw money.

PaysafeCard- This is a prepaid voucher exclusively used for making an instant deposit to Australian online casinos.

Neteller- It is an e-wallet for making deposits and withdrawing from Australian casinos. Deposits are instant, while withdrawals may take between 1 to 3 days.

PayPal- Another e-wallet used to make deposits to Australian casinos without sharing any of your bank or credit card details. Deposits are instant, while withdrawals could be processed within a day if your account is fully verified.

Neosurf- This is another method of funding your online casino account in Australia. It is an exclusive deposit voucher whose credits are processed instantly.

Future Actions

The recent rise in gambling expenditures has seen Australia remain among the top gambling countries in the world. The government and other stakeholders are taking bold steps to ensure that unscrupulous operators do not infiltrate the industry. With the Bank of Australia has banned the use of credit cards for gambling, it is highly likely that other banking institutions will follow the path as they try to limit the usage of money lent for gambling.