Players in Australia don’t have the luxury of depending on a local regulator when they want to find a good live dealer lobby. This is down to the unique way the federal government, states, and territories deal with online gambling sites. It’s up to each jurisdiction to regulate, tax, and license online gaming sites but so far, none have chosen to license any Australian-facing online casinos or live dealer lobbies.
Since there is no “local” licensing available, operators have to set themselves up offshore and offer games at considerable risk. Operators who target Australians or offer gambling games online can find themselves in civil or criminal trouble for breaching the gambling laws – players are free to do as they please.
Players are free to join offshore sites – and they do – since there are no other options if a player wants to play live games online.
Most of the sites that are still open to Australians are either licensed in Curacao, not licensed at all (very rare), or they are licensed in an obscure jurisdiction with no real regulatory powers.
Online operators who answer to regulators in Curacao are a mixed lot with a variety of business ethics. Reliable review sites, player forums, and experience are some of the only things Australian players can rely on when choosing a place to play offshore.
The Curaçao Gaming Control Board (CGCB) is reworking its regulatory framework so that the former system of Master Licensors and sub-licensees is replaced by a single issuing authority. This should make it easier for players to find a reliable gaming site simply by verifying the licensor seal with a simple click on it.
The CGCB is a member in good standing of the International Association of Gaming Regulators and has been issuing online gaming licenses since 1993.
All licensed and certified online live dealer lobbies offer fair games.