While the casino attracts a global audience, the management are focusing their attention on one particular demographic; Chinese casino players. Visitor numbers from the country are expected to grow exponentially, and not just because Chinese players have taken a renewed interest in the Barrier Reef. Direct flights between China and Cairns began in October 2012 and Cairns Casino is already seeing the benefits. With such an obvious growth opportunity, the casino wants to make itself into a truly essential destination.

The plans to appeal to the new customers are already well underway and see all aspects of the casino taking on a distinctly Asian flavour. Cairns Casino wants to become one of Australia’s leading providers of traditionally Asian table games and is focusing on ensuring that staff live up to the expectations of the regular clientele. Part of the appeal of the casino is also the all-round dining and entertainment facilities and Reef already plans to ensure that the complex incorporates the largest and best Chinese restaurant in Cairns.

The developments were spurred on by great results in the first quarter of 2013, the first full reporting period since the direct flights commenced. The period saw the casino’s best ever Chinese New Year tourism period, with the knock-on effect of one of their best performances in the table gaming sector to date. Allan Tan, the Chief Executive of Reef Hotel Casino, stated that general casino activity was holding up well despite the continuing challenging economic conditions, with only the conference facilities at the complex noticing any severe drop offs in business.

Wherever you happen to be visiting the casino from, it is a great place to enjoy some top class gaming entertainment in a land based environment. You can read more about the venue in our aforementioned recent review, and also discover our top tips for recreating the Cairns Casino experience online.

The graphics on Stash of the Titans are definitely what will first catch the player’s eye, but the underlying gameplay is just as good as pokie fans have come to expect from Microgaming. There are a modest yet accessible twenty win lines available and all types of players can get in on the action with spin bets ranging from $0.01 up to $40. A top jackpot of 50,000 coins definitely rounds off the basic action, but there is plenty to look forward to from the additional features. The Stash of the Titans logo is the wild card and doubles not only wins, but also itself. This means that a win that contains two wild cards will pay out at four times the normal rate. Multipliers are also the order of the day during the main bonus round. Three or more Medusa symbols activate fifteen free spins and every prize won during the round is also multiplied by four.

Whether you have a soft spot for Ancient Greek history or simply want to try one of Microgaming’s leading pokies, Stash of the Titans is worth a few minutes of anyone’s time and you can play it straight away here at Online Casino Australia. If you want to play for real money we recommend you the famous All Slots Casino or the Platinum Play Casino.

Beneath the theme, the action is of typically high quality. Players can enjoy up to fifteen win lines, which is somewhat modest for a Net Entertainment poker machine but still plenty for most players. High rollers – of which there are plenty when playing here at Free Pokies – can still make the most out of all of the winning opportunities with a maximum line bet of $2.50. With a top coin jackpot of 50,000, that means that there is always plenty to be won. Making the most out of the win lines often involves the wild card, and that is represented here by the roller coaster, which also helpfully doubles prize values when in play. Players can also find scatters, with three or more awarding fifteen free spins, each with a three times multiplier. As one of the most lucrative free spin rounds available, it is definitely worth a shot for any kind of player. Try Thrill Spin for yourself now, right here and completely free of charge at Online Casino Australia or play for real money at ComeOn Casino or the CasinoLuck, two of the leading gaming choices in Australia..

First up this month is Arctic Agents, which adds a snowy touch and character driven storyline on top of a fairly simple betting system. A choice of between one and nine win lines is by no means ground breaking but as one of the simpler new releases, it is perfect for players that just want an introductory pokie without much to keep track of.

Next is Bridezilla, which happens to be our own favourite of the new releases thanks to the great manga style graphics and a storyline to match. Someone at Microgaming is definitely loved up at the moment as Burning Desire and others have highlighted, although we dare say that the relationship may have gone sour as the bride in question is actually a scaly monster with destructive intentions! This is all wrapped up on top of the 243 Ways to Win system and is definitely one for the list.

Bust the Bank utilises the same winning system as Bridezilla and will be a definite crowd pleaser when it comes to fans of the all-time classic Break Da Bank, also from Microgaming. Great graphics and repeatable free spins make the pokie stand out in the crowd and it is destined to be a sure fire hit over the next few months.

Galacticons sees the developer foraying outside our own atmosphere and for once the aliens on the reels are actually friendly. There is no egg hunting or laser beams in this game, just cold, hard cash prizes that once again make use of the 243 Ways to Win system.

Mugshot Madness is the latest game to feature a cast of animal characters with human personalities, although unlike the aliens in Galacticons they are definitely not all that friendly. A nice and simple twenty win lines matched with an innovative multiplier system during the bonus round mean that this game will definitely find a loyal audience.

Finally, the last of the new releases for May adopts a slightly unusual Native American theme: The Mystic Dreams online pokie. It will come as no surprise that this is the fourth of this month’s new games to utilise the 243 System with the highlight definitely being the potential to see a 24 times multiplier on any spin during the bonus round.

You can find out more about each of these games in our dedicated reviews linked throughout this post, including how to play and what special features to look out for. They are all available now at your favourite Aussie Microgaming casinos. If you do not have a current favourite then we would suggest trying Platinum Play and Casino Mate for some great bonuses and a growing line-up of games, with new releases added immediately upon launch. Be sure to check back here at Online Casino Australia next month for the inevitable addition of a new batch of Microgaming pokies.

Senator Richard Di Natale, who represents Victoria, is the man behind the calls. He said, “We don’t allow online poker in Australia for Australian people under the Interactive Gambling Act. Apple has an obligation to take down apps that are against Australian law and they should do it.”

While political debate is far outside our area of expertise, there are a couple of conclusions that can be drawn from the statement. First of all, the Interactive Gambling Act was finalised in 2001, before apps and even smartphones were anywhere near as commonplace as they are nowadays. This means that there is no specific part of the documentation dealing with whether the App Store constitutes advertising. There is no question that prominent positioning within the Store itself is the kind of promotion that money simply cannot buy, but with no means of paying to enhance such a position, whether it qualifies as marketing within Australia is open to question. There is also the question surrounding whether Apple should be responsible for what is and is not available from a legal standpoint, particularly when international companies rarely take the Act into consideration. The answer to that question is made all the more difficult by the fact that Apple often takes local laws into consideration when deciding where such apps can be distributed – they are freely available on the UK App Store while being blocked altogether on the US version, for example.

Apple is yet to officially respond to the statement from Senator Di Natale, although the implications for mobile players should the company agree could be far reaching. Fortunately, apps are not currently anywhere near being the dominant delivery mechanism for mobile casino gaming in Australia, with many of the biggest names offering their content directly through web browsers. If you are new to mobile casino gaming and want to get started, be sure to check out our dedicated and extensive mobile casino review section here at Online Casino Australia, containing everything that you need to know about the leading operators that are more than happy to accommodate Aussie players.

Smaller venues in the state will be offered two new choices under the proposals. They can choose to enter into the “major” category, which limits the number of machines on offer to sixty or alternatively the “minor” classification where the cap is set at twenty. The trade-off for the establishments themselves is that those that opt for the former will be subject to stricter regulations concerning their overall gaming operations, with the requirement of the addition of specific systems aimed at reducing problem gambling. “Minor” venues, on the other hand, would be expected to offer pokies as something of an incidental experience, alongside serving food and drinks for example. Both categories of venue would be expected to cap all of their pokies at $5 per spin regardless of the classification.

These new regulations apply only to smaller venues across South Australia and one establishment that would not be subject to either category is Adelaide Casino, although John Rau, the Deputy Premier of South Australia, has already stated that should the plans come into force then Adelaide Casino will become the most highly regulated in the country.

The news comes as Adelaide Casino itself is in the midst of expansion plans of its own and with no prescribed upper limit on the number of pokies available, is thought to be where many of those signing up to the new classifications will dispose of their own machines that take them over the limit. There are already plans in place for more than three hundred new pokies at the venue, although they are expected to push ahead with the plans for their high roller room whether they acquire the new machines from other local establishments or directly from the manufacturers.

As noted, John Rau is one of the driving forces behind the changes in the state and sees the reduction in the number of machines as crucial to reducing problem gambling. While he has no intentions of eliminating pokies from the state altogether, he would much rather see the poker machines being located in a smaller number of larger venues, with a reduction in the number of pokie establishments seen as being the key decision.

In something of an unusual scenario, the changes have received almost unanimous support. The Uniting Communities welfare organisation were pleased with the measures as they accept that pokies are part of the Aussie lifestyle but can be offered safely and with the availability of proper advice. The Australian Hotels Association looked upon the plans from a business perspective and even they could see the upside, praising the measures as being the ideal opportunity for venues that are looking to leave the gaming market altogether to do so without losing trade to competitors.

The one dissenting voice among the local community was Cameron Taylor, president of ClubsSA, the industry body that represents licenced sports clubs in the state. The points made are equally valid as he acknowledged that much of the money generated by pokies goes back into sports clubs in the area.

These recent developments follow commitments as far back as 2004 where Parliament set forth plans to reduce the number of gaming machines in the state. The current changes are expected to be fully implemented by 2017 and will see another 800 pokies removed from the state towards the projected total of 3,000 machines.

As with all games in the Legends range, the cabinets offer players the choice of two games in a single cabinet, with both an updated version of the original classic and a brand new deluxe version of the same title on offer and completely separate. The range has been hugely popular around Australia, not least due to the fact that the games bestowed with the honour of becoming certified Legends are some of the biggest of all time, with Queen of the Nile’s Legend cabinet undoubtedly one of the most popular around. 5 Dragons has received the very same treatment in the past with both the classic version and 5 Dragons Deluxe already on offer to demanding players – you can find online alternatives to both of these classics in our dedicated Aristocrat Alternatives section here at Online Casino Australia.

One of the high points for fans of the Legends series, and both Buffalo and Timber Wolf in particular, is that even the classic versions of the pokies have been revamped to improve both the average win and the frequency with which players can reach the respective bonus rounds. There is nothing quite like playing the same game with better rewards and so the series as a whole was always likely to be an instant hit. The bonuses are true Aristocrat style offerings, with free spins and multipliers abound, together with a range of wild cards and other extras. Both games also form part of the Xtra Reel Power series, meaning that each spin offers an outstanding 1,024 Ways to Win, which is by far the most comprehensive equivalent of win lines around.

Remember to stay tuned here at Online Casino Australia for all of the news surrounding Aristocrat games and keep up to date with the best online opportunities for Aussie players in our dedicated Aristocrat Alternatives section of the site.

The Rockets noted in the game’s name are of course pivotal to the action, with the basic premise of being the wild card symbol. However, they are also one of the most impressively animated symbols and come to life whenever they appear on any of the three middle reels. They either appear pointing up or down, indicating which way they will fire and add to the prizes. Basically, if it appears in the middle of one of the reels pointing upwards, then both the middle symbol and the one above also become wild, meaning that it is certainly possible to turn the entire reel wild. There are also free spins on offer, with a maximum of fifty games if five scatter symbols appear in view.

Wild Rockets is the perfect introduction to the world of Net Entertainment pokies, but also a truly enjoyable game for any kind of player. You can test the waters completely free right here on this page, or go right ahead and play for real money at ComeOn Casino or the CasinoLuck, two of the leading gaming choices in Australia.

While the game may give the impression of being a futuristic video game, the action comes thick and fast before even getting to any of the bonus rounds. The wild symbol is animated in impressive detail but also expands at some of the most opportune moments. It can spin in on up to three reels at a time, meaning a full nine wild cards on a single spin. This naturally makes for huge wins, although these are small compared to the prizes that players can scoop on the bonus rounds. First up is the regular free spins game, which is launched when the player spins in three or more of the blue scatter symbols. However, there is also the Adrenaline round, launched with the aptly named Adrenaline scatters. On these games, there are only four of the most valuable symbols on the reels, including the hugely valuable Diamond. With the expanding wilds still in play, players can expect a win on virtually every spin.

You really need to see Thief to believe it and you can do just that here on this page using virtual credits. If everything that the game has to offer proves to be to your liking then you can go right ahead and play Thief for real cash at ComeOn Casino or the CasinoLuck, two of the leading gaming choices in Australia.

The game itself is as feature packed as players have come to expect from all of the latest Microgaming releases, with an impressive graphical veneer serving to enhance the action and bring the Microgaming range up to speed with releases from other developers. The gameplay highlight is once again the 243 Ways to Win system, which takes the pressure off players when it comes to determining win lines and other bets and instead allows them to cover more combinations than ever before. This basic facet of the gameplay is backed up by plenty more action to keep players interested, including the wild symbol and free spins, which can be among the most lucrative around as more spins are awarded for more scatters in view. One on each reel, for example, can award a lucrative 24 free spins.

Whether Tiger Moon appeals as an online alternative of Choy Sun Doa, or you simply want to check out one of the newest Microgaming pokies around, you can do just that here at Online Casino Australia completely free of charge. The most reliable online casinos have already added the game to their range if you want to play for real, including All Slots Casino and 32red Casino, both of which have been reviewed in full here on the site.