Online Betting in Australia

Australia flag

Australia has a long history of sports betting and is one of the countries that has regulated sports betting more than many others. Despite that, sports betting remains a favoured hobby among Australian punters. Let’s take a look into Australian betting sites.

Recommended Football Betting Sites for Australia Players

1

Bet365

Welcome Bonus 15% up to £100
Visit New customers only
2

Unibet

Welcome Bonus 400% up to £40
Visit New Customers Only. 18+. T&Cs Apply.
3

Betway

Welcome Bonus 100% up to £10
Visit New Customers Only. 18+. T&Cs Apply.
4

888sport

Welcome Bonus 300% up to £30
Visit New customers only
5

BetVictor

Welcome Bonus 600% up to £30
Visit New customers only

Legality of sports betting in Australia

Horse racing was introduced to Australia by the British and has been around since the early 1800s. Of course, betting on horse races was introduced at the same time and it remains one of the favourite Australia sports to this day.

Australia is also one of the countries that has had a national lottery since the 19th century, though proper regulation of many forms of gambling was only introduced in the 20th century.

In Australia, there are national gambling laws as well as gambling laws for each state or territory. In fact, each state or territory has its own gambling jurisdiction, ensuring utmost safety to punters and players.

Australia has long since regulated land-based sports betting and land-based casinos, which enjoy a lot of popularity.

Online betting and gambling has been regulated since 2001 through the Interactive Gaming Act. It allowed offshore betting companies to offer their products to customers in Australia without necessarily licensing them.

In 2016, an amendment to the Gaming Act was passed, which banned online casinos, whilst legalising online sportsbooks but prohibiting in-play betting because betting live via mobile sportsbooks was considered a social problem.

In Australia, in-play betting today is only possible via the phone, but not online or via mobile betting apps.

What is different about sports betting in Australia

When you think of sports in Australia, you’ll be thinking of rugby, cricket, horse racing, tennis and motorsport. These are undoubtedly the biggest sports in the country and those that Australian punters like to bet on most frequently.

A sportsbook catering to and welcome of Australian punters therefore needs to have strong markets for all these sports. All the main events need to be covered and all the Australian events (a lot of which are main events anyway) should be covered as well.

Additionally, football (soccer), American Football, basketball and golf are popular as well as e-Sports, which has many fans in Australia.

Australia betting sites should also have a wide variety of bonus offers available as Australian punters really like their promotions and bonuses, which should have fair conditions and low wagering requirements.

It goes without saying that Australian Dollars should be an accepted currency and the regular deposit methods should be available, which includes credit cards, e-Wallets and instant banking.

Customer service should also be available around the clock since Australia is quite literally on the other side of the planet of most European betting sites, many of which offering their services to Australian punters.

Best Australian Betting Sites

Australia’s gambling and betting landscape is vast and very well-regulated. This is a country where betting is discussed frequently in politics, including its regulation and prevention of problematic gambling behaviour.

The best Australian betting sites have tough criteria to adhere to. Before we recommend any betting site, we will look into the following aspects:

  • Trustworthiness and licensing: Does the betting site have a good reputation? Do players like it here? Are withdrawals safe and secure? Is the operator licensed through an Australian regulator or at least international regulators?
  • Bonuses and promotions: Do players from Australia get to use bonuses and promotions? Are the terms fair? What are the wagering requirements?
  • Variety of markets and competitive odds: Are favourite Australian sports covered in the sportsbook? What are the odds like? Are they competitive?
  • Banking: Which deposit and withdrawal options are available? Can I deposit using Australian Dollar? Are convenient banking options available?
  • Customer service and usability of the site: How is the customer service? When is it available? Can I get the help I need? Is the sportsbook easy to use or confusing? How is the overall usability of the betting site?

The sites we recommend below fulfil all these criteria, though our list is by no means comprehensive. We include some of the best international sites out there, but keep in mind that our reviews are written for a general audience.

Which are the best betting sites in Australia?

  • Bet365

Bet365 is one of the best sportsbooks in the world. They are very well regulated not just in Europe and offer excellent odds on many sports. They are also the first place to go to for all your live streaming needs (even though live betting is not offered in Australia).

  • Unibet

Unibet has been around for over two decades and is considered one of the best bookmakers as well. They have a great offering of bonuses with fairer terms than you find elsewhere. Here you get competitive odds on a wide range of markets.

  • Betfair

If you are looking for a betting exchange in Australia, Betfair is the place to choose. They’re the most experienced betting exchange in the world, accept punters from Australia and offer excellent odds on all sports favoured by Australian punters.

Free Football Betting Tips

Sign up to our newsletter and receive daily FREE football betting tips and betting offers to your email!