Best betting sites in Australia

Australia is known for its love of sport, and with this passion comes a thriving betting industry. Choosing the right betting sites in Australia is crucial, but with many options available, it’s important to consider factors such as reputation, market diversity, odds, user experience and customer service.

The following betting sites in Australia, created by industry giants with a long-standing reputation as innovative newcomers, have proven to be reliable and committed to providing exceptional betting opportunities.

List of the best bookmakers in Australia

100€ in Bet Credits

Welcome Bonus Up to $580

$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback

100% deposit bonus up to $50

Bonus on first deposit up to 100%

List of safest bookmakers in Australia

  • 1xbet
  • 22bet
  • MegaPari
  • Betwinner
  • BC.Game

How is the bookmaker rating compiled?

With the Australia government re-legalising betting sites in Australia, local punters are protected by laws and regulators from most shady betting platforms. However, this does not mean that every available website offering online betting in Australia is good.

To determine which are the best sports betting sites in Australia, you need to consider several factors, and here are the main things we look at when testing and reviewing Australia betting sites.

  • All the best betting sites in Australia should be safe and legal. This is the most important thing to look for in any betting site you are going to sign up with, as keeping your money safe should be your number one priority.
  • In addition to safety, we also consider the quality of the betting odds and whether the Australia bookmakers we review have enough markets to bet on. Quality odds are important, but just as important is the customer’s ability to bet on whatever they like.
  • Website functionality is just as important, as you want the bookmaker’s website to run smoothly, without any issues. The same is true for all betting apps in Australia.
  • Added features such as live streaming and the availability of a betting app add a bonus point, although it’s fair to expect all the best Australia betting sites to have them. These features should be available even if you don’t play from mobile devices or don’t intend to bet on live matches.
  • Although not as important as the quality of the odds, betting bonuses and promotions such as free bets should not be ignored. Bonuses are of great value to punters, and all bookmakers with a solid bonus department tend to be great choices.
  • Finally, it is important to check the banking department, how many deposit and withdrawal options the bookmaker has, whether they have any fees and how fast they process payments. This isn’t such a big issue nowadays, but there is still a gap between bookmakers that do this well and those that don’t.

If you find a bookmaker that checks these marks, it’s fair to say that it’s one of the best sports betting sites in Australia. However, if you want to bet with the best odds, you should always register with more than one bookmaker’s office.

Presence of no-deposit gifts in the BC

Nowadays, almost all BCs are ready to offer no-deposit indulgences for their clients. The maximum size of the gift depends on a number of factors. First of all, this indicator is influenced by the importance of the bookmaker.

This gift is provided for a reason so it is important to understand the rules of a certain gift.

Bonuses are most often awarded in cash, which is really convenient for users. Money can be used for betting on popular sporting events. Withdraw funds at once will not be possible, as it is necessary to fulfil all the conditions that are prescribed in the rules.

If you encounter difficulties in the process of making bets on the site of the bookmaker’s office, you need to contact the support service. Specialists are able to quickly solve common problems.

Licence from the Gambling Commission

To answer this question effectively, it is necessary to first understand the legal status of gambling in Australia. For quite a long time gambling has functioned as an unregulated sector of the economy. This, as well as the promise of making quick money, has increased the number of active players in Australia, making the country prominent in the list of top gambling countries. The introduction of remote online betting has further increased the number of people involved in the industry. This prompted the government to take action and the Interactive Gambling Act was passed in 2001.

This Act was designed to curb the rapid growth of the online betting community. Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, it became illegal to offer any form of interactive online betting for real money to any Australian resident. It also became illegal to advertise any form of online betting and gambling services targeted at the Australian population. However, the wording of this piece of legislation left a gap that offshore bookmakers took advantage of, as they were essentially still able to cater to the Australian market. It also led to Australian-registered companies leaving the market for other countries to avoid being prosecuted for serving Australians.

In 2016, the government realised its blunders with the previous law, and an amendment was introduced to make it clear that any form of interactive online gambling was illegal. By introducing these conditions, the law made not only online casino betting illegal, but also in-play sports betting, which was also categorised as interactive online gambling. The amendment also made it difficult for even offshore betting companies to operate here, as it gave the government the power to report such companies to their home countries for prosecution. Local internet service providers have also been instructed to block access to such betting sites.

Thus, under Australian law, it is illegal for any company to provide interactive online gambling services such as online casino games, online poker and even real-time sports betting. But this does not shift the responsibility to you as a player. Thus, you cannot be held liable for accessing such services and placing real money bets. On the other hand, pre-match sports betting in the country has remained largely untouched. Operators have shifted their focus to offering exclusive online bookmakers for Australian markets, not including online casinos, which is the norm in other markets.

Coefficients and benefits

One of the most important things to consider before placing your bets is whether or not your Aussie bookmakers are offering the best payouts and odds for your bet. After all, depending on how much you’re betting, the odds could have a huge impact on how much you win if you’ve placed a winning bet.

In Australia, odds are usually displayed using a decimal system. This represents how much you would win for every $1 you have bet, favouring representing the payout over the profit. For example, a bet with odds of 5.0 will mean that if you win, you’ll take home $5 on a $1 bet.

  1. bet365 – 94.25% Payout Rate
  2. Bethard – 94.82% Payout Rate
  3. FansBet – 94.83% Payout Rate
  4. Unibet – 94.19% Payout Rate

The above bookies represent the best betting sites in Australia for payout rates. In order to discover this, we calculated the average payouts of the top Australian betting sites. Keep in mind that payout rates and bookmakers’ odds will differ from sport to sport and will always fluctuate depending on the market.

Quality and diversity of betting markets

Australians love gambling and so this been quite some lucrative market for many years. Before all the regulations came into place, the rates of gambling among Australian adults were so high that it became alarming, this could result in serious addiction issues. Recent studies show that Australians spend almost $20 billion annually on gambling activities. Poker is by far the most popular form of gambling, with some reports showing that nearly 25% of all adults have tried out their luck at the over 200,000 poker machines spread out in the country.

Closely following poker in popularity are lotteries and scratch cards. However, in the recent past, there has been a steady rise in the number of people actively participating in sports betting and horse race betting. Market figures show that these two forms of betting are set to surpass all the rest very soon in terms of popularity. This rapid popularity in sports and race betting has been largely driven by the growth and spread of iGaming in Australia.

With one of the highest mobile penetration rates in the world, mobile phones and tablets are becoming the main form of placing bets in Australia. The government estimates that by 2013, there had been a 163% increase in the revenues made by operators from mobile betting alone. These numbers are set to rise, despite the government’s persistent efforts to curb the market.

Top 5 casino sites in Australia

  1. RichPalms
  2. BoVegas
  3. LuckyTiger
  4. Two-UP
  5. Shazam

How to find the best betting sites in Australia?

If you want to set yourself up for success by betting in Australia, you must register with the best sites for sports betting in Australia. This is very easy to do, but the trick is to know which bookmakers are the best for you.

Here are a few things to consider when deciding which Australia bookmakers to sign up with.

  1. The most important thing to look at when choosing a bookmaker is to make sure it is a safe, legitimate one. This is the only way to feel safe trusting them with your personal information and money, so be sure to check if the bookmaker has a good reputation and a valid betting licence.
  2. All good Australia bookmakers will be safe, but they will also offer competitive odds and enough markets to bet on. You need to make sure you are betting at fair prices and you have enough betting markets to bet on whatever you want.
  3. The availability of betting bonuses is not as important as the quality of the odds, but it is still very valuable. Good bonuses and offers are of great benefit, so make sure you choose a bookmaker that can provide you with them.
  4. All the best sports betting sites in Australia will also have bonus features such as live streaming and a betting app. Even if you don’t plan to bet live or wager from your phone, it is preferable to sign up with a bookmaker with these options.
  5. Finally, good customer support is essential. You will likely rarely need to contact customer service agents, but if you need help, you’ll want to have reliable customer support.

Tips for experienced players

To make the most of what you’ve learnt from us, supplement your new knowledge with the following tips:

  1. Make sure the sports betting site accepts pounds sterling, otherwise the conversion rate could affect your profits.
  2. Decide if the minimum deposit and withdrawal amounts suit your profile.
  3. Check the betting requirements, if any, before accepting the bonus.
  4. Always provide sports betting sites with accurate and real information – they will verify it.
  5. Trust GNG to save you time and effort with safe sites rather than risking a scam.
  6. Before betting on a site, assess whether you agree with the payout rate.
  7. Look for the best odds, including bonuses through time promotions.
  8. Register with any number of sports betting sites.
  9. Never play at bookmakers that don’t have the necessary licences.
  10. Learn betting strategies based on different types of bets (handicap, express, total, etc.)
  11. Avoid fees, especially if they are not available on sports betting sites.
  12. Don’t waste a minute and start registering with free bets!

Popular sports

Australian Football

Australian Rules Football is one of the most popular sports in Australia, with AFL sport betting being among the most popular betting activities. The annual Grand Final event attracts 100,000 people to the stadium and is watched by roughly 3 million viewers.

Horse Racing

Horse race betting is a national pastime in Australia, and is a popular betting option at the best Australian horse racing betting sites. The annual 3,200m Melbourne Cup race is described as the race that stops the nation due to its immense popularity.

Rugby League

The National Rugby League is a rugby league that is particularly popular in the states of Queensland and New South Wales. NRL events draw millions of dollars in bets to NRL sport betting sites during the season. The NRL Grand Final is one of the most popular sporting events.

General information about bonuses in Australia

If you’re looking for the best betting bonuses in the Australia, here are a few key factors to consider below.

  1. Types of bonuses: As you probably know, betting sites offer several types of bonuses. Some of the most common and popular ones include welcome bonus, first deposit bonus, deposit bonus, no deposit bonus, free bets, enhanced odds and cashback bonus. Each has its own benefits, so be sure to choose one that you really like.
  2. Betting requirements: Betting requirements are the rules you have to follow to get betting bonuses. They tell you how much you need to wager before you can get your bonus winnings. Getting a bonus with a wagering requirement of 3 or 5 times is a solid choice.
  3. Expiry date: Betting bonuses are valid for a certain period of time. 30 days for a good bonus and less than 15 days for a not so good bonus.

Activating your betting bonuses in four easy steps

Do you want to get betting bonuses? We’ll tell you how to get the bonus you want at a bookmaker. It may seem a little overwhelming at first, but once you’ve got a few bonuses under your belt, it will become a breeze! Below we’ve outlined a step-by-step guide on how to get a betting bonus in the Australia.

  • Register with a reputable bookmaker
    • You must register with a reputable bookmaker before you can claim your betting bonus. To do this, simply click on the bookmaker’s registration section, fill in the form with your personal details, choose a username and set a strong password to help secure your account.
  • Read the Rules
    • Make sure you read the Terms and Conditions carefully to get the bonus you want. Reading the terms and conditions can be tedious, but it is necessary so that you don’t make mistakes and lose the offer.
  • Make your deposit
    • Deposit the minimum amount required to qualify for the bonus. However, for some bonuses, such as a no deposit bonus, this step is not required.
  • Use your bonus
    • It’s time to use that bonus! After making a deposit, simply go to the bookmaker’s bonus section and select the bonus you want to receive. It will be added to your account automatically. Sometimes you may also need to enter a promo code.
Popular GamesAustralian Football, rugby, horse racing
Best Betting Sitesbet365, Unibet, Justbet, Winners, BetPuntNow
Reviewed Sports SitesHillside, Bethard, Rush, Trannel
Non-Gamstop Gambling SitesAvailable

Where is sports betting most popular in Australia?

Sports betting is hugely popular in Australia, and it is available at many different locations. However, the most popular places to bet on sports are:

  1. Bookmakers and tobacconists: In many cities and suburbs in Australia, you can find bookmakers and tobacconists that offer sports betting services. These places are often popular among sports betting enthusiasts.
  2. Online betting platforms: With the development of the internet and mobile technology, online sports betting has become very popular in Australia. A plethora of online bookmakers provide services for the residents of the country, allowing them to bet on sporting events anytime and anywhere.
  3. Betting terminals in pubs and clubs: Some pubs, clubs and sports bars in Australia have installed sports betting terminals. This allows people to follow sporting events and place bets on the spot.
  4. Casinos: There are many casinos in Australia’s major cities that also offer sports betting. Casinos usually offer a wide range of sporting events and different types of bets.

These places are the most popular for sports betting in Australia, and they are characterised by their accessibility and convenience for the participants.

Top 5 mobile sports betting apps in Australia

Bet365

Bet365 app is packed with exciting betting features. Modern design and quick loading times are probably the first things you’ll notice, however, the best is yet to come.

 Everything from bet365’s desktop sportsbook is available on mobile, meaning that thousands of markets on all top Aussie sports events are now available to us even on the go! All major international sports markets, from bet365 FIFA World Cup betting to major European horse races, are also covered in great detail.

In fact, when it comes to the sheer volume of sports and markets, this operator is among the best in Australia. On top of that, the live streams are also always just a click away, as well as their excellent in-play betting suite.

The bet365 mobile apps have a few more trick on their sleeves. For example, you can log in using touch or face ID.

Bethard

Probably the most admired aspect of Bethard mobile betting is its mobile Sportsbook. Not only do punters have access to the most popular markets, but to all of them! Scandinavian players consider Bethard as a leading mobile Sportsbooks for various reasons including its state-of-the-art design. Since SBTech, a leading software provider power the Sportsbook, you can ensure a vast scope of markets, competitive odds and plenty of betting options.

If you are a sports betting enthusiast, you may enjoy Football, Tennis, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Handball, Volleyball and many other sports. Aside from the full range of markets, you can also opt for live betting, combo betting, individual bets, Asian view and the Asian handicaps. There’s plenty of other useful features in this section of the app — not to mention its quick payouts and excellent 24/7 customer support.

FansBet

There are multiple benefits to using the dedicated mobile apps offered by Fansbet that have a significant impact on the sportsbetting experience, not only in so far as its ease of use but the timeliness of locating and placing a bet on a sporting event of interest. That in itself adds value to being a member with the bookmaker. Still, having a dedicated mobile app you can access ensures a speedy process when locating and placing a bet on a sports event of interest.

Another prime reason and one that further strengthens its dedicated mobile apps value is the ability to access your account regardless of your location, and for sports betting enthusiasts, that is a luxury that often provides dividends ten-fold. Adding to the value of the mobile app is, of course, the option to access and place bets on the wide variety of casino games as well as its live casino and fantasy play section, which collectively offer value and variety in gaming that punters want most.

Unibet

Unibet, as an international and globally recognized betting partner to millions, knows the value in providing betting apps. While best known for its sportsbook, Unibet rightfully chose to develop an Android app (v. 5.1.7) and made it available via Google Play. It delivers the same exciting range of casino and live casino games with the right blend of player-friendly features.

To download the app, you will need to navigate to Unibet and select the casino app. Once selected, you can proceed with loading the download apk file for April 2024 and its subsequent installation. Likewise, you can follow the instructions below to ensure the downloading and installation goes smoothly.

WinnersBet

WinnersBet Australia is a relatively new player in the betting industry but I’ve found that they’re continually improving and innovating.

In my experience, WinnersBet provides competitive odds and a broad range of betting options for both sports and racing events. I particularly like their comprehensive coverage of horse racing, harness racing, and greyhound racing, with races available all around the globe.

WinnersBet offers innovative features such as “Same Game / Race Multi,” which allows users to combine different bets within a single race for increased potential winnings.

The WinnersBet mobile app has a user-friendly interface with a sleek design and is easy to navigate. It is available on both iOS and Android devices, making it accessible to a broad range of users.

Popular payment methods in Australia

BPAY

BPAY is an easy-to-use bill payment system that allows you to pay bills online or through your bank. It’s a convenient way to manage your regular expenses, such as utilities, insurance, and rent.

PayPal

PayPal is a globally recognized digital wallet that Australians use for online shopping and transferring money to friends and family. You can link your bank account or credit card to your PayPal account for secure payments.

Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards are an excellent option for those who want to control their spending. You load a specific amount onto the card, and it can be used like a debit card. It’s a great choice for travelers or individuals on a budget.

Direct Bank Transfers

Bank transfers are a traditional yet reliable way to send money within Australia or internationally. Most banks offer online banking services, making it easy to manage your finances.

Cryptocurrency

While not as widely accepted as other methods, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are gaining popularity in Australia. Some businesses and online platforms now accept Bitcoin as a form of payment.

Cash

Despite the rise of digital payment methods, cash is still accepted everywhere in Australia. It’s advisable to carry some cash for small purchases, markets, or places that may not accept cards.