Online Betting in Australia is Easy!
Find out everything about sports betting in Australia. Legal bookmakers, independent ratings, and sets of bookmakers based on various criteria. Information about tournaments, matches, and odds. Expert and objective view on online betting — only on Match.Center.
General information on betting in Australia
It’s difficult to find Australians who have never bet on sports in their life. The gambling problem has been so severe that the government has tried to restrict it through legislation. The approach has not been very successful and the Australians still lead the lists of the most gambling nations in the world.
On this page, we will take a closer look at the current state of the Australian betting markets, highlight the legal bookmakers, and describe the special process of live betting in Australia.
Online sports betting in Australia
The modern history of sports betting Australia started in 2001 when a bill was passed that introduced strict business rules for large and small Australian bookmakers, raised taxes on gambling activities and imposed heavy fines for various offences.
The reason
The new law was a response to shocking figures released by the government in the early 2000s. It turned out that the average annual gambling spending in Victoria was about $1500 per capita and in New South Wales it was about $1800. These facts made Australia the most gambling state in the world. The problem of gambling addiction acquired a national dimension. To bring the situation under control, the Interactive Gambling Act was passed in 2001.
Consequences
Under the new law, a bettor could only place bets on legal betting sites in Australia. Private gambling sites were banned and the penalty for such practices was shockingly high: up to $220 000 for every day of violation! But otherwise the bettors were not under much pressure: the government believed that excessive freedom of action of bookmakers mainly led to gambling addiction. And so they were taken seriously.
Here is what bookmakers were forbidden to do after 2001:
- Promote bonuses.
- Accept live bets on the website/in the app.
- Encourage people to bet.
- Operating without a local licence.
In case of a breach, the organisation was subject to an insanely high fine – up to $1.1 million for each day of the offence.
But of course, the bill could not consist only of bans. There were also obligations that the bookmaker had to fulfil. For example:
- Obtain an Australian licence from one of the country’s states (of their own choice).
- Set a strict deposit limit and the amount of bonuses that a current bettor could be eligible for.
- Only register Australian and New Zealand punters in the system.
This was the beginning of the usual confrontation between bookmakers and lawmakers: betting companies started coming up with ways to avoid the bans by advertising bonuses and registering customers from other countries…The authorities responded by periodically amending the Interactive Gambling Act, as we will explain below.
Top 8 bookmakers in Australia
Bookmakers comparative table
| Bookmaker | Line | Apps | Live streaming | Payment | Registration and support | Legal information | Ease of navigation | Overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betfair | Ex* | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8.3 |
| Sportsbet | 7 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8.1 |
| Bookmaker | 4 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 7.7 |
| Ladbrokes | 6 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 7.7 |
| Neds | 6 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7.6 |
| TAB | 5 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7.1 |
| Betstar | 6 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7.1 |
| BlueBet | 5 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7.0 |
| TopSport | 5 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 6.9 |
| Palmerbet | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 6.9 |
*On Betting exchange markets and odds are formed by its customers
How we review bookmakers
Match.Center is an independent analytical site which helps betting fans to choose a licensed bookmaker and not to become a victim of fraud.
We explain all the details of sports betting and provide all the necessary information for you to make the right choice when evaluating the betting products and bonuses. You will even find a list of new Australian bookmakers and detailed reviews of these bookmakers on our website.
We also rank Australian betting companies according to 9 parameters, using the same objective approach to evaluate companies around the world. The rankings and picks on our site will help you find the best online bookmaker just for you. All of the rankings are updated regularly.
Remember: Sports betting is all about having fun and adding the adrenaline of watching your favourite team play. Never consider betting as a way to make money. Hardly anyone beats the bookies over the distance, and gambling addiction is a very serious problem. We fully agree with the Australian government on this point.
Here are the basic parameters we use to evaluate the quality of Australian betting sites.
Markets and Odds
Our assessment of the betting markets consists of three parts:
- The number of sports. A bookmaker with a large selection of competitions is an every punter’s dream. The more there are, the better. We consider bookmakers with 30+ sports offered to be good.
- Lots of bet types on a single match. If there is only a basic set of bets on a match or a race – 1/X/2, a couple of O/U and handicaps – that’s a disadvantage. The bigger the choice of bets, the higher the chances of finding something interesting for your “scenario” of the match. That is why it is important to have bets on statistics and individual performance of players/teams, as well as bets with a safety net – Asian handicaps or O/U.
- The size of the odds. When determining the best betting site, we always compare odds for the same event. This is not a guarantee that the best bookmaker in our table will have the best odds all the time, while the worst one will have the lowest odds. But it’s essential: if you bet regularly, even 1% eventually turns into a solid amount. And you either give it to the bad bookmaker, or keep it for yourself.
Mobile app
In the digital era, it is strange to offer punters to bet only on the website or via the mobile version. Even if people are stuck in traffic or at work, they should always be able to place a bet. Yes, creating the best app for sports betting is expensive for a company. However, you need to keep up with the times and offer customers the best service. In addition, a bookmaker who has an app will significantly increase the customer base. This will have a positive impact on the company’s profits. We are sure that all bookmakers will sooner or later realise that an app is a necessity.
As experts, we are primarily interested in the quality of the app:
- What are the technical requirements?
- Is it easy to navigate the menu?
- Are the betting markets conveniently located on the smartphone screen?
- Does the app freeze?
- Are there any advanced features that have not yet been transferred from the website to the app?
Live streaming
We love watching our favourite team play and placing bets at the same time: seeing what’s happening on the pitch can help you get a better feel for the dynamics. But live streaming is not a common product among Australian bookmakers. Those who have it, often offer poor quality and few sports. We objectively evaluate each bookmaker’s video service, and if the bookmaker has put effort into it, we will highlight it as an advantage for the company and raise the rating in our rankings.
Payment systems
The easier and faster it is for customers to make deposits, place bets and withdraw their winnings, the better.
We evaluate the payment systems from two sides. When we rate bookmakers, we find out how many deposit methods they have. We realise that you may only need one or two methods. But the more methods, the more serious is the company’s intention to cover the whole market and satisfy their customers. That’s the reason why we give high marks when we see that the bookmaker has connected many payment methods.
In addition, in many countries we also assess what timeframe bookmakers set for withdrawals.
Registration and customer support
The registration process on every betting site is elaborated in every detail. We don’t pay much attention to this point, as with all bookmakers you can create an account in just a couple of minutes. Another issue that concerns us the most is how well the support service works and how you can get in touch with them. The more competent and quicker the sports betting help solve customers’ problems, the better the bettor’s attitude to the bookmaker.
Legal information
We check whether the bookmaker has a valid licence and whether modern security protocols are used to protect customer data. In order to be rated highly, the company should post detailed information openly on the home page of the site. If there is no such information, or it is hidden deep inside the website, this is a reason for a low rating.
We would not recommend you to bet on a betting site where we did not find such information.
Ease of navigation
In our opinion, the bookmaker’s home page should only contain the main sections and betting markets. Everything else is more of a distraction than a help. But access should be organised in a convenient way: if we can’t get into the personal account or open the live section in one click, then such a bookmaker definitely won’t get high marks from us.
Advanced features
All the features that complete the betting process, we appreciate in this category. These include a well-designed sports statistics section, Cash Out, Bet Builder, Click to Call, and own payment cards linked to the account.
You don’t have to use any of these, but all together they make a big difference to the user experience and our preferences. If the bookmaker follows leading trends, its score goes up. If there are great features for betting, we increase the score in the “Line” category. And if there is a bookmaker’s own payment card, that’s an advantage for the payment methods.
Bonuses
We won’t go through the details on this one, as it’s illegal to promote bonuses in Australia. If you want to know what promotions are on the market, then register with a bookmaker and look under “Promotions” to see what the sportsbook offers. That’s how the law works.
Sports for betting in Australia
Australia is a sporting nation. The high standard of living means there’s plenty of time for sport, and thanks to the climate, there are equal opportunities all year round. Locals not only play a range of sports themselves but also cheer passionately in stadiums for their favourite teams.
Horse racing, cricket, tennis, rugby and even surfing are among the most popular sports in Australia. Girls are also interested in netball, and cricket is the national sport for men.
Let’s take a look at the top sports for betting where the Australians have been most successful.
Horse racing
Australia is world-famous not only for its kangaroos and opera house but also for the passion for horses. Statistics show that around 1 million local people bet on horse racing. People spend billions of dollars each year at the racecourses. And even the ban on betting advertising has not significantly affected the incredible popularity of horse racing betting.
All horse races are divided into 4 categories according to their prestige, level of competition, location and the size of the prize pool. Grade 1 races are the best in the world, with only the thoroughbreds competing. These elite events are held annually at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney and Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. Anyone can attend the Melbourne Cup, WS Cox Plate, Victoria Derby, Crown Oaks and the Australian Cup.
The Australian bookmakers – which we cover in detail on the betting sites for horse racing and horse racing apps pages – also offer online betting on most of the notable meetings in the UK, Ireland and South Africa.
Esports
The popularity of Esports in Australia peaked during Covid-19 with everyone on lockdown and classic sporting events cancelled.
At the same time, video game developer Riot Games started pushing the trend for Esports in Australia. The American company organised a League of Legends competition among school teams all over the continent, where 16 teams and more than 500 students took part.
CS:GO is also evolving. The highlight of the season in Australia is the annual IEM XIV SYDNEY international tournament. It takes place at the Qudos Bank Arena and draws $250,000 for 16 teams.
League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive attract the highest number of bets. We have previously covered the bookmakers that specialise in Esports in the Esports betting sites section. Read also our pages to choose the best League of Legends betting site and Dota 2 betting site, we have considered everything that matters.
Now let’s briefly highlight the essence of each Esports game.
LoL. A strategy game in the MOBA genre from Riot Games. In League of Legends all the action takes place in so-called lore – a fictional world with its own laws, heroes and superpowers. In each individual match there are always only two teams of five characters. They fight each other in an attempt to destroy the enemy base. Each character has special characteristics, playing their part for overall victory. After the battles, each team earns a certain experience and gold that can be exchanged for new weapons and skills.
CS:GO. A legendary team-based first-person shooter game from Valve. As in LoL, the game involves two teams, special forces and terrorists. The SWAT team must rescue hostages or defuse a bomb, while the terrorist team must kill all members of the SWAT team or plant a bomb and defend themselves until it detonates. To win the whole fight, you must win 16 rounds on multiple maps before your opponent does. For more information on CS:GO in Australia, visit the best CS:GO betting sites page.
Tennis
The history of Australian tennis goes back to 1904 when the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia was formed. Under its aegis, the Australian Tennis Championships were held until 1969. Subsequently, the rules of the competition were changed and the tournament was renamed into the familiar Australian Open. Since then, Melbourne has grabbed the world’s attention every January. Each summer, the best of this great game come to town to find out who’s stronger on the fast court.
Australian bookmakers also accept bets on other Grand Slams, ATP/WTA, Challenger and ITF tournaments. To find out which bookmaker is best for you, read our recent review on the tennis betting sites page.
Cricket
Cricket is Australia’s national sport. You’re unlikely to find anyone here who’s never held a cricket bat in their hands.
As for the professionals, each of the six states has its own team. They compete in two of the biggest summer tournaments on the continent each year – the Sheffield Shield and the Matador Cup.
If you as a punter fancy betting more than twice a year, the betting sites for cricket offer betting on many international tournaments, as well as the English and Indian national championships.
Football
Football in Australia was a sideline until the arrival of Guus Hiddink, the genius who led the national team to the World Cup play-offs for the first time and reached the Round of 16. At the time Australia was the talk of the town – and, of course, in Australian pubs too.
There’s been a lot of local football development in the last 20 years. Many Australian players have gone on to play in the world’s top leagues (La Liga, Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1) and the national team has managed to win the Asian Cup, the Oceania Cup and appear in the World Cup final stage 5 times in the 21st century. As of February 2022, Australia was ranked 37th by FIFA. We even have a full review of football in Australia on our best betting sites for football page.
Comparative table by sport
Number of tournaments / leagues:
| Bookmaker | Horse racing | Esports | Tennis | Cricket | Football |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betfair | 30+ | 3+ | 25+ | 8+ | 150+ |
| Sportsbet | 30+ | 3+ | 35+ | 8+ | 160+ |
| Bookmaker | 50+ | 35+ | 15+ | 2+ | 75+ |
| Ladbrokes | 45+ | 35+ | 15+ | 2+ | 85+ |
| Neds | 50+ | 35+ | 15+ | 2+ | 80+ |
| TAB | 25+ | 2+ | 20+ | 2+ | 85+ |
| Betstar | 50+ | 35+ | 15+ | 2+ | 80+ |
| BlueBet | 25+ | – | 15+ | 3+ | 75+ |
| TopSport | 25+ | 1+ | 5+ | 2+ | 45+ |
| Palmerbet | 25+ | – | 15+ | 5+ | 80+ |
How to bet on sports in Australia
The process of placing a bet in Australia is no different to other countries. Here are the simple steps you need to follow in order to place a bet:
- Choose a bookmaker (Betfair, Betstar, etc.)
- Register with the bookmaker (provide your full name, address, postcode, phone number, etc.)
- Go to your personal account.
- Open the “Deposits” section.
- Select the payment method (BPAY, Poli, Flexepin, etc.) and fund your account.
- Find the desired match and market.
- Enter the bet amount.
- Confirm the bet.
Special mention should be made of the account verification. It is the procedure of verification of your details provided in the form. You must send the bookmaker an email or upload two documents to your personal account:
- a copy of your passport.
- a document confirming your residency in Australia/New Zealand. This will usually be a local bank statement or utility receipt in your name.
The bookmaker usually doesn’t require verification for deposits and betting. Only for the first withdrawal. So after registering with the system you can start betting straight away. But for the sake of time saving we recommend to go through this process beforehand and then easily withdraw money when you need it.
Live sports betting
The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 prohibited live betting for real money on a licensed betting site or app. But local officials at the time underestimated the creativity of bookmakers, who found an amazing way out of the situation.
The bookmakers came up with the “Click-to-call” feature. The option worked as follows: the client chose a particular market of a live bet, clicked on the odds and saw the telephone number of the bookmaker on the screen. The punter simply called the number and said what he wanted to bet on. The bookmaker would place the bet itself and deduct the bet amount from the customer’s account.
The bookmakers did not violate local law in any way, as the betting was technically done neither on the website nor in the app. But on the other hand, everyone clearly understood that the “Click-to-Call” feature was a simple replacement for the “Place a bet” button.
In 2016, the authorities tried to fight this workaround, but all attempts were unsuccessful. The betting world’s lobbyists have been preventing the new amendments from being debated and voted on in parliament in every way possible. Thus, the situation has not changed at all. And even after 6 years, Australians can still use the “Click-to-Call” feature on their local bookmaker’s websites.
Payment systems in Australia
You can use international payment systems (Visa/Mastercard, PayPal etc.) or local ones to fund your account. We have already discussed international payment systems on the betting sites with paypal, betting sites that accept paysafecard and best crypto betting sites pages. Today it’s time to tell more about national payment systems.
Bpay
A system of electronic transfers via a dedicated mobile app. It is primarily aimed at the Australian market. You can use Bpay to pay your utility bills, shop online or fund your betting account.
Poli
An Australian payment system and e-wallet with the same name. Poli’s customers pay for online purchases or make online transfers without any bank cards or accounts. The Poli counterpart is the world famous PayPal.
Flexepin
A payment system that operates on the basis of prepaid vouchers. Each voucher has a certain value. Therefore, when buying goods on the Internet or transferring money online to a bookmaker, the system does not require the customer to enter any personal details. A better known counterpart to Flexepin is paysafecard.
Bookmaker’s cards
The bookmakers’ own cards are a new trend in the payments market, which is actively growing in Australia.
What is the advantage of these cards? Instant withdrawal. Usually, with other payment systems, the withdrawal time is from a couple of hours to several days. With your own card, the bookmaker will approve the withdrawal in a second. You may also use this card for paying in shops, utilities, etc.
Neds, Bookmaker, Betstar, Ladbrokes and others already have their own cards.
Bonuses in Australia
The passing of the Interactive Gambling Act was also a major blow to the promotion of bonus offers. Before 2001, information about betting bonuses could be found anywhere. Customers were flooded with bonus offers on TV, at stadiums, on the internet and on the streets. Today, by law, there are only two ways to find out about legal bookmakers’ promotions:
- Register with the bookmaker and access the Promotions section.
- When registering, agree to an email newsletter to keep up to date with all bonuses from the bookmaker.
Across all markets where bonus advertising is allowed, this is one of the main driving forces: of course you are first inclined to register and try to place a bet with a bookmaker that promises you a good bonus for doing so. Unsurprisingly, the bookmakers in Australia have resisted the Interactive Gambling Act restrictions for a long time. Even fines of up to $1.1 million did not scare them off. Of course, there was less advertising on the streets, but bookmakers continued to actively promote their business at stadiums and on social networks. The profits from illegal marketing still exceeded the costs.
A new round of fighting against bookmakers started in 2019. The National Consumer Protection Framework (NCPF) legally enforced restrictions on gambling advertisements on TV between 5:00 am and 8:30 pm local time, as well as during matches. But even this was not enough: bookmakers’ advertisements kept leaking into television, for example in the form of logos on professional sportsmen’s shirts.
As of 2022, the bookmakers are cautiously celebrating a victory: over time restrictions in some states have been loosened thanks to the efforts of lobbyists. Two Australian states, New South Wales and Victoria, have received special privileges. In both states, the regional parliament allowed the promotion of enhanced odds offers. The state of Victoria has even allowed legal advertising for reload bonuses, which are deposit bonuses for those who already have an account.
Taxation in Australia
Under Australian law there is no taxation on customers’ winnings. There is a simple explanation for this:
- Betting on sports is not a profession; it is a way of having a good time.
- Winning with a bookmaker is a matter of luck. A bettor can win a lot of money today and lose it all tomorrow.
Based on this, local officials have legislated to shift the tax liability entirely to bookmakers. Depending on the state where the gambling licence is issued, the amount of taxes and fees varies. We compared the top 10 bookmakers and found out who pays taxes to the state and how much.
| Bookmaker | Licensing state | Regulatory Authority | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betfair | Northern Territory | Licensing Commission | 10% of gross profit up to $575,000 |
| Sportsbet | South Australia | Independent Gambling Authority | 15% on net income over $150,000 |
| Bookmaker | South Australia | Independent Gambling Authority | 15% on net income over $150,000 |
| Ladbrokes | Northern Territory | Licensing Commission | 10% of gross profit up to $575,000 |
| Neds | Northern Territory | Licensing Commission | 10% of gross profit up to $575,000 |
| TAB | South Australia | Independent Gambling Authority | 15% on net income over $150,000 |
| Betstar | Northern Territory | Licensing Commission | 10% of gross profit up to $575,000 |
| BlueBet | South Australia | Independent Gambling Authority | 15% on net income over $150,000 |
| TopSport | New South Wales | Liquor and Gaming NSW | 15% on net income over $1,000,000 |
| PalmerBet | New South Wales | Liquor and Gaming NSW | 15% on net income over $1,000,000 |
In addition to income tax, bookmakers also pay other fees: for obtaining or renewing a licence and sometimes a turnover tax.
Sports betting: tips from Match.Center
If you have decided to start betting, here is what you should pay attention to in the first place:
- Choose the right bookmaker. In Australia, the bookmakers heavily segment their markets. Some have more bets on horse racing, some on cricket, and others may specialise in Esports.
- Control your bankroll. Allocate a portion of your entertainment budget to betting and never change it. We also recommend that you should never exceed 5% of your own bankroll.
- Never try to win back. If you are losing one bet after another tonight, it is possible that your luck has run out. Don’t try to win back, it’s likely that your bets at this point will be poorly calculated. You will almost certainly only lose more.
- Bet according to strategy. Don’t bet randomly. Without a system, punters lose all of their money much faster. Strategies are not always beneficial, but they are easier to use: you learn how to make predictions, your winnings are systematic and you take it easy on your losses.
- Keep an eye on the odds. The odds are always changing. But if you notice sudden ups and downs, it’s not good. Maybe the bookmaker has learned important information about the team leader’s injury. Or maybe someone has bet a very big amount on the opposite outcome. So if you wanted to place a bet and the odds went up, do not rush to celebrate. On the contrary, reassess the prospects.
FAQ
Can I bet in Australia?
Betting in Australia is only allowed on licensed betting sites. You cannot place live bets on their websites or apps, but you can do so by calling the bookmaker. This option on the betting website is called ‘Click-to-Call’.
How can I choose a reliable bookmaker?
Match.Center lists all the reliable and trusted Australian bookmakers with licences. We’ve compiled a ranking of bookmakers across Australia, ranking them according to nine parameters. And also there are tips on how you can choose on your own: first of all, pay attention to the betting markets, availability of live streaming, variety of payment methods and ease of navigation on the website or app.
What sports can I bet on?
Australian or New Zealand punters can bet on almost any sport and there are no limits on what they can bet on. However, in Australia, bookmakers will often have a preference for a particular discipline. One company will have a great offer on horse racing, another will be strong in tennis and the third one in Esports.
Which bookmaker is the best in Australia?
We have a good understanding of how bookmakers operate, but we won’t even try to name one ideal bookmaker to bet with. However, we will help you choose: there are those who like a good horse racing streaming service, and those who prefer better odds. We assess the quality of the bookmaker’s performance according to 9 parameters, you may choose the ones that are important to you.
After evaluation by Match.Center experts, the following bookmakers are leading: Betfair, Sportsbet, Bookmaker, Ladbrokes, Neds, TAB, Betstar, BlueBet, TopSport, PalmerBet. If you live in NSW or QLD, we’ve made special selections of bookmakers from these states too. Read about them on the NSW bookmakers online and QLD bookmakers online pages.
Is there any tax on winnings from betting?
Under Australian law, the punters do not pay tax on winnings. All taxes are paid by the bookmakers from their income.
What payment systems are available in Australia?
Local payment systems such as Poli, BPAY, Flexepin are common in Australia. However, foreign services such as Visa, Mastercard, PayPal and others are also actively cooperating with bookmakers in the country. If you are interested in bookmakers with minimum deposit requirements or fast withdrawal, read our other reviews – fastest withdrawal betting sites and betting sites no minimum deposit.
How can I find out about bonus promotions from a bookmaker?
In Australia, it is illegal to advertise bonuses. There are only two ways to stay informed about the bookmaker’s offers:
- Create an account with the bookmaker and check the Promotions section regularly.
- When registering, agree to receive email offers from the bookmaker.
Given that most bookmakers specialise in certain sports and there is no “best for all” betting site, we explicitly recommend registering with several bookmakers to qualify for lots of bonuses.
How to bet on sports successfully?
If you are betting for fun, the advice is simple: bet on what you are interested in, not exceeding a predetermined amount of money.
And if you’re hoping to make money, sadly, we have bad news. The advice with the maximum mathematical expectation is simply don’t place any bets and consider that you’ve earned everything you’ve saved. Because almost everyone loses money when facing a bookmaker. And there is no 100% working strategy, no matter what you read. Think about it: betting is a business. And would bookmakers offer to place a bet on terms that are unfavourable to them?
Please, treat betting as entertainment. You pay money to watch a movie on the big screen, not at home on the TV, don’t you? It is the same with betting: you pay for the adrenaline and the intense experience. If you get lucky sometimes, that’s great, congratulations!
