List of bookmakers in Australia

Betting in Australia

Gambling in Australia, including online betting, sports betting and lotteries, is highly regulated and subject to licensing. Therefore, those wishing to enter the Australian gambling market need to carefully study the regulations of the states in which they plan to operate.

The amount of online gambling in Australia grew by 8% from 2020 to 2022 and is still growing.

More online gambling operators are entering the market and more people are participating in various forms of online betting, including sports betting, casino games, poker and more.

History of online betting in Australia

On 11 July 2001, the Interactive Gambling Act came into force in Australia. The legislation made it an offence for online gambling operators to offer online betting with “real money” to residents. Furthermore, the IGA banned companies such as Sportsbet from advertising online poker and casino games to citizens. It all sounds pretty exorbitant, doesn’t it? But because Australia is a can-do country, its players were able to circumvent the system so successfully that by 2010 they had gambled around $800 million online.

The fact that resident players were free to enjoy their pastime online stemmed from the fact that the IGA did not prohibit access to and use of interactive gambling services. Moreover, companies based in Australia were free to offer such services to players outside of Oz.

But while the interpretation of the law has allowed companies such as Sportsbet, William Hill and Betfair to thrive locally, online sports betting – that staple of online sports betting – is still banned in Australia. More pertinently, Australian punters and betting operators face an impressive array of opponents, including Social Services Minister Alan Tudge, MP and Greens Party Senator Richard Di Natale and anti-gambling activist, lawyer turned politician, Nick Xenophonte.

One of the aforementioned opponents has led the latest offensive against the online gambling market in Australia. On Thursday, 10 November 2016, the government passed the Alan Tudge-endorsed Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill. Among other things, the new legislation required online gambling operators operating in the country to acquire local licences. Place bets from players in Australia without first obtaining such documentation, and operators could face fines of up to a staggering $1.35 million per day.

Why such strict measures? Consider Mr Tudge, who earlier in 2016 announced his intention to amend the 2001 IGA to remove loopholes that allowed licensed operators to accept online in-play betting.

Key factors when choosing a bookmaker

Deposit and withdrawal options are one of the key factors that new players in the Australia consider when choosing a bookmaker. But they are far from the only ones. Our research shows that below are the five most important factors Australia punters consider when choosing an online betting site:

1. Secure transactions
2. A trustworthy reputation,
3. Free, easy and fast transactions,
4. Favourable / generous bonuses
5. Wide range of sports to bet on

Just like deposit and withdrawal options, the legal environment also affects which sports you can bet on.
Online betting sites tend to offer a wider selection of sports than retail bookmakers. Before choosing a bookmaker, look at what sports they offer, how in-depth they cover each one, whether they have the types of bets you want to place, and how their odds compare to the competition.

When it comes to reputation, don’t stop at word of mouth. Read our detailed bookmaker reviews and search the various sites on the AustraliaGC’s public register. As mentioned above, the AustraliaGC tracks all sanctions imposed against betting sites and keeps detailed records of complaints filed against them.
Finally, when comparing bonuses, current legislation requires betting sites to state all applicable terms and conditions. You are required to read the fine print. If you believe that a bonus was misleading or that a bookmaker has falsely advertised an offer, you can make a complaint to the AustraliaGC.

How popular is sports betting in Australia?

Sports betting is extremely popular in Australia, with a wide range of sports and events available for betting.

Particular highlights include:

• Australian Football (AFL): This is the national sport and attracts a large number of bets, especially in Melbourne where the heart of the AFL is located.
• Cricket: Considered Australia’s summer sport, it attracts a lot of betting nationally and internationally.
• Rugby League and Rugby Union: Popular in New South Wales and Queensland, where big tournaments such as the NRL (National Rugby League) are regularly organised.
• Horse Racing: They are a cultural phenomenon, with events like Melbourne Cup Day attracting bets from all over the country.
• Tennis: Big tournaments such as the Australian Open in Melbourne also attract a significant amount of betting.
• Football (Soccer): Gaining popularity for betting, especially during major international tournaments.

There is strict betting regulation in place and there are licensed operators offering betting in both offline and online formats. Online sports betting is growing strongly, providing convenient platforms to bet on your favourite sports from anywhere in the country.

How betting is regulated in Australia

The legal framework governing online betting in Australia is comprehensive and strict and is designed to provide a safe and fair environment for players. Online betting is legal in Australia, but it is regulated at both the national, state or territory level, creating a complex legal environment. The main piece of legislation at the federal level is the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) 2001, which outlines what is and is not allowed in online gambling.

Rules and legality

Under the IGA, online sports betting is permitted provided the bets are placed before the sporting event. However, in-play betting (placing bets during a sporting event) is strictly prohibited online and can only be done over the phone. On the other hand, online casino games and online poker are prohibited under this law.

The regulators responsible for overseeing online betting activities vary from state to state and territory to territory, but at the federal level, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) plays a crucial role. The ACMA is tasked with enforcing the rules set out in the IGA, including banning illegal online gambling services and protecting Australian citizens from potential gambling-related harm.

In order for an online betting platform to legally operate in Australia, it must obtain a licence from the relevant state or territory authorities. This licensing process is rigorous, requiring operators to meet strict criteria to ensure that they conduct their business in an honest, responsible and safe manner. It is vital for betting players to only interact with licensed providers, as this provides a level of protection and recourse should any problems arise.

Choosing betting sites with valid licences is crucial. This not only ensures that your betting activity is legal, but also ensures that the platform adheres to strict regulations designed to protect punters in Australia.

? Country	Australia
? Currency	Euro, Australian dollar
⚽ Popular Sports	Australian Football, Cricket, Rugby, Horse Racing, Tennis, Football
? Most Popular Payment Methods	Visa, MasterCard, Paysafecard, Skrill, PayPal

Top 5 casino sites in Australia

PlayUP

PlayUp is a new online bookmaker established in 2019. The bookmaker has already gained a good reputation. PlayUp is also one of the few online bookmakers wholly owned in Australia. PlayUp offers betting on a wide range of sports – over 28 – as well as online betting on political events.

Of course, there are all kinds of Australian sports racing – horses, greyhounds, harness.

As for other disciplines, the range of sports betting markets on offer is not bad. For example, you will find over 150 markets for AFL games on game day and over 100 if you plan to bet earlier.
NFL matches are published very early: you can bet on September matches in June, with over 40 markets on offer.

The main feature of PlayUp is a dedicated fantasy sports betting site. It’s called DraftStars. Fantasy sports are gaining popularity, and at DraftStars you’ll find four game modes and multiple sports.
Like PlayUp, DraftStars has a mobile betting app for iOS and Android.

Bet365

Bet365 is a British bookmaker founded in 2000 and well known throughout the online betting world. The betting site is available in 20 languages and offers 19 currencies. The company has been repeatedly recognised as the best bookmaker in the world.

Bet365 has been operating in the Australian sports market since 2012, having obtained a gambling licence in the Northern Territory.

Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes is an old British bookmaker with an excellent reputation. This bookmaker was founded in 1886. It has been operating in the Australian sports betting market since 2013. At Ladbrokes you can find a traditional for Australian betting sites excellent selection of markets for all types of horses, greyhounds and harness racing.

There are over 25 sports available at Landbrokes. Political events and celebrity awards such as the Logie Awards are also available for betting.

The support team can be contacted via phone, chat and email.

One of the best features of this bookmaker is the very detailed horse racing statistics.

The betting website is almost identical to that of the new Australian bookmaker Neds, which was founded in 2017. Ladbrokes bought it in 2018 and they are now pretty much the same bookmaker. Nevertheless, they are both good.

The following payment methods are accepted at Ladbrokes: Visa / Mastercard, PayPal, POLi, BPAY, Flexepin, PayID.

Betfair

Betfair is the world’s largest betting exchange with the best odds. Reviews of Australian bookmakers Betfair has been operating in Australia since 2006.

The distinctive feature of Betfair is that users bet against each other, not against the bookmaker. At the same time, they can set their own betting conditions. Thus, the odds on events can often be very different from those of other Australian online sports betting bookmakers.

Betfair does not include its own margin in the odds, making a profit through commission on winning bets.

Bluebet

BlueBet was founded in 2015 by former William Hill Australia CEO Michael Sullivan. It is a classic Australian bookmaker with a focus on horse racing. You’ll find everything you need in this segment, including the eponymous racing multi-services.

BlueBet offers several deposit methods: credit/debit card, POLi, EFT/bank transfer, BPAY, cheque, cash.

Other sports are moderately represented: just over 20 sports, without cybersports and live streaming. At the same time, you can bet on political events here.

BlueBet has apps for iOS and Android. You can contact the support team by phone and email.