Best Australian Betting Sites: Top 5 Betting Sites in AU
There are plenty of betting sites available to Australians but some are better than others. We’ll tell you which are the most important factors to consider when choosing one, recommend a few of the best, and talk you through some of the most popular sports to bet on.
- Is Sports Betting Legal in Australia?
- Top 10 Australian Betting Sites
- A Closer Look at the Best Australian Betting Sites
- Most Popular Sports For Australian Bettors
- How To Register at AU Betting Sites?
- Payment Methods at Australian Betting Sites
- Things To Consider When Choosing a Betting Site
- Read More
- Best Australian Betting Sites FAQ
Is Sports Betting Legal in Australia?
Betting on sports such as rugby league, cricket, and tennis, as well as horse racing, is legal at both online betting sites and land-based venues. Such as TAB (The Totalisator Agency Board, Australia’s largest multichannel wagering provider) outlets, race courses, clubs, or even pubs. Australians must be 18 or over to gamble.
Unlike in places like the UK, where most gambling issues of the legal variety are dealt with at the national level by the UK Gambling Commission, in Australia, it’s a mix of federal law and state/territory licences. At the federal level, the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) sets most of the general rules regarding what forms of gambling can be offered to Australian citizens and how online gambling is regulated.
In a strange quirk, live betting is illegal at sports betting sites and apps, but can be done over the phone.
Online betting sites in Australia must have a valid license to operate; unlicensed offshore services are illegal, though players are not criminally prosecuted simply for using them. The illegal betting sites, on the other hand, risk being actively blocked by the IGA.
Top 10 Australian Betting Sites
We’re stating the obvious here, but some Australian betting sites are better than others. Below you’ll find the Top 10 betting sites in Australia, but how did we go about ranking them so that only the cream of the crop made the list, and how did we decide which were top of our list? We considered the following factors:
- Available Markets – By that, we mean two things: how many sports do they cover and how manymarkets do they have within each sport? In both instances, it’s a case of the more, the better.
- Betting Odds – The best betting sites in Australia offer generous odds across the board, and any pro punter will tell you this is arguably the most important factor of all.
- User interface – A sports betting site needs to be easy to use, everything must be simple and quick to find, and well-designed.
- Payment methods- Again, the more the better, and they have to be convenient for Australians, as we’ll see further down.
Here are the ones we consider to be the Top 10:
- Unibet
- Bet365
- Picklebet
- Nextbet
- Betfair
- Draftstars
- Boombet
- Pointsbet
- Betr
- Realbookie
A Closer Look at the Best Australian Betting Sites
Above, we’ve listed the Top 10 best ones, but let’s look at the four we consider the best in a little more detail.
Bet365
- Payouts within 4 hours
- Android and iOS mobile apps
- Live chat, email, and phone support
- Slow wire transfer deposits
The online betting site that does the lot, covering just about every sport you can think of.
But other sites do as well, so it’s the extra features that really stand out at Bet365 Australia.
Those include: full and partial Cash Out, live graphics of what’s happening in a particular match, ball trackers for golf events, Bet Builders, and plenty of livestreaming of some of the world’s biggest and best events.
They also have in-play stats on sports such as soccer and tennis, allowing you to make more informed decisions ahead of your next live bet, which as we know, must be placed over the phone.
Picklebet
- Licensed by the Northern Territory Government
- 20+ sports for betting
- Android and iOS apps
- No live betting
The wonderfully-named Picklebet first started out as a specialist in esports and racing betting. And yes, esports betting is serious business, not a fashionable trend likely to go away in a few years’ time.
But they’ve since expanded to cover most of the sports that all the other best betting sites in Australia do, so you’re in good hands in that regard.
On the racing front, they have regular horse racing, greyhound racing, and harness racing, and when it comes to the first of those, they extend their markets to Top 4 finishes (depending on the number of horses in the race) with some odds boosts on the favourites to help you along the way.
Nextbet
- 1,000+ casino games
- UKGC and AGCC licenses
- Helpful, responsible gaming tools
- 72-hour payout pending period
Another of the top AU betting sites that’s particularly strong on racing and esports (it does of course offer all the staples like AFL, NFL, tennis and rugby, too) but what’s interesting is that they also allow users to participate in fantasy (known as picke’m) contests across popular sports such as the English Premier League soccer and the Big Bash in cricket, through the Draftstars daily fantasy sports platform.
So if you want to mix it up and try an alternative to fixed-odds sports wagering, Nextbet Australia could be the one for you.
They have a good reputation when it comes to their Customer Support Team, which is available via live chat, phone, and email with Australian-based representatives who are knowledgeable, polite and above all, efficient when it comes to solving your queries.
Unibet
- Impressive market coverage
- Live streaming
- Reputable brand & fully licensed
- Fast withdrawals
- Support services not 24/7
Unibet has been regarded as one of the best betting sites over in Europe for decades and now Australians can benefit from its consistency, safety and variety as a top Sportsbook, as well.
In addition to offering all the sports you’d expect, both Australian ones and those popular in other countries, they offer plenty of same-game multi-bets, same-race multi-insurance, and live betting over the phone.
Most Popular Sports For Australian Bettors
So, which sports do Australian punters most like betting on at both established betting sites and new Australian betting sites? Check it out.
Cricket Betting
Just to clarify, there aren’t cricket betting sites that are just dedicated to cricket; it’s more of a case that all the best betting sites offer cricket, which of course they do.
Cricket is right up there as one of the most popular sports to bet on in Australia, and you can see why. It’s a real favourite to watch, both at the grounds and on TV, and it runs throughout the year.
The fortunes of the Australian national cricket team are always of the greatest interest to Aussie punters across the three formats- Tests, ODIs, T20Is – but there’s plenty of betting also going on involving the other big cricketing nations, with England, India and New Zealand among the teams who attract heavy betting on their matches.
Other competitions that see a lot of betting include the IPL, the Big Bash, the CPL, the Champions Trophy, and, of course, the two World Cups.
Soccer Betting
Soccer may not be right up there with the likes of cricket, rugby or horse racing but Australian betting customers love it, too.
Understandably, the A-League, Australia’s domestic league, is bet on a lot, but so are the European leagues, with the Premier League at the top of the pile, and Serie A, the Bundesliga, and La Liga seeing plenty of action. But the greatest interest of all comes in the World Cup, played every four years, and that’s going to be even more the case than usual now that the Socceroos qualified for the 2026 edition.
There are many reasons why there’s so much betting on soccer. There’s always a handful of big games going on on any given day from all around the world, many of them are available to watch on TV or via live streaming and there are 100s of markets to bet on for any given game, while Bet Builders, or single-game multis are increasingly in popularity by the day.
Tennis Betting
Another sport that seems to run through the whole year and another benefits from plenty of TV coverage and live streaming at Sportsbooks and Australian betting apps.
Sadly, in Australia, punters can’t place n-play bets via the site as we already know, because this is a sport made for live betting, but there’s nothing stopping you from placing one over the phone in between games or sets.
Given that one of the four Grand Slams is the Australian Open, it’s no surprise that when that one comes around, there’s some serious money on it, but Wimbledon, Roland Garros and the US Open are also huge for both Australian betting sites and tennis betting fans, as are the Davis Cup and the Masters 1000 events.
In addition to the match winner, other markets that attract interest include: set betting, handicaps, who serves the most aces and how many games a named player will win.
Rugby Betting
In Australia, both rugby union and rugby league are big sports for betting purposes, with the the latter the slightly more popular of the two and the NRL, the biggest competition in the country, attracting tens of thousands of bets on it for each round of games.
In rugby league, it’s more about the domestic game than the international one but the national team, which has always been the best in the world, does play a few Tests a year against the likes of New Zealand, Great Britain, South Africa and France.
As for Rugby Union, there isn’t a competition reserved just for Australian teams but rather, four teams play in the Super Rugby against two New Zealand sides and two Pacific Islands teams. Australia plays regular Tests against all the world’s best teams, takes part in the rugby Championship, and, of course, the World Cup every four years.
Markets across the two codes include: match winner, handicaps, first try scorer, anytime try scorer, total points, and whether a player will be sent off.
AFL Betting
The AFL betting sites are hugely popular in Australia, reflecting the sport’s national following and long season.
Punters can bet on markets such as match winner, margin, total points, goal kickers, player disposals, and quarter-by-quarter outcomes.
One of the most popular options is the Same Game Multi, which allows multiple selections from a single match, essentially an AFL Bet Builder.
AFL markets are offered year-round by licensed bookmakers, with odds influenced by team form, injuries, weather, and venue, just as they are in sports such as football and rugby league.
How To Register at AU Betting Sites?
- Choose a licensed sportsbook: Make sure the site is legal in your country and fully licensed by the appropriate gaming commission.
- Visit the official website or download the app: Click on the link you’ll find on the banners of this page.
- Click Sign Up or Register: This button is usually at the top right of the homepage.
- Fill out your personal info: Enter details like your full name, address, phone number, date of birth, and email.
- Create a username and password: Make sure it’s something secure and easy for you to remember.
- Read and agree to the terms: Read the terms and conditions, then click the approval button if you agree. This will also require you to confirm that you meet the minimum age requirement and are resident in Australia.
- Start betting: Browse the markets, place your bets, and enjoy the action responsibly.
Payment Methods at Australian Betting Sites
A good range and variety of payment options is important at the best Australian betting sites, just like they’re important anywhere else.
Customers want to see payment methods available that they’re likely to already have in their possession, that are easy to use, and that support Fast Withdrawal Betting Sites and deposits; as well as being secure from fraudsters and hackers.
Paypal betting sites are among the most popular, with Flexepin and poli also much-loved, but you can’t use credit cards at Australian betting sites. Bear in mind also that some payment methods are available in some Australian states, but not others.
Things To Consider When Choosing a Betting Site
There are dozens of factors to consider when choosing the right betting site for you, but here are a few you should give the most importance to.
Variety of Sports and Markets
Not everyone wants to bet on the major sports, so the site should offer others like netball, F1, athletics, sailing and esports as well as the biggest ones, plus a good variety of markets within those sports.
Their Odds
Probably the most important factor of all when it comes to a betting site, as consistently bigger odds mean consistently bigger payouts and a better P and L.
Special Features
Availability of live streaming, Cash Out, Bet Builders and on-site content such as stats, betting tips and analysis are all extras that improve your customer experience.
Customer Service
A helpful, knowledgeable Customer Service Team that can be reached 24/7 through multiple channels can make a huge difference in solving problems.
Read More
Best Australian Betting Sites FAQ
- Are betting sites legal in Australia?
Betting sites that hold a valid betting license to operate in Australia are 100% legal and can accept bets from Australia-based customers on sports such as cricket, tennis and horse racing.
- Which are the best AU betting sites?
That’s mostly a matter of opinion, as it depends on what’s most important to the individual customer, but Bet365, Unibet, and Betfair are generally considered among the best.
- Is sports betting legal in all states?
Yes, sports betting is allowed in all Australian states and territories, but it’s regulated through a combination of federal law and state/territory licensing so there may be different rules governing sportsbooks depending on where you are.