3 Best AFL Betting Sites for Aussie Players: Odds, Lines & More
The Australian Football League (AFL) is the most popular spectator sport in Australia, so it’s hardly surprising that AFL betting is a real favourite among sports betting fans wanting to try and win some money from putting some hard cash on what they think will happen in the next Aussie Rules match.
If you’re a bit new to it all, here’s your guide to the best AFL betting sites and what makes them the best, how some of the most popular markets work, and how to find the best odds out there.
Top 3 AFL Betting Sites
Let’s get straight into it and tell you which footy Australian Betting Sites we consider to tick the most boxes and therefore, which we recommend you play at, to get the most out of your experience.
Picklebet
- Licensed by the Northern Territory Government
- 20+ sports for betting
- Android and iOS apps
- No live betting
Picklebet is one of the New Australian Betting Sites that hasn’t been around for as long as some of the other AFL bookmakers on this list, but Australian punters have really taken a shine to it since it launched a few years ago, and with good reason.
Like explained in my Picklebet review, AFL betting is a key focus area at this bookmaker, offering a wide range of markets on every major fixture throughout the season. You can bet on the match winner, points line (also known as the handicap), and total match points (over/under) for each game. In addition to basic outcomes, Picklebet provides quarter markets, allowing punters to back results or totals for each quarter – a popular choice given AFL’s four-quarter structure, which resembles what American punters love when betting on the NBA.
Other positives here include the fact that you can also take part in Pick’em competitions, which are free to enter and a good option for Aussie Rules fans a little low on funds looking to boost their bank a bit, without risking their own money.
You can also look out for odds boosts ahead of some of the biggest games, where Picklebet will lay better-than-usual prices on certain outcomes.
Nextbet
- 1,000+ casino games
- UKGC and AGCC licenses
- Helpful, responsible gaming tools
- 72-hour payout pending period
Nextbet is another one of the bookmakers offering AFL that takes its Aussie Rules product pretty seriously.
And so it should, given how important the sport is in Australian culture, how many fans there are watching it live and on TV, and how many punters want to put their money where their mouths are when it comes to predicting what could happen in the next round of games.
Then again, there are lots of good AFL bookmakers, so what makes this one so good?
For starters, they’re top-class when it comes to Same Game-multis.
If you’re new to them, they’re what the Europeans call Bet Builders, and allow you to combine several selections from the same game. Nextbet also has a pretty impressive live betting product, though remember that in Australia, you can only place in-play wagers over the phone, not via the website or app.
If you want to learn more about their offering, you can check out my Nextbet Australia Review. But all in all, this is one of the best AFL betting sites on the market.
Bet365
- Payouts within 4 hours
- Android and iOS mobile apps
- Live chat, email, and phone support
- Slow wire transfer deposits
It should come as no surprise to you that a sportsbook like Bet365, which is present in over 100 countries worldwide, from the UK to Denmark, many Asian countries, to certain states in the USA, and of course Australia, provides such an excellent product when it comes to AFL betting. It’s also one of the best Cricket Betting Sites. It covers all the major betting markets of this much-loved sport, and if you enjoy a same-game multi that can see a few bucks turned into a whole load of bucks if it comes good, this could be the AFL site for you.
But it’s also a sportsbook you can rely on for securing some of the best odds for AFL. Backing a certain selection here at 2.5 when it’s only available at odds of 2.2 elsewhere will seriously affect the winnings they pay out to you, and the bigger the bet you’re having each time, the more of a difference it’s going to make to you.
Popular AFL Betting Options
All the best AFL betting sites should offer the markets listed below. But what do these markets actually mean and how do they work?
Head-to-Head (Winner)
The head-to-head betting market is the simplest AFL market and will appeal to the less experienced punter who doesn’t want to get bogged down by some of the intricacies of the game.
In Europe, they might call it the match winner or 1×2 market, instead. You’re predicting who will win the game, and the margin of victory or the total number of points between the two teams is irrelevant, which is why it’s so simple and popular.
Line Betting (Handicap)
This one should be very familiar to fans of rugby betting. The idea is that handicaps make a one-sided contest on paper far more interesting by forcing the favourite to not just win, but win by a certain number of points. Alternatively, you can side with the underdog to win, draw, or lose as long as it’s not by a certain number of points.
For example, +18.5 means they can lose by 18 or fewer and still win the bet. The favourite must win by more than the line margin.
Totals Betting
Another extremely simple Aussie Rules market to play.
Totals betting focuses on the combined points scored by both teams. Bookmakers set an over/under line, such as 171.5 points. Then you just choose to go over, or under, that number.
It doesn’t matter how many points each team scores individually; it only matters how many points are scored in the game as a whole.
Goalscorer Markets
With this one, both soccer bettors and rugby bettors will know exactly what we’re talking about here.
Goalscorer betting lets you back players to kick the first goal, last goal, or a certain number of goals. Key forwards and resting midfielders are common picks, though players in other positions are also capable and available at far higher prices.
These markets can offer high odds, particularly on first-goal bets, making them attractive to those seeking larger returns.
Quarter and Halves Betting
This market breaks the match into smaller segments, rather than just focusing on the final outcome.
You can bet on quarter winners, first-half results, or totals within specific periods.
It may appeal to the more analytical or strategic bettor who may realise that underdogs can start strongly and dominate the first quarter, or realise that though the favourite is behind after one or two quarters, it has what it takes to hit back and win the third.
Player Betting Markets
These are sometimes called player prop markets and involve individual player performances rather than the team as a whole.
Disposals (Touches)
Disposals refer to the total number of times a player successfully kicks or handballs the ball during an AFL match. Bookmakers set an over/under line based on recent form and the player’s role within the team.
Goals
Goals markets focus on how many majors a player will score in a game. Bettors can choose over/under lines or milestone options, such as 2+ or 3+ goals. Key forwards are popular picks, but weather, defensive matchups and team structure can heavily affect scoring opportunities. When it comes to the weather, rainy and blustery conditions tend to make scoring harder.
Tackles
Tackles betting involves predicting how many tackles a player will lay during a match. Inside midfielders and defensive players often record higher numbers because it’s their job to do just that. Contested, close games usually produce more tackles, while open matches reduce them.
Same Game Multi
As stated already, this is what the Europeans call a Bet Builder.
So in an AFL game, you could back Team A to win, for the game to have over X points, and for Player J to be the top goal-kicker.
The AFL betting odds on each selection are then multiplied by each other, and you have an acca at big odds that applies to just one game.
Best AFL Betting Futures Markets
Futures are also known as ‘outrights’ and refer to the season as a whole rather than an individual match. Here are some of the best ones.
Premiership Winner
Premiership Winner betting focuses on which club will claim the AFL flag. Markets open before the season and fluctuate weekly based on the latest results and other factors, such as injuries.
Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal betting centres on predicting the league’s best and fairest player, as voted by umpires. Midfielders, who are normally the stars of the AFL game, dominate due to high possession counts. Suspensions make players ineligible, impacting markets. Votes are awarded on a 3-2-1 basis after each game.
Coleman Medal
Coleman Medal AFL betting involves forecasting the season’s leading goalkicker. Key forwards are typically favourites but not always, with the team’s strength and form also a key factor, as the better teams tend to score the most goals.
What Makes a Good AFL Betting Site?
Time to consider what AFL sites all have in common that makes them the best afl betting sites, including what makes a site one of the Fast Withdrawal Betting Sites. Check it out.
Available Markets
The more markets, the better. They should have all the ones already mentioned in this article and lots of player prop ones in particular, as Aussie Rules fans love playing them.
Best Odds
Securing more generous odds than those you get from competitors are arguably the most important factor of all.
Live Streaming
Bookmakers offering AFL often stream games throughout the season, meaning punters who have had pre-match bets can see how their wagers get on and live betting customers can view the action ahead of their next in-play bet.
In-Play Betting
Speaking of which, a reminder that you can place live bets during AFL matches, but you can’t do so over the site or via the app; you’ll need to phone the AFL bookmakers and do it that way.
Bet Builder
All AFL betting sites will have them, but you want to be able to combine selections from as many markets as possible and have a product that’s easy to use.
Cash Out & Auto Cash Out
Cash Out involves taking a guaranteed profit (less than what you’d originally win) before the match is over, or reducing your losses if you think the bet is going to lose. This feature is very common on the best Small Deposit Betting Sites, this can be done manually, or automatically, by setting up Cash Out beforehand and waiting for a specific scenario to trigger it. It’s important that the site allows for both options.
Stats & Insights
Pre-match and live stats are a good way of getting a feel for the game before it kicks off or during it (for live betting), while analysis and tips from experts and tipsters via a blog, can also help point you in the right direction.
Betting Sites with the Best AFL Odds
Getting the best odds for AFL is essential for the reasons already stated. But how do you do that? The answer is you go to the different sites and see what each one is offering on the selection you’re interested in.
Example:
You want to back the Carlton Blues to beat the Sydney Swans on the opening day of the season. Picklebet are offering 3.0 on Carlton, the Betfair Exchange is going 3.55 but on Nextbet you can get a much bigger 3.85. Bet with Nextbet.
The above is just one example. Say you’re now looking to bet on Sam Darcy to win the Coleman Medal. You might find that, for that bet, the Betfair Exchange offered the highest odds. But the principle is the same: shop around for the best odds.
How to Place a Bet on the AFL?
And here’s how to place a bet at one of the top footy betting sites.
- Open an account and deposit some money.
- Navigate to AFL/Aussie Rules from the list of sports on the right-hand side of the homepage.
- Pick the outright market or the match you want to bet on.
- Click on the selection you want to back once you’re happy with the odds.
- Choose your stake and process the bet.
Read More
Best AFL Betting Sites in Australia FAQ
- What are the best AFL betting sites?
Bet365, Betfair, Picklebet, and Nextbet are among the best.
- Where can I find the best Footy odds?
All four of the bookies mentioned above have good AFL odds, so you can compare odds at those or use an odds comparison site.
- What is line betting in AFL?
It’s also known as handicap betting, and it involves the bookie giving the underdog an artificial start of X points; punters then choose if they think the favourite will overcome the handicap or whether the underdog will stay within it.
- What is a same game multi?
Also known as a Bet Builder, it’s a bet with multiple selections from different markets all relating to the same match.
- When does AFL season start?
The opening game of the 2026 season is on March 5 between the Sydney Swans and the Carlton Blues.