Australia Betting Sites
The Australian online betting industry is a very lucrative field that constantly attracts new players, and the revenue exceeds millions of dollars in the country. This is also a strongly regulated field. Our guide will provide all the essential details and aspects for bettors looking for reliable and secure betting sites that comply with general requirements.
Gambling Laws in Australia
Despite the long period of prohibition, Australia has always played a lot and hard. Illegal betting was ineradicable. In the 80s, the government finally allowed bets, but this only concerned licensed bookmakers. The Interactive Gambling Act has been in effect in the country since 2001, which has severely curtailed the opportunities for operators in the gambling industry. Sports wagers are currently completely legal. The only sports betting niche that is still banned by Australian law is in-play betting. Meaning bookmakers are not permitted to take bets on live sport online. However, they are permitted to take bets on live sport via telephone betting.
At the present moment, Australians can:
- Place sports bets and play the online lottery;
- Make in-play bets only via telephone betting;
We should not forget that Australia is a federal state; each state and territory has its internal government and its laws, including those related to gambling.
An important feature of Australian betting legislation is the ban on live bets. The bookmakers took this decision with hostility, delaying adopting this critical amendment to the law. But in the end, in 2016, the ban came into force. A year later, the authorities closed a loophole used by bookmakers after the law was published.
Is Betting Legal?
Online sports betting in Australia is legal, but once again, we should mention that some forms of betting are not considered legal in the country. There are three important points we need to mention when it comes to online betting and gambling in Australia:
- It is a must for online bookmakers to have respective licenses;
- Citizens can freely access international betting websites, which meet the requirements that are set in the country;
- Online casino, poker, slots/pokies, and other types of online gaming are prohibited in Australia.
When we talk about the legality of betting in Australia, we should not neglect that this field is strictly controlled, and there are almost no fraudulent websites that do not have licenses or try to deceive their clients. The Australian government regulates the industry, and unlicensed bookmakers are not allowed to enter the "arena." Any attempts are foiled by the government immediately. However, new sites appear constantly, but as the competition is enormous, it is difficult for them to challenge the best betting sites in the country.
How to Start Betting?
Another important aspect associated with online betting in Australia is how to start placing bets properly. Here are some important steps every player needs to follow before they decide to engage in the following activity:
- First of all, you need to register. It means opening a new account on the bookmaker's website, which includes creating a new username by providing necessary information;
- After that, you need to make the first deposit. Usually, deposits rarely exceed $10, but you can always check the requirements on the website;
- After creating a new account and making the first deposit, you should find the preferred markets and place the bet;
- That's it. After the matches have been picked up, you need to wait before your betslip is settled.
Top Bookmakers in Australia
Bet365
Bet365 is one of the biggest and best brands worldwide and no wonder it managed to firmly gain a foothold in Australia. Bet365 Australia is fully licensed and safe. The gambling company was established back in 1974 and since then became widespread in numerous countries and Australia has been no exception.
Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes was launched in 2013 and quickly managed to establish itself in the betting industry in Australia. It is a well-known and trusted online betting company that entered the Australian betting market primarily because of its focus on horse racing, which is highly appreciated by the latter. The company operates under the licence issued to Entain Group Pty Ltd.
Unibet
Unibet online sportsbook is a part of Kindred Group and the betting site is operating under the licence issued to Betchoice Corporation Pty Ltd. Unibet offers a perfect horse racing betting experience. Over 300,000 events are available for betting every year on Unibet’s website.
Neds
Neds was founded in 2017 and is considered one of the most innovative online sportsbooks in Australia. Neds is a robust platform that is rapidly growing and offers customers entertaining services. The infrastructure of the website is highly scalable and over a million transactions are executed daily.
Sportsbet
The name Sportsbet Australia was first registered in 1994 and right now it is one of the leading betting service providers in the country. Sportsbet has over 1.2 million registered customers. The company is also a staunch supporter of responsible gambling.
TABtouch
TABtouch is a reputable Australian bookmaker that has a major presence in the Western part of the country. The bookmaker was established in 1961 and was one of the first entities that started offering online betting to customers. The betting site is pretty popular among punters and has thousands of customers.
TopSport
TopSport is widely acknowledged as one of the fairest online betting companies in Australia. The company is known worldwide for its operation and within Australia, also managed to gain a lot of popularity among local punters. Under the NSW Government TopSport has been given full permission to conduct online betting in Australia.
Sports Betting in Australia
Sports betting in Australia is a pretty popular activity. We can single out the following sports disciplines that enjoy the most popularity in the country. If we look at the list of Australian online bookmakers, you can find the below-mentioned sports on their websites.
Cricket
Cricket is considered one of the most popular sports in Australia, and it goes without a question that the discipline enjoys a lot of attention in betting. Punters fond of cricket can easily find Australian legal betting sites that have cricket available in the sportsbook section. Top championships and tournaments are always presented on Australian legal sports betting companies, and customers can always find relevant markets.
Soccer
Australia may not be the first country in terms of the popularity of soccer/football. Still, there are always opportunities for players to place bets both on domestic and international tournaments. Mainly bettors prefer placing bets on top European championships, but the A-League, the top soccer league in the country, is also gaining a foothold. Here are some of the best teams that customers might find interesting before betting:
- Sydney;
- Melbourne City;
- Gold Coast United.
Tennis
Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world, and Australia is no exception. The country has one of the strongest tennis players in the world, and legal betting sites in Australia offer the opportunity to feature tennis matches in betslips. In tennis, you can include main as well as additional bet markets. Australian online bookmakers set no limitations whatsoever on tennis matches.
Rugby
Like cricket, rugby is also a prevalent sport discipline in Australia. The country has one of the strongest teams alongside England, New Zealand, and South Africa. It is a regular participant of the World Cup, so the bookmakers are constantly offering new different matches on Australian rugby tournaments. Whether it is a local or international league, citizens from Australia can always choose popular matches and feature them in betslips.
Horse Racing
Horse racing was one of the first disciplines that laid the foundation for betting not only in Australia but also in the rest of the world. In the country's bookmakers list, horse racing plays a significant role. Some bookmakers have specific sections oriented towards racing, where users can choose their favourite horses and make long-term bets. Horse racing in Australia generates massive revenue compared to other sports, and the excitement of this discipline constantly attracts spectators.
Sports Betting Apps and Features
Today mobile betting has become an inseparable part of online betting. More and more people are gradually turning to betting with their phones in Australia, rather than using traditional desktop computers. Having a decent mobile app is a must for most online betting sites in Australia, and it helps them appear at the top of the list in the country.
Rather than taking your laptop with you, having a mobile phone is enough to engage in a world of betting. We should point out the following advantages of the best apps in Australia:
- Ease of deposits and withdrawals;
- Complete control over your account;
- Diversity of sports;
- Efficiency;
- Decent user experience and design.
Every online bookmaker offering services in Australia provides clients with mobile betting apps, and there are no restrictions on downloading them unless a particular bookmaker does not set limitations. They are entirely free to download from the App Store or website. However, in some cases, you might be required to turn on location services on your device.
One of the main drawbacks of Australian sports betting apps is that no in-play betting is supported. It does not matter whether you are using iOS or Android; sportsbooks will not allow such a feature.
Bet365
The app of Bet365 makes it possible to place bets from any location in Australia with just a mobile app. A well-adapted version for any mobile device running iOS and Android makes it possible to fully use all the functions and capabilities of the Bet365 bookmaker.
Firstly, you can easily register on the bookmaker’s website from your phone. There is a number of markets supported on different events. At the same time, it is possible to place bets and make deposits and withdrawals easily.
Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes Australia mobile app enables you to have the whole betting experience in your palm. The app grants complete control over your account. To run the app smoothly you will need to have Android and iOS versions 5.0 and 11.0 or later respectively.
Unibet
Unibet Australia online bookmaker has a fast and secure mobile app that supports thousands of racing and sports events. Special features inside the app include live streaming, and activity feed, where you can check the statistics of different matches. The app is completely free to download.
Neds
Neds mobile apps for Android and IOS are available for download directly from the bookmaker's website. The app is completely secure, safe, and compatible with mobile devices. Like the majority of other mobile apps, you need to have Android 5.0 or higher.
Sportsbet
Combining experience and different features, Sportsbet Australia mobile app works perfectly on Android devices 5.0 or higher and iOS 11.0 or later. There is a lot of choices for sports lovers inside the app for betting. You can execute deposits in a few clicks on your account.
TABtouch
With TABtouch mobile app that is supported on both Android and iOS devices, you can access the best odds on different sports. Simultaneously, you can try out other features such as Giddy-Up expert ratings and watch Live Racing. Deposits and withdrawals are also possible with just a single click. With the app, you can bet on anything in Australia.
TopSport
TopSport has one of the best betting apps in Australia which is fast, free, and packed with great odds. The app is regularly updated to fix issues and bugs that might disrupt the smooth performance of the platform. With a wide range of events, the app is perfect for punters.
Banking Options
When we talk about banking options on Australian betting sites, they are entirely safe, as most online gambling sites are regulated. You can use a plethora of methods to deposit money on your balance as well as withdraw them on your credit cards.
Here are several steps you need to consider before depositing money on your balance:
- Choose a legit Australian bookmaker;
- Create a new account;
- Head to the "Cashier" section;
- Choose the preferred banking method and transfer money on your balance.
We should point out that most Australian online bookmakers require entering personal information before you proceed with deposits. The same can be said about withdrawals.
Deposit Options
One of the most widely used methods to replenish your balance is Visa and Mastercard. Credit cards are prevalent, primarily because of their safety, security, and reputation. At the same time, users can also use the following methods:
- Skrill;
- Neteller;
- PayPal;
- E-wallets.
With the advent of cryptocurrencies, Australian betting sites also offer customers the possibility to transfer money via Bitcoin or other digital coins. Compared to fiat methods, they are anonymous, safe, and require almost no commission fees.
Australian payment processor POLi is also a popular banking method, which helps clients instantly transfer their funds on balance without additional complications. In short, depositing is pretty easy on Australian legal gambling sites as long as you comply with the requirements.
Withdraw Options
Similar to depositing, users can withdraw money from their balance with the following methods:
- POLi;
- Credit cards;
- E-wallets.
Unlike deposits, withdrawals might take some time before they are executed. On average, it would take up to 5 banking days before the money appears on your balance. As we have already mentioned above, transactions with cryptocurrencies are way faster than their fiat counterparts. Account verification is a must as it is a way to determine the status of a player.
The Bottom Line
Online betting in Australia is legal, but the same cannot be said about live betting. The betting industry is strictly regulated within the country which in fact makes it safe for bettors, and all players wishing to place bets on different sports are free to engage in betting.
Responsible Gaming
Telecom Asia Sport is committed to responsible gambling and provides a range of educational content to help with sports betting. Please only bet what you can afford to lose and seek help if betting is no longer enjoyable or affects your life. The content on the website is the authors' opinions and is not to be taken as actual betting advice. Bet at your own risk.
✔ What's gambling really costing you? Gamble Responsibly. Call Gambler's Help; National Gambling Helpline: 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au 18+