Best Australian betting sites

As it is widely known, Aussies love betting. For the past two hundred years, gambling has been a popular pastime in Australia and in 1996, sports betting was brought online. Regulation was needed to support this and it was passed in 2001 in the form of the Interactive Gambling Act. Currently, local Australian betting sites operate with licenses issued by separate authorities, as there are different regulators for each state and territory. However, licensed sites come with certain restrictions, like not allowing in-play betting online but only through the phone, not offering casino games and not welcoming new players with a sign up bonus. This has led many Aussies to offshore betting sites. We have reviewed all betting sites in Australia to bring you the very best.

5 things to know about betting sites in Australia

• You can join any betting site in Australia provided that you are at least 18 years old
• 40% of all adults bet at least once a month
• Betting winnings are tax-free
• The Northern Territory Racing Commission issues licenses to betting sites & exchanges
• In-play bets can only be placed over the phone on local licensees

Best betting sites in Australia for 2023

The shortlist below consists of the best betting sites Australia has to offer for 2023. We have reviewed them in terms of odds and markets on all the popular Aussie sports. Plus, we’ve tested their level of AU localization and their transaction times.

How Australian betting sites operate

All the licensed betting sites Australia offers are subject to laws and regulations in their operating state or territory. Each one of them has different provisions when it comes to regulating gambling. On top of that, they all have their own licensing authorities and operators must comply with their rules to obtain a gambling license. The Northern Territory leads the way for gambling legislation on a state/territory level and runs the NT Racing Commission which is largely responsible for regulating sports betting sites.

On a federal level, all betting websites Australia offers must abide by the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. It is the main piece of gambling legislation in the country. The act covers all online gambling activities and overrides any state law. According to its provisions, licensed online operators cannot offer casino games and are only allowed to offer in-play betting through the phone. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is responsible for the enforcement of the federal interactive gambling laws.

Last but not least, taxes for licensed betting sites differ from state to state and depend on which gambling products they offer. Depending on the state, operators can be taxed on their turnover, player loss or net profit.

What sports do Australian betting websites offer

Australians are renowned around the world for their passion for betting on sports. That’s why the top betting sites Australia offers come with hundreds of sporting events. Along with cricket, soccer and basketball, Aussie bettors can find markets on the nation's favorite sports. The biggest sport in Australia is undoubtedly Aussie rules. So, on most betting sites, you can find an average of 100 markets on each match of the Australian Football League (AFL). Rugby is the second most popular sport offered for betting on online operators. Be it rugby league or rugby union, Australian punters are keen on placing wagers on their favorite teams.

What should players know about betting websites in Australia

Before you start betting, there’s some essential information we need to share with you. First of all, the legal age for signing up on any betting site operating in Australia is 18. This is nationwide and you will be required to provide a copy of your ID to verify your account. The good news is that all winnings deriving from Australian betting sites are tax-free. This is because the government does not see gambling as a profession but as a hobby. It also considers gambling winnings as a result of luck and not as income.

It is also worth noting that in Australia, betting sites that don’t hold a license issued by a state or territory, are typically considered illegal. Nevertheless, bettors who place their wagers on offshore betting sites are not prosecuted. Besides, due to the restrictions imposed on local online licensees (i.e. no casino & live betting only allowed via the phone); many bettors opt for international operators who have optimized their online platforms based on their needs. They provide a wide array of live bets on popular Aussie sports, accept AUD deposits and offer local payments.

How to deposit on Australian online betting sites

Although there are several ways in which you can fund your betting account, most Aussie players prefer payment methods that are popular domestically. More specifically, the ones that are used the most are POLi, BPAY and PayID. POLi is the most frequently used payment method in Australia. It is an instant banking payment that allows you to transfer money quickly and without the hassle of credit cards. BPAY is yet another convenient payment option. The only drawback is that it is a deposit-only method, as withdrawals are made through bank transfer, and it can take up to several days for the funds to be in your account. PayID offers instant and secure transactions and is compatible with all the big Australian banks, including ANZ and NAB. It is worth noting, though, that most local payments are not available on offshore betting sites.

Nevertheless, there are many international deposit methods that are also popular among Aussie players. Namely, e-wallets like PayPal, Skrill & Neteller, mobile payments like Apple Pay and vouchers like Flexepin & Neosurf. Furthermore, credit/debit cards and cryptocurrencies are also widely used and are available on most online betting sites Australia offers.

Why it’s worth wagering on online betting sites in Australia

Placing your wagers on online betting sites is more convenient than doing so on land-based operators. However, those who opt for local licensees should be prepared to face several restrictions. Firstly, they cannot place live bets on their preferred betting platform and can only do so via the phone. Moreover, they cannot play casino games online, since they are completely prohibited by the Interactive Gambling Act. Thus, they are not offered by local betting operators.

On the other hand, there is a growing number of punters who opt for international betting sites that operate in the country. Those sites offer welcome bonuses to new players, a wide variety of in-play markets on all the popular Aussie sports, higher odds than the local licensees and a decent casino. So we can conclude that based on your profile, the best online betting sites Australia offers are arguably the international ones.

The complete list of Australian sports betting sites

After thoroughly examining the local market, it is time to present you the full list of online betting sites Australia has to offer. Check them all out and opt for those that suit you best.