Betting sites: find the best bookmakers in Australia in 2023

unibet logo
Great range of horse racing markets
 
Unibet
  • Great racing and sports odds
  • A huge variety of betting markets
  • Spread Betting
If T&C applicable +18
Ladbrokes Logo
A huge variety of betting markets
 
PointsBet
  • Easy sign up and verification process
  • Best tote odds and best starting price
  • User-friendly design
If T&C applicable +18

Who is the best betting sites in Australia? We are going to give you all the information that you need about the top 10 best-betting sites in Australia. You will be able to find information on every detail of 10 different online sports betting sites to help you make the best decision for your needs!

List of the best betting sites

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Unibet Logo
Unibet: A huge variety of betting markets

+18 T & C ?

  • Sports & Horse Racing Betting App
  • Fantastic betting odds
  • Live streaming of over 30,000 sporting events

Unibet Australia

Unibet was established all the way back in 1997 and has since become one of the premier sports betting platforms in the world. The brand caters to over 5 million customers residing in over 100 countries. Unibet entered into the Australian market by acquiring existing online sportsbooks, BetChoice. The sportsbook was rebranded to Unibet Australia in 2012 and is now one of the top betting platforms in the region.

Unibet is an approved betting partner of the NRL, Australian Rugby Union, Cricket, AFL, Australia, Tennis Australia, Netball Australia PGA Australia, and the UFC. The site has won multiple online service awards including the eGaming Review Sports Betting Operator of the Year (2006, 2008, 2009 and 2016).

One of the key selling points of Unibet is the HUGE collection of sports and leagues to choose from. Punters have access to pretty much every major sport from around the world, including a number of less popular niche sports.

The brand’s mobile app is considered one of the best in Australia and is available on both iOS and Android devices. Unibet TV can be accessed on the app and the desktop platform, providing live streams of thousands of sporting events each year. 

Unibet Australia

 

Check our complete guide

Ladbrokes: Astounding choice of sports

+18 T & C ?

  • Best tote odds and best starting price
  • Extended range of games
  • Mobile Friendly site as well as Apps for Apple and Android devices

Ladbrokes Australia

UK bookmaking giant, Ladbrokes has already made a large impression on the Australian online betting market. As a means of entering Australia, Ladbrokes purchased Bookmaker.com.au, a Brisbane-based bookmaker that launched in February 2012. Ladbrokes launched soon after in September of 2013 and has since bought over another top Australian sportsbook, Neds Australia. The three online sports betting sites together hold a large amount of the Australian online betting traffic.

Ladbrokes makes betting easy by sticking to simplicity. The platform is very easy to navigate and makes depositing/withdrawing a breeze. The Ladbrokes Card is a great feature which gives customers access to their winnings from any ATM. You may also use the card to make point-of-sale purchases as you would with any other debit card.

The sports collection at Ladbrokes is fairly large and the odds competitive with other top bookies in the region. Live betting is available via phone with odds displayed on the website. Live streaming is currently not available.

Please note: due to the Interactive Gambling Act in Australia, any form of live betting cannot be conducted online.

A Ladbrokes mobile app can be downloaded on iOS and Android devices by visiting the respective app stores. The app is considered one of the best among betting sites in Australia and has won multiple awards.

Check our complete guide

PointsBet: great range of horse racing markets

+18 T & C ?

  • Great deal of betting markets
  • Mobile app compatible with iOS & Android

PointsBet Australia

Pointsbet launched in 2017 and is currently the only spread betting operator in Australia. Spread betting is a form of wagering that pays a variable amount which depends on the accuracy of your wager. In other words, how much you win or lose depends on the margin by which you bet wins or loses. This is different from normal fixed odds betting that pays a set amount if a certain criterion is achieved.

PointsBet is licensed in the Northern Territory by the Northern Territory Racing Commission and is a partner of AFL, Cricket Australia, NRL, Tennis Australia and the Football Federation Australia. 

In terms of sports and leagues, PointsBet has as a selection that rivals most top bookmakers in Australia. Punters can make spread bets on favourites such as Aussie rules, horse racing rugby, cricket, soccer and tennis. American leagues including the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL are also available, along with a number of niche sports.

A PointsBet mobile app can be downloaded on both iOS and Android devices with the same functionality as the browser-based client. Live chat support can be contacted with just the click of a button for assistance if you run into any issues.

PointsBet Australia
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PlayUp
PlayUp: 65,000+ pre-match events every month

+18 T & C ?

  • Live Streaming
  • The interface loads quickly, is beginner-friendly and easy to use
  • A good range of sports market

PlayUp Australia

PlayUp is the newest betting sites Australia has to offer, launching in October of 2019. The operator was created through a merger between Classic Bet and Mad Bookie and is expected to take over TopBetta in the near future. PlayUp is divided into multiple betting services including, sports betting, race betting, fantasy sports betting and eSports betting.

PlayUp is an official partner with the Rabbitohs and Newscorp. It is also an approved betting partner for the AFL, NRL, Tennis Australia, Cricket Australia, Australian Rugby Union and PGA Australia.

In terms of sports events, PlayUp provides 65,000+ pre-match events every month and 40,000+ live matches every month. There are over 120 sports supported including Virtuals and eSports. The horse racing section is one of the highlights of the site, which includes AU/UK/USA horse racing and a variety of bet types.

A mobile app is available for both Android and iOS devices. Although brand new, the app is considered by many to be one of the most robust and user-friendly in Australia.

A single-wallet can be used to fund and withdraw between all the different PlayUp brands. Fantasy sports betting is also integrated into the same single-wallet system.

PlayUp Australia

Neds: A huge variety of betting markets

+18 T & C ?

  • Great mobile app for iOS & Android
  • Live betting on variety of sports
  • Great range of horse racing markets

Neds Australia

Neds was founded by prominent bookmaker Dean Shannon in 2017, making it one of the newer online sportsbooks to hit Australia. The sports betting site has since been acquired by Ladbrokes and is currently owned by GVC Holdings.

Although Neds is relatively new to the betting scene, it has done exceedingly well in building a customer base. This can be attributed in part to the world-class user interface and a wide range of betting markets available on the site. Users can choose from over 25 sports and hundreds of leagues from around the world. Horse racing, in particular, is extremely popular, with a separate section that features hundreds of races each week.

The Neds mobile app is one of the best in the region, allowing punters to bet on the go from anywhere in Australia. The app is available on both iOS and Android devices and can be downloaded directly from the operator’s website.

Live betting is unavailable online, however, live odds can be viewed on the site and phoned in on the Neds Australia hotline.

Please note, due to the Interactive Gambling Act in Australia, any form of live betting cannot be conducted online.

Neds is licensed and regulated by the Northern Territory Government. South Australian residents’ gambling operations are governed by the South Australian Gambling Codes of Practice.

Neds Australia

Bookmaker.com.au: A huge amount of betting markets available

+18 T & C ?

  • Protest payout
  • Over 35 different kinds of Sports
  • Exotics- Quinella, Exacta, Trifecta, First Four

Bookmaker.com.au Australia

Bookmaker.com.au launched in 2012 and was acquired by UK bookmaker Ladbrokes in 2013. The sportsbook was originally licensed and regulated by the Norfolk Island Gaming Authority but switched to Northern Territory in 2016. Both bookmaker.com.au and Ladbrokes Australia use the same markets and odds but provide different user interfaces. The online sportsbook is considered one of the best betting sites Australia has to offer.

Bookmaker.com.au is an approved betting operator for NRL, AFL, Australia Rugby, Cricket Australia, Tennis Australia and PGA Australia.

Much like its sister sportsbook, bookmaker.com.au has a sizable collection of sports and leagues to pick from. The collection consists of everything you’d expect like AFL, NRL, Tennis, ALeague and Cricket to niche sports including eSports and Handball. A big focus is also put on horse racing and greyhounds, with its very own section filled with daily races.

Live sports betting can be phoned using the operator’s hotline, with odds to live bets displayed on the website. There is currently no live streaming of sporting events available on the platform.

Mobile users will be happy to hear that the sportsbook is fully compatible with both Android and iOS devices. Punters can download the app for free by visiting the operator’s website or searching the app stores.

 

Bookmaker.com.au Australia

Betfair: The only Betting Exchange in Australia

+18 T & C ?

  • A dedicated app that is available for mobile and tablet users.
  • A wide variety of sports
  • The only Australian licensed betting exchange

Betfair Australia

The Betfair Exchange launched in 2000 in the UK and expanded in Tasmania in 2005. In September 2016, Betfair became licensed in the Northern Territory. It is the only betting exchange to hold an Australian licence at the moment. 

Betting exchanges are different that bookmakers as they operate as a marketplace. Instead of simply providing fixed odds, members set the odds for an event and others may take up those odds. This allows users to act as both a bettor and a bookmaker. By taking a small flat commission and not keeping margins on each bet, Betfair provides better overall odds than fixed odds sportsbooks. 

The sports collection at Betfair is one of the largest in Australia, featuring over 30 sports and hundreds of leagues. The horse racing section is extremely popular and even features in-play live odds or races that are already underway.

Live betting is available via phone with odds displayed in the ‘In-play’ section of the website. Live streaming of select sporting events can also be accessed with a funded betting account. 

Please note: due to the Interactive Gambling Act in Australia, any form of live betting cannot be conducted online.

Betfair Australia

 

 

How we picked the legal betting sites in Australia?

Australia has quite a few online sports betting sites available and with very strict and complex laws in place, it can sometimes be difficult to determine which of these sites are following all of them.

It is simply too risky to just start playing at random betting sites Australia online without first doing a thorough check – that’s why we have done it all for you!

We have compiled a comparison review to give the inside scoop on 10 of the best betting sites Australia so that you can make an informed pick. Our site uses an experienced team of researchers to test out all of these sites and highlight the pros and cons of each for the user.

Our review team has assessed all the factors that determine the best betting sites for sport: trustworthiness, security and range of betting, amongst other factors. We have been extremely thorough in our testing, so much so that we have even tested the mobile sites and mobile apps of all the bookmakers, just to make sure you know about every aspect of the betting sites for sport before you make a decision on which to join.

Bookmakers sites to bet online

Unibet

What we like
What we don’t like
A wide selection of sporting and racing events Slow live streaming
Vast eSports betting options Not a lot of help resources
24/7 live phone betting line Largely focused on American sporting events

Pointsbet

What we like
What we don’t like
24/7 Live chat No score updates for live events
Great spread betting options Website difficult to navigate
Well designed app Not as many betting options as competitors

New betting sites available for the Australian market

There are so many new Australian sports betting sites online that it can be a bit overwhelming trying to choose which one suits you best. To narrow it down, we have selected our top 10 favourite new betting sites for sport in Australia, in no particular order, they are: Betfair, Ladbrokes, Neds, PointsBet, Unibet, Bookmaker.com.au, and BetEasy.

Signing up to any of the sites listed above entails completing a very similar process:

  1. Navigate to the best betting sites online
  2. Select Sign up/Join now/Register
  3. Fill in your basic details, such as name, email, cell phone number, birth date, and address
  4. Enter your code if you have one or the site requires one at this point
  5. Complete your registration. 

Each site’s sign up process will be slightly different, but the above steps are the main ones that all online new betting sites involve. sports betting in Australia

Here is an overview of the best Australian new betting sites that we have reviewed and verified:

Betfair Exchange

Betfair is the largest peer to peer betting platform in the world and the only betting exchange available in Australia. As of 2016, the operator is licensed to take bets in the Northern Territory. A joint venture between CrownBet and Betfair allows Betfair to focus on exchange wagering and BetEasy to provide fixed odds. 

Betting exchanges are different from fixed odds sportsbooks by operating as a marketplace. Punters can buy (also known as “back”) and sell (also known as “lay”) an outcome to sporting events. This enables users to act as both a punter and bookmaker. 

Fixed odds operators generally generate revenue by offering less efficient odds. Whereas betting exchanges normally generate revenue by charging a small commission on winning bets. Thus, exchanges are known for providing better margins than fixed-odds betting sites. The commission at Betfair Australia is 5% of winning wagers.

Top Features:

Live Betting*- live bets can be made via phone by using the Betfair hotline. Odds for live bets are displayed in the live betting section of the website and app.

Mobile App- the Betfair mobile app is available on iOS and Android devices and can be downloaded by visiting the Betfair Exchange website. The award-winning app provides an exchange, lay and back betting, and quick deposits/withdrawals.

The Hub- the hub is a betting guide that presents a wealth of valuable betting data that can be used to make winning bets. Betting data includes prediction models, expert tips, horse and greyhound ratings and data science ratings. The Hub is available 24/7 and puts out new data every single day.

Betfair Live- is a market watching tool that is a one-stop-shop for everything that’s happening on the Exchange. By watching the market closely, you have a great chance to find your edge.

Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes is a UK-based online sports betting platform whose origins date back to 1886. The brand launched in Australia in 2013 and has since become one of the most popular betting sites Australia has to offer.

Ladbrokes acquired other top sportsbooks Bookmaker.com.au in 2013 and Neds Australia in 2018. Both sportsbooks have been running alongside the Ladbrokes Australia flagship sportsbook with similar user interfaces and products. All three sites use the same odds and betting markets.

Top Features:

Live Betting*- Live betting is available via phone with odds displayed online through the website and app. A special QuickCall feature is available, which enables punters to place live wagers using their computer’s microphone.

Mobile App- a mobile app version of the platform is available with all the same functionality as the browser-based client. The app can be downloaded on both iOS and Android devices respectively.

Ladbrokes EFTPOS Card- with the Ladbrokes EFTPOS Card winnings can be withdrawn from an ATM within seconds after a bet has concluded. You can use the debit card to withdraw up to $1,000 cash/day from ATMs or complete EFTPOS transactions of up to $2,500 per/day. 

Same Game Multi- allows you to place multiple bets using a combination of legs within the same AFL and NRL match. Normally multi bets cannot be placed on legs within the same match.

Neds Australia

Neds was created by well-known bookmaker Dean Shannon in 2017 and has since been acquired by Ladbrokes in 2018. Despite being one of the newest betting sites Australia has to offer, Neds has been able to capture a large audience.

This can be chalked up in major part to the top user interface and technology used by the bookmaker. Neds uses Goland, the computer programming language developed at Google in 2007. Goland is known for its ability to deal with high volumes of inquiries and transactions.

Neds is licensed and regulated by the Northern Territory Government. South Australian residents’ gambling operations are governed by the South Australian Gambling Codes of Practice.

Top Features:

Live Betting*- Live betting options can be found at Ladbrokes in the ‘In-Play’ section of the platform. Unfortunately due to Australian laws, online live bets are not available. Instead, users may phone in their live bets on the Neds Australia hotline.

Mobile App- the Neds mobile app is among the best of betting sites in Australia. The app, much like the website, has a great user interface which is easy to navigate. To download the app you may either visit the website and download directly or search in the app stores.

Punters Toolbox- the Punters Toolbox at Neds is a combination of multiple betting products built to give horse racing bettors an advantage. There are four unique products at the moment: Fluc Up,  Back Up, Jump Off and Price Boost.

PointsBet

PointsBet launched in 2017, making it one of the newest betting sites Australia has on offer. What’s different about PointsBet is that it’s the only bookmaker which provides spread betting in the region. 

Spread betting is a type of betting which pays out variable amounts which depends on the accuracy of the wager. So basically, the amount that a punter wins or loses is dependant on the margin by which they win/lose by. Typically fixed odds betting, on the other hand, pays a set amount of money if a criterion is completed. Pointsbet allows punters to both spread bet and used fixed odds bets on their platform.

Pointsbet is licensed in the Northern Territory by the Northern Territory Racing Commission. The operator is also a partner of AFL, Cricket Australia, NRL, Tennis Australia and the Football Federation Australia. 

Top Features:

Spread Betting-  as the only licensed spread betting platform in Australia, Pointsbet holds an edge over all fixed odds betting sites. Spread bets are ideal for bettors looking for a little more gamble in their wagers, with bigger wins and losses.

Live Betting*- live in-play wagering is available on the site via phone call-ins on the operator’s designated hotline. The odds for live bets can be viewed in ‘In-Play’ section of the website and app.

Mobile App- punters can spread bet through the Pointsbet mobile app on both Android and iOS. The app has a built-in spread betting calculator and alerts and notifications for completed wagers.

Live Chat Support- you may contact the Customer Support Team via live chat 24/7 by simply clicking on the chat widget. Response times for live chat are generally under a minute.

Unibet

Unibet has been one of the world’s leading sportsbooks for over two decades now. The brand has more than 5 million customers worldwide and is among the largest betting sites Australia has on offer. Unibet acquired BetChoice to expand its customer base in Australia when entering the market. BetChoice rebranded into Unibet Australia in 2012.

Unibet is the winner of multiple service provider awards including the eGaming Review Sports Betting Operator of the Year (2006, 2008, 2009 and 2016). The brand also won the Live Operator of the Year Award in 2009.

Unibet is an approved betting partner of several Australian leagues including the NRL, Australian Rugby Union, Cricket, AFL, Australia, Tennis Australia, Netball Australia PGA Australia, and the UFC. 

Top Features:

Live Betting*-  live betting at Unibet is available over the phone and live betting markets can be viewed online. The in-play betting section is very easy to use and consists of more betting opportunities than most other sportsbooks in the region.

Mobile App- the Unibet mobile app has won multiple awards for its software. It’s currently available on both iOS and Android devices and can be downloaded directly from the website. Live betting, live streaming and quick deposit/withdrawals are just a few of the many great features available with the app.

Unibet TV- live streaming of thousands of sporting events is available each year on Unibet TV. Just click on tv icon above live sporting events for access to the streams. Users are required to have a funded account or a bet placed within the past 24 hours to use Unibet TV.

Bookmaker.com.au

Bookmaker.com.au went live in 2012 and was quickly bought over by UK bookmaker Ladbrokes in 2013. As with Neds Australia, Bookmaker.com.au and Ladbrokes Australia use the same markets and odds. The interfaces and designs on each site are different, however. 

Bookmaker.com.au is one of the few betting operators approved for NRL, AFL, Australia Rugby, Cricket Australia, Tennis Australia and PGA Australia betting. The sportsbook was originally licensed and regulated by the Norfolk Island Gaming Authority but switched to Northern Territory in 2016.

Top Features:

Live Betting*- as with most sports betting sites Australia has, live betting is only available via call in by phone. Users may, however, view up to the minute odds on live bets on the Bookmaker.com.au website.

Mobile App- the Bookmaker.com.au mobile app is available for both iOS and Android downloads. The app gives mobile bettors the chance to get alerts and notifications for completed and upcoming bets. Quick deposit options are also available for getting money onto the site in a hurry.

Bookmaker Card- the Bookmaker Card gives you access to your winnings instantly. Not only that, you can use the card for purchases everywhere Visa is accepted, even online. All you need to do is activate your card and transfer some winnings from account to your card. Card fees and load limits apply. Jockey Challenge- horse racing fans have the option of taking part in jockey challenges throughout the year. The Jockey Challenge allows you to pick which jockey you think will come out on top at a select meeting. If your jockey finishes the day on top, you win a prize.

Sport betting sites: bet on football, cricket, horse racing

Since these are the top 10 sites that we could find for new betting sites for sport online in Australia, they all offer a good range of the best online sports to choose from. All of our top 10 sites offer sports betting for:

Type of sports betting Type of sports betting
Tennis Australian rules
Basketball Baseball
American football Boxing
Athletics Cricket
Cycling Darts
eSports Golf
Ice hockey Motorsports
Rugby league Rugby union
Soccer MMA

The only difference when it comes to gameplay variety is the extra exciting events that various sites allow you to bet on that are more niche. Some of the more niche events that you can find at only a selected few Australian bookmakers are the Olympics, the Winter Olympics, snooker, surfing, politics, entertainment, and Netball. One of the most fun betting categories we enjoy is the ‘Novelties’ category.

This section is usually reserved for players to come up with their bets on random events – they will almost let you place a bet on anything. Unibet is especially great at this section. If you head over to Unibet, you will be able to place a bet on things such as:

  • Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s first child’s name
  • The next Time’s Person of the Year
  • The next person to be killed off in Game of Thrones
  • The next Eurovision winner
  • The price of gold
  • when Britain will officially exit the European Union

The above mentioned are just a small group of bets available in the Unibet Novelty section – there are more than 80 currently – plus most of the other top 10 sites also offer their own “Novelty” sections with similar bets. But for us, Unibet wins in the novelty section hands down, they will take a bet on almost anything which leads to some very fun and interesting bets!

Horse racing in Australia

Which betting sites in Australia with the best features?

Betting Sites In Australia With Best Features Special Features Check bookie’s site
ladbrokes logo

Ladbrokes

Live Betting via Phone

Mobile App

Ladbrokes Blog

Same Game Multi Bets

Unibet

Unibet TV

Live Betting via Phone

Mobile App

Stats & Live Scores

Blog

betfair logo

Betfair

Exchange Betting

Live Betting via Phone

Mobile App

The Hub

Betting Statistics

TBA
neds logo

Neds

Live Betting via Phone

Mobile App

Punters Toolbox

Blog

TBA

Melbourne Cup 2023 latest news

The Melbourne Cup 2023 is fast approaching, with runners, odds, tips and riders information on the brink of release. We expect the operators to start putting out their Melbourne Cup betting very soon. Check our complete guide on the Melbourne Cup 2023.

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