Australian betting sites reviews and ratings
Australians have many regulated and legal online bookmakers to choose from, with this page highlighting our reviews of the best betting sites. Below you will find highlights of each bookmaker plus links to each of the betting sites’ reviews and bonus information.
Australian online bookmaker reviews 2024
The best Australian online bookmaker reviews are written by the team at BettingSite.com.au, who are experienced and passionate about the sports betting industry in Australia. We highlight things at bookmakers like the diversity of markets available, where each betting site shines, what sports they excel in covering, plus more housekeeping topics like the deposit and withdrawal methods they offer, customer service and their reputation among other bettors in Australia.
This is my table
Reviews of AU online betting sites
Can’t be bothered reading a mountain of words about a betting site you are thinking of opening a new account with? Read our short bookie reviews below to find out which Australian betting sites are right for you and your needs.
Bet365 is one of the world’s largest online betting companies and offers an exhaustive range of wagering markets for sport and racing. Aussie favourites such as AFL, NRL and rugby union are all well covered, but what punters really love are the international options for American football, soccer, basketball, golf, tennis, hockey – the list goes on. Although Bet365 does not offer a sign-up bonus in Australia, there are betting promotions aplenty once you join.
Betfair is not your average bookie. It is not a bookmaker at all, in fact, but a person-to-person online betting exchange where punters can set the odds and take on one another directly. Experienced gamblers love Betfair because it allows for smart handicapping and gives the option to bet either for (back) or against (lay) any runner. If you want to learn more about the craft of wagering, the Betfair Hub is a veritable goldmine of info and insights.
One of the UK’s biggest gambling companies is now starting to make headway in the lucrative Australian sports betting market. Ladbrokes has you covered for all manner of racing and sport, but the firm is perhaps best known for its weekly football betting specials and boosted odds promotions. That makes it an ideal destination for the casual punter who wants to get the most out of a modest bankroll.
Neds is a relative upstart on the Australian gambling scene, but it has not taken the company long to gather a cult following among avid punters. Established in 2017, the bookie churns out new betting specials and bonus offers for horse racing and greyhound racing every day – great news if you are fond of a freebie. Neds also offers a wide range of betting markets for Australian and international sports.
Palmerbet is one of the last Australian-owned betting sites left in existence, with most of the bigger corporate bookies being bought out by overseas interests. The company is headquartered at Canterbury Racecourse and specialises in horse racing and greyhounds, but its sports betting operations have grown considerably in recent years. Palmerbet is a great choice if you want daily bonus offers, money-back specials and boosted odds.
Unibet is a major European betting brand that has made significant strides since entering the Australian gambling landscape in 2012. The firm boasts more than 14 million members worldwide and thus caters to all kinds of punters with competitive markets for just about every sports betting and racing category imaginable. Unibet is an excellent option if you are looking for long-range future bets on international horse racing and sporting events.
One of our favourite things about writing a BlondeBet review is that this bookmaker is Australian-owned and operated. Too many of the big bookmakers in Australia are owned by international companies these days. The product at BlondeBet.com.au is also first-rate with some cool features, like extended same game multis on many major sports, competitive odds and of course, some great promotions (although we are not allowed to advertise the specifics on this website). BlondeBet, like many Australian bookmakers we have reviewed, features wagering on the three major racing codes, AFL, NRL and pretty much any other sport from around the globe.
Best new online bookmakers in Australia
Many of Australia’s top sports betting sites have been around for decades, but there are a few that have made big waves in only the last few years. We highly recommend these online bookies if you are ready to try something new.
- Palmerbet.com
Although it launched in 2013, relatively few punters outside NSW will know much about Palmerbet. These guys live and breathe horse racing and tick all the boxes for competitive odds, market depth, promo offers, promotions and user-friendly design. - Neds.com.au
Neds has carved out a nice little niche since stepping onto the scene in 2017. If you are looking for a point of difference to the more established Australian bookmakers, this one is well worth a look. Racing fans will love the daily promos.
Top-rated Australian mobile betting sites
A huge percentage of online gambling in Australia is conducted through sports betting apps and mobile websites. The bookies below offer some of the best wagering services for smartphone and tablet devices.
- Bet365.com.au
As one of the world’s best-known online gambling brands, Bet365 has all bases covered when it comes to mobile sports betting. The Android and iOS apps are easy to use, offering hassle-free access to all the betting markets and key features available on the desktop website.
What to look for in Australian betting sites
Every Aussie bookmaker offers something a little bit different in terms of odds, perks and all-round user experience. There are, however, a few non-negotiables that determine whether or not a betting operator is above board and safe to use.
We at BettingSite.com.au take a number of factors into consideration when we rate and review online bookies. Key points of focus include:
- Licensing and regulation
If a bookmaker is not licensed to operate within Australian borders, look elsewhere. Most major betting brands – including Bet365, BetEasy and Sportsbet – hold permits with the Northern Territory government, but there are some exceptions. Palmerbet is licensed in NSW, for instance, while Betfair was originally based in Tasmania. - Online security
Online gambling requires a level of trust between the operator and the consumer, which means you need a bookie that takes privacy and security seriously. All leading online betting platforms are protected by Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Security Layer (TSL) digital encryptions and have reliable anti-fraud measures in place. - Responsible gambling
Betting addiction and underage gambling are no joke. We only recommend bookmakers that stick to strict codes of practice with regards to consumer protection, responsible wagering and fair play. Reasonable terms of use and practical self-exclusion programs are a must for any Australian sports betting operator in this day and age. - Safe banking methods
If you want to gamble over the web, you need a secure and convenient transaction method. Most online bookmakers support instant deposits with trusted payment providers such as Visa, MasterCard, PayPal and POLi, while BPAY and standard bank transfers are also widely available. - Multi-platform performance
There is very little point in signing up with an online bookmaker whose gambling interface does not perform to a high standard across several different media devices. Most punters nowadays bet on their smartphones, so it is essential that Aussie betting sites are optimised for both iOS and Android products as well as a variety of web browsers. - Competitive markets
Performance, security and convenience don’t mean much if the core product is no good to begin with. Australian punters are a diverse bunch and always on the lookout for a bit of value, which is why we like online bookies that offer good prices across a wide variety of sports and bet types. - Special features
This is where matters of taste come into the equation. While some online sports bookies deliver a straightforward, no-frills punting, others come loaded with promotional offers, weekly deals, multi specials and all manner of features designed to make the user experience as fun and rewarding as possible.
Can Australians claim bonus bets at betting sites?
As of May 26, 2019, Australians can no longer claim incentives to open a new account at an online betting site. This has been enacted as one of the methods to curb problem gambling down under. The bonus bet ban has been contentious among both Australian sport and racing bettors, with many claiming it is unfair that you can no longer claim bookie bonus offers.
As the landscape becomes clearer, BettingSite.com.au hopes to be able to deliver some level of information about the ongoing promotions available to customers at betting sites. The features of the various bettings sites that are allowed to market can be read in our online bookmaker reviews, accessible from the links in the above table.