While Australia has offered sports betting for some time, there has been pushback on Aussie bookmakers and sites. This has caused issues for Aussie bettors. Like the US, Australia has state-managed betting laws. Mobile gaming took a hit in 2017 with the Interactive Gaming Amendment.
It all began when online Australian sportsbooks were reeling in over $800 million in revenue in 2015, this caught the attention of the lawmakers, and when the numbers increased in 2016, the parliament passed a ban on gambling apps. Specifically, sportsbooks can no longer offer in-play sports betting.
While many aspects of sports betting are still legal in Australia, there are definitely some setbacks with the 2016 ban being put in place. It could be worse, sports betting could be banned in Australia, or it could be way worse in terms of limitations - giving up in-play betting isn’t the worst thing in the world.
Currently, states are allowed to operate land-based and online sports betting to their residents. Most states are pretty lax when it comes to sports betting - there aren’t strict states who forbid it as you’d see in the United States.
The Coalition government is very pro-betting, and the Labour party is against, but tolerant of online sports betting - they focus on land-based operations and making that more challenging for brick and mortar casinos and sportsbooks.
Sports Betting in Australia
When it comes to betting in Australia, there are options, and while it’s not going to be as freely accepted like it is in the United Kingdom, you will still be able to punt like the best of them - just not when it comes to live betting.
There are also some limitations when it comes to offshore sportsbooks, however, as some offshore sportsbooks have been banned, to help guide sports bettors to Australian-run operations. Many of the top sportsbooks still are functional in Australia, like GT Bets or MyBookie for example, but some are hidden from Australian residents.
Australian sportsbooks offer many bonuses and promotions to Aussie punters. It's common to bet on football/soccer, horses, tennis, cricket, and Aussie Rules. Lower limits allow all walks of life to join. Many sportsbooks offer currency options, though AUD is the national currency.
Thankfully in Australia, aside from the live betting ban, there are few limitations. Betting is widely accepted with many options online and offline. But with so many choices, you may worry about which sportsbook to pick. Before signing up, ensure the sportsbook has features you want.
Many criteria apply to online sportsbooks, but also be wary of options at land-based shops too.
Deposit Options
In places like the United States or Canada , only certain deposits like Bitcoin or prepaid cards are available. Australian betting sites have many deposit options - it depends which you want to use. For Australian betting, you have several popular deposit options.
Mastercard and Visa are most popular, followed by debit like Visa Debit, Electron, and Maestro. Then AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Japanese Credit Bureau, PayPal, BPAY, Poli, Skrill, and older options like money orders, bank transfers and checks!
Payout Options
After winning bets, you withdraw from the sportsbook. Aussie bookies don’t have many withdrawal options, but you can find one that suits you.
Visa card, debit like Visa Debit and Maestro, and Skrill offer free withdrawals. Bank transfers and checks cost a small fee.
Mobile Compatibility
While the Interactive Gaming Amendment banned live betting, you can still do most things on your phone/tablet when needed.
Mobile is important for Aussie betting, as many North American sports happen on the other side of the world. Aussies love betting on sports globally, so mobile access is key.
Safety and Security
Since most Aussie betting is state regulated, it's very safe. They have robust regulations that books must follow. Some sportsbooks have been banned for breaking rules. So books play nice to operate there.
Laws change often in Australia, so you won't find loopholes. It's quite progressive. Lawmakers meet regularly on gambling topics.
Bonuses and Promotions
Australia offers many bonuses and promotions to keep bettors interested. Deposit bonuses are large with low wagering requirements.
You can often double your bankroll with a deposit. Or earn a bonus for Aussie rules season.
Odds and Betting Options
Keep in mind all books have different odds and options available. The best sportsbooks offer a huge variety of betting odds. Ensuring the bookie has the odds you want is important. You don't want to waste time signing up at a bookie without the odds you need.
All sportsbooks offer a huge selection of sports, with football/soccer and cricket being the two that are regularly bet on. If you want to bet on something a little less popular, it’s wise to check the sports offering before you sign up to a sportsbook. Though many Australian sports betting sites and shops have a huge selection.
Popular Sports to bet on in Australia
As mentioned soccer or football, is the most bet on sport in Australia, closely followed by cricket and tennis. Betting on horse racing is slowly decreasing around the world but it seems to still be fairly popular in Australia. Aussie Rules football is also a popular sport betting option.
Top Online Sportsbooks for Betting on Sports in Australia
Now that we’ve addressed some important criteria when choosing a sportsbook in Australia, we can outline the top online sportsbooks available to Australian punters. We’ve used and reviewed many sportsbooks in-depth, and ensure a seamless sports betting experience. All you need to do is read a few sportsbook reviews and decide which is best for you utilizing the criteria we outlined above.
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