When it comes to gambling, Aussies are definitely some of the most passionate bettors. Although the country has a long past of regulations and laws banning gambling, nothing can keep Australian punters away from the betting scene. Although the Interactive Gaming Act of 2001 forbids Australians to get involved in any online casino gaming, sports betting is completely legal both at land-based and online sportsbooks.
As the popularity of sports bets keeps growing in Australia, there have been plenty of interactive sportsbooks appearing on the scene. This has lead to a serious competition between local sports betting sites and offshore ones.
It cannot be denied that Aussies prefer betting with home-based online bookies since they provide a betting experience exclusively tailored to suit the taste of Australian punters. This means that the focus is directed to games that are more popular in the country and these include Aussie Rules football (AFL), rugby (NRL and Rugby Union), basketball and cricket. Australian punters can also bet on horse racing and make various wagers at online sportsbooks.
Sports Betting Legalization in Australia
Historical Betting Overview
We can safely say that sports betting is part of the Australian culture since 1810 when the first organized betting event was recorded – a horse race held in Hyde Park. In the beginning, wagering was concentrated mainly on horse racing. In the late 19th century, there were tracks in most major cities and betting on greyhound and harness racing was starting to gain popularity as well.
Sports betting started to grow increasingly as time went by. This activity was initially carried out through local bookmakers who would take and place bets on behalf of the bettors and pay out the winnings if any.
Around 1890, betting terminals began to be used in competitions, which lead to an increase in attendance. The interest in betting on major equestrian events like the Melbourne Cup also grew.
The first mechanical totalisators were introduced in 1913 and soon became the device that displays the number of bets placed on a particular race and their accumulative value. Interestingly, the invention was originally intended to record election results, but after the government rejected it, George Julius reworked it for sports betting.
The emergence of the telephone and radio broadcasting allowed bookmakers to start off-course businesses. These were called “Starting Price” bookies. Back then, there were no casinos or sports betting centers the way we know them today, but rather special rooms in pubs or other buildings where bets could be made.
The first steps to legalize any type of gambling activity in Australia date back to 1961 when the government decided to start imposing taxes on this growing industry. By 1970, sports betting had become one of the most popular forms of gambling, and by 1980, it was already legal.
What You Need to Know about Sports Betting in Australia
Nowadays, the sports betting sector in Australia is considered to be one of the fastest expanding industries as more and more local punters prefer gambling that requires skill and experience. Although the field of sports betting is regulated by various local authorities, the provision that everyone complies with is the minimum legal age of 18 years. According to the Australian Gambling Research Centre (AGRC), more than half of local punters are men.
As in other parts of the world, most bettors in Australia prefer using online sportsbooks. Their layout and the services on offer usually do not differ from those generally applied, with one significant exception – in-play betting. In Australia, betting on sports events that are in progress is illegal over the Internet. The only option left for punters is betting over the phone.
A fact that is favorable to local bettors is that they do not owe any taxes on their potential winnings since sports betting is not considered a profession but a hobby. However, the revenue of the owners of betting businesses is taxed.
The sports betting market in Australia is highly regulated, but punters, especially if they are beginners in this field, must choose their bookmaker very carefully. The safest way to check if an operator is legal is to look it up in the register of the Australia Communications and Media Authority.
Odds Formats in Australia
Most of the Australian sportsbooks display the results in decimal format (eg. 1.4, 1.8, etc.) by default. As this format is widely popular in Europe, you will find it labeled as “European” within some bookies’ settings. Apart from Europe, decimal odds are popular in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
This odds format is quite easy to understand and work with. The number in the decimal odds represents the amount you win for every $1 placed as a bet. For example, if you place a $100 bet with odds of 4.0, you can make a total payout of $400.
The American odds are known as the moneyline. They have a negative sign for the favorite (eg. -100), indicating the amount you must bet to win $100. The odds for the underdog come with a positive sign (eg. +100), showing you how much you can win for every $100 you risk.
The first number in the fractional odds format (5/6) shows the amount you can win, whereas the second number shows the amount you need to wager.
A greater variety of odds formats is offered by the big brands, which are not aimed only at the local market. Some of them allow bettors to choose from decimal, fractional, American, Hong Kong, Indonesian, or Malaysian formats.
Australia Betting Laws and Legislation
Online sports betting in Australia is regulated by the Interactive Gambling Act which was enacted in 2001. It regulates all gambling that takes place online, through a website or app, and via a telephone. The Act only deals with the actions of companies offering gambling and betting services but has no specific provisions for the punters.
The Interactive Gambling Act underwent some changes in 2016 and 2019 when the National Self-Exclusion Register was introduced.
Gradual revision of the legislation is being discussed in the country, but what we can currently say for sure is that sports betting, racing, and lotteries are legal forms of online gambling in Australia.
Sports betting in Australia is regulated both at state and federal levels. The government allows individual territories to introduce their own regulatory frameworks. Interestingly, most such control bodies are also responsible for alcohol regulations (e.g. the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation).
In order to operate legally in Australia, each sportsbook must have a corporate bookmaker license or an on-course bookmaker license. They differ in that the corporate bookmakers are licensed within the whole Northern Territory, while the on-course bookmakers have a license for the relevant state.
Australia Betting Restrictions
Restrictions on sports betting in Australia are not that many. The Interactive Gambling Act prohibits the local online sportsbooks from offering real-money online interactive gambling services. This is the reason why many local online bookies may not provide in-play sports betting, as this is considered an interactive activity.
Well aware of the preferences of online bettors, some online bookmakers have found a way to overcome this ban by introducing live betting over the phone.
The other services banned by the Interactive Gambling Act are betting on the outcome of a lottery and sports betting services that do not hold an Australian license.
Australian sportsbooks are not allowed to provide any betting service if they have not preliminary followed a strict Know Your Customer (KYC) procedure. They must always check the customers’ identity by collecting and verifying information via online forms and copies of identity and financial documents.
Online Betting Regulatory Body in Australia
The entire betting industry is monitored by the Australia Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). It is responsible for media and communications throughout the country, including all kinds of gambling online and over the phone. ACMA is entitled to initiate civil proceedings and inform the border protection authorities about the names of the directors of illegal offshore operations.
ACMA maintains a register of all licensed betting providers, which is the most reliable source of information on this subject. The institution’s website has detailed information related to protection from illegal betting operators.
Apart from the Australia Communications and Media Authority, each state/territory of the country has its local authority that monitors sports betting within its borders. The following regulators currently act in Australia:
- Australian Capital Territory (ACT) — ACT Gambling and Racing Commission
- Northern Territory — Licensing Commission
- New South Wales — Office of Liquor, Gaming, and Racing
- South Australia — Independent Gambling Authority
- Queensland — Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation
- Victoria — Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation
- Western Australia — Department of Racing, Gaming, and Liquor
- Tasmania — Tasmanian Gaming Commission
Popular Betting Markets in Australia
Australia itself is a unique country and even the popularity of sports differs from that in other parts of the world. In terms of the number of viewers, the undisputed favorite is Australian rules football (Aussie rules) although rugby is ahead of it in the Sydney area.
These two sports are present in the portfolio of every Australian online sportsbook along with cricket, American football, and golf, which also enjoy great interest. Then come soccer, tennis, and basketball, which occupy the leading positions in Europe.
What is specific about Aussie rules is that there are not many competitions to bet on as the sport is not played anywhere else in the world. The main bet types are line bets, margin bets, as well as exotic bets like Player to Score First, for example. In terms of rugby, the variety of betting markets is greater. Futures betting is available for all the biggest domestic and international leagues and tournaments for both Rugby League and Rugby Union.
Soccer fans in Australia have no reasons to worry since the local online bookies feature hundreds of events from main international tournaments like the UEFA Champions League and the World Cup as well as from the Australian NPL and many others.
A proof of the great popularity of cricket in Australia are the many leagues featured by the online sportsbooks and the variety of bet types. Punters can place their bets on events from the ICC World Twenty20, the Indian Premier League, the WBBL, etc.
Popular Betting Markets in Australia Summary | |
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Sport | Leagues |
Aussie Rules | AFL, AFL Brownlow Medal |
Rugby | NRL, Challenge Cup, Super League, State of Origin Series |
Soccer | Australian NPL, Australia Reserves League, UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, English Premier League, etc. |
Cricket | ICC World Twenty20, WBBL, CSA Provincial T20 Cup, ICC Cricket World Cup, Twenty20 Big Bash League |
Golf | ZOZO Championship, US Masters, Mallorca Golf Open, USPGA Championship, US Open, Ryder Cup |
Australia Online Betting Bonuses
According to the Australian legislation, the advertisement of sign-up bonuses, free bets, reload bonuses, and other sports betting promotions is prohibited. Of course, this does not mean that no bonus offers are available.
Punters can benefit from different promotions, but only after they complete the registration process and verify their accounts. The currently available bonuses and their corresponding terms at Australia-licensed sportsbooks become available to punters only after a log-in.
There are several types of welcome bonuses Aussies can claim, starting with the sign-up offer that typically comes in the form of a free bet or a percentage-based match of their first deposit. In some cases, customers must also enter a valid bonus code when opting in for a promotion. To qualify, newcomers must place bets on eligible markets at the minimum required odds or higher.
The offers usually come with a specific rollover attached to them, requiring punters to bet a certain amount to release the free credits. More often than not, there is an expiration time to comply with. Punters who fail to meet their rollover or use their free wagers within the designated time will have the freebies removed from their accounts.
The price boost (also known as the odds boost) is another popular incentive Aussie customers can sometimes take advantage of. Punters must again check the promotional terms to see what markets and sports the price boost applies to.
Then they must post a qualifying wager using their boost token and it will increase their returns if the bet is successful. Most sportsbooks prohibit using this promotion in conjunction with other bonuses. Punters are typically unable to opt in for price boosts if they have active free bets in their accounts.
The Acca insurance is a viable option for sports fans who prefer to build parlays (accumulators) with multiple legs. If one selection in the parlay fails, the sportsbook will partially compensate punters with a refund in the form of a free bet. Many bookmakers impose additional requirements on the qualifying markets and the minimum number of selections in the parlay.
Some betting operators would also require you to use your Acca refund in full as a single bet before it expires. Others would allow customers to withdraw only the associated winnings but the free bet itself will be non-cashable.
Finally, there is the best odds guarantee offer, which usually applies to wagers on greyhound and horse races. The bettor accepts an early price for their wager on a specific race. The bookie then pays them out at higher odds if the starting price exceeds the early price.
Mobile Betting in Australia
With the online sports betting industry growing in popularity, there is always a demand for better betting conditions and easier access for punters. This is how mobile bets came to life. Since everyone is living a hectic life and is on the lookout for mobile apps that will grant them access to anything, it is natural that sports betting has also become available for mobile bettors.
Nowadays, punters have a couple of options when they want to make sports bets even when they are on the go. With the latest HTML5 technology, punters have the chance to load numerous virtual sportsbooks on their mobile devices. All they need is an internet connection and a smartphone or tablet. The majority of mobile bookies are compatible to run on almost every Android, iOS and Windows portable device. This gives bettors the freedom to bet on their favourite sports events even when they are on the go.
One of the options to access virtual sportsbooks is to use the browser on your mobile device. This way you will be able to see the betting options of the website right away. This is very convenient for punters who are trying to save space on their smartphones or tablets. Sports betting sites that are compatible with mobile devices are optimized to run smoothly on various smartphones and tablets. This way mobile bettors will have an easy time navigating the website and choosing the bets they would like to make.
There are also mobile applications of various sports betting sites. This allows punters to download and install the software of the sportsbooks on their mobile devices. Once they log into their accounts, they will be one tap away from making bets even when they are on the move. Those mobile apps can be found at the PlayStore for Android users and the App Store for those who use iOS devices.
Popular Betting Banking Methods in Australia
Among other factors that punters pay attention to when choosing an online sportsbook, the availability of their preferred payment method is of particular importance. Both mobile technologies and electronic payment methods have developed rapidly in recent years. Bettors in Australia and around the world now have many options to top up their accounts and make withdrawals.
Punters in Australia can use a lot of payment methods, especially when it comes to deposits. The accepted currencies at the local online bookies are usually AUD, USD, EUR, and GBP. Although not the most popular payment option, cryptocurrencies also have their users and some of the sports betting operators take this into account.
The range of payment methods may vary between the different sportsbooks, but all allow bank transfers. Due to its long history, the bank transfer is considered one of the safest options and the slow processing time is its only drawback. In the best case, the transactions are carried out within 3 working days.
Australian punters may make deposits and withdrawals via several debit/credit card brands, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Recently, the number of e-wallet users has been increasing. Popular e-wallet brands like PayPal and Neteller are accepted by most bookmakers. Skrill also works in Australia and has become the preferred banking method of many Aussie punters.
There are also some locally popular payment methods like POLi, BPAY, and PayID. They come with no fees and can be used for instant deposits. Out of these, only PayID allows withdrawals that are again instant and have a maximum transaction limit of $10,000.
Popular Banking Methods in Australia | |||||
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Payment Method | Fees | Deposit Limits | Deposit Times | Withdrawal Limits | Withdrawal Times |
Debit & credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) | 1.0% – 3.0% | Max $10,000 per transaction | 1-3 business days | Max $10,000 per transaction | 1-3 business days |
PayPal | No fee (if no currency conversion is involved) | Min $10/Max $5,000 per transaction | Instant within the sportsbook | Min $10/Max $5,000 per transaction | Up to 3 business days |
POLi | No fee | Min $5/Max $10,000 per transaction | Instant | N/A | N/A |
BPAY | No fee | Min $10/Max $10,000 per transaction. | Instant | N/A | N/A |
PayID | No fee | Max $10,000 per transaction | Instant | Max $10,000 per transaction | Instant |
Bank transfers | Varies | Max $2,000 per transaction | 1-3 business days | Max $2,000 per transaction | 1-3 business days |
What to Watch When Picking Australian Betting Site
Diversity and choice are in most cases positive things, but sometimes they can confuse us and we can waste a lot of time wandering between different options. We checked the register of the Australia Communications and Media Authority and found out that currently there are over 40 licensed interactive sports betting operators in the country. So, how to choose the right online bookie?
If at first glance you like an online bookie, but you are not sure if its activity is legal, just check if it is listed in the above register. Its presence there guarantees that the betting activity is regulated by the authorities, which monitor for possible violations and abuses.
If you are a novice in the field of online betting, we advise you to choose a sportsbook with a simplified and user-friendly layout that includes comprehensive help pages with detailed betting rules explanations. Many bookies provide all the necessary information without having to register first, which is great. Thus, you can preliminary check some important features like minimum bets, payment methods, betting markets, and the availability of downloadable apps.
In this regard, we do not understand bookmakers that restrict access to live chat only for registered bettors. Fortunately, many Australian sportsbooks do not apply this principle, so take advantage and ask all the questions you are interested in before you start betting on your favorite sport.