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We Are Bettors – Bookmaker Comparison – Best offers in Australia

Online Betting Sites in Australia

In 2021, Australia is jam-packed with online betting sites. While this is clearly a positive thing as it gives punters plenty of options, it does come with its problems too. Mainly, which site should you choose for the best experience? More specifically for the purposes of this review, which site should you choose when it comes to online betting sites? Well, fortunately, our dedicated team has reviewed many of the top sites currently open to Australians, and we’ve broken it down into a list of of the top 8 in November 2024  !

Although you’ll have to sign up to these sites before you can see what the actual deals are, you can take it from us – there is plenty on offer! So, with this in mind, let’s get started with bookmaker number one.

Our list of the top 8 in November 2024  

Bet365

First up, we have one of the greatest of them all – bet365. The reputation for these guys truly speaks for itself, as bet365 has become one of the ‘go-to’ sites for thousands of punters in Australia today. Of course, by signing up, you can wager on more than 20 sports. This range includes classics like greyhound and horse racing, as well as rugby, cricket, Aussie rules, soccer, and many more. Make sure you take advantage of the other benefits of joining bet365 too, which includes live streaming, bet builders, and a mobile app that is just incredible.

Sportsbet

Sportsbet might not be viewed as one of the leading bookmakers compared to some of the others in this list, but it’s a site that certainly packs a punch – especially in the new customer specials department! Like many other betting platforms in Australia, this site is particularly generous for sign up deals, but there’s more to highlight too. Sportsbet has pretty low betting minimums, a great range of payment options, and perhaps the greatest feature of them all, the odds are regularly well up there compared to other sites. Basically, this equates to a potentially greater return for the same wager placed elsewhere.

Betfair

Ah – where do we even begin with Betfair? This brand has been at the very pinnacle of the Australian betting industry for years, largely because it provides a truly unique experience compared to the rest. This is because Betfair works as a betting exchange, allowing you to place back and lay bets on a huge range of sports, including Aussie rules, soccer, cricket, and even politics if you really wanted to. And of course, as a new customer, you can get your hands on one of the best deals around, which can subsequently be used to make any wager that you like on the platform.

Neds

Take it from us, Neds will give you a whopping boost when joining as a new customer, and this is just for starters. After signing up and securing your welcome special*, you will immediately discover that Neds is a site that simply excels in the racing department. This is shown by the very fact that there are two entirely separate sections for horse racing and greyhound racing, which combined give you access to literally thousands of races to bet on each and every year. It’s not just racing that Neds supplies either, for the platform also has a wealth of betting markets for other sports played all around the globe.

Ladbrokes

When you think of a sports betting specialist, you will probably think of a handful of brands in Australia, with Ladbrokes (more than likely) being one of the first to spring to mind. These guys are arguably on a par with the likes of bet365, Betfair, and the other leading brands in Australia today. And of course, this hasn’t happened by chance. Ladbrokes has constructed one of the most stylish and player-friendly online sportsbooks currently available, not to mention the new customer special* that anyone over the age of 18 can claim. Let’s not forget that Ladbrokes has even come up with its very own betting exchange in recent years, which is just another branch of the site that truly excites the growing member base.

Unibet

Out of the many bookmakers we’ve highlighted here, Unibet would probably be the most improved of them all. When these guys first entered the Australian market, they were often seen as the ‘second best option’ to many of the market leaders. But in 2021, this is simply not the case, and Unibet has many premium features that appeal to countless punters. Features like streaming, betting tips through the blog, and incredible odds for sports like soccer have firmly solidified Unibet as one of the best. If you are yet to give these guys a try, we really cannot recommend them highly enough – especially considering the sign-up special that all new players can bag.

Bluebet

BlueBet has struggled to truly break into the market since it first emerged, but in terms of new player deals, we really cannot understand why. The welcome special is considerable at BlueBet – better than some of the larger brands as it happens. But with that said, BlueBet is still building its sportsbook to include some of the most desirable features in 2021. It’s looking like a slow process right now, but this site does have additional qualities. Take sports like Aussie Rules and Rugby as an example, BlueBet regularly crafts 100+ markets for top games, and the odds do rival those found at other sites.

PlayUp

Much like BlueBet before it, PlayUp is one of the newer additions to the Aussie betting market. And as far as new betting sites go, PlayUp is one of the better ones for new player specials, and the sign-up process only takes a few minutes – even better! At the time of writing, PlayUp has built a sportsbook that contains more than 20 different sports, including tennis, basketball, soccer, Aussie rules, and more. This gives punters a decent range to explore, and PlayUp also goes well beyond just the basic markets for these sports. In fact, when a major event rolls around, it’s not uncommon to find exclusive betting markets!

Sports you can bet on at these sites

With the focus on new player deals taken care of, we’d like to also dive a bit deeper and emphasize what you can expect by joining these platforms. Of course, everybody loves a decent incentive when joining a site, but it’s the ongoing features and offerings that will really make a difference to the impression and enjoyment levels when using any site. For us, one of the main features includes the range of sports that you’ll have access to, and we’ve described this in greater detail right here.

Aussie Rules

Come on now – what Aussie bookmaker would be complete if they didn’t offer one of Australia’s homegrown sports? We would hope that the answer would be obvious! And on that note, at just about all of the top sites in Australia you’ll be able to wager on Aussie Rules. Specifically, this means you can bet on any ARL game that takes place during the season, and since this is one of Australia’s top domestic leagues, it’s not uncommon to find unique and exciting betting markets here.

Soccer

Arguably, soccer still isn’t viewed as one of the top sports in Australia, but it’s a sport that is growing in popularity at an alarming rate. Take the domestic leagues as an example (both men and women), we are now seeing packed stadiums and a large increase in betting activity for regular-season games. Beyond the domestic interest in soccer, ‘The Socceroos’ are improving at an extremely rapid rate too, meaning that there is now a lot of Aussie interest in international soccer like the World Cup.

Cricket

Speaking of sports that are popular in Australia, cricket is one that almost needs no introduction whatsoever. Of course, domestic and international cricket is a big deal in Australia, in case you didn’t know that already! The nation has been home to some absolute legends of the game, such as Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, and countless others. While this almost instinctively generates interest in the sport, the betting markets for cricket at the top sites are usually exploding in value. Whether this is through competitive odds, overall choice of betting markets, or unique deals assigned to cricket, the very best sites have it all.

Rugby

In terms of overall interest, rugby is pretty much on a par with the likes of Aussie Rules and Cricket. So naturally, this is a sport that the very best sites will cover quite extensively. This is mainly because Australia has a very competitive domestic league, and to state the obvious, the national squad regularly enjoys success abroad. Whether you’re looking to wager on rugby league or union, you normally can at these online sportsbooks.

Horse Racing & Greyhound Racing

Australia is home to some phenomenal horse and greyhound races. This is one of the main reasons why most online sportsbooks cover these sports, as there are races taking place almost daily, both domestically and on an international scale. And to go hand in hand with this, punters generally love betting on such sports as they can regularly see far more upsets compared to other sports. We’re literally talking winners that come in at 40-1 or more, depending on the race, of course. When some of the larger horse races come around too, such as the Melbourne Cup, it’s quite common for millions of dollars to be wagered as a whole!

Tennis

We wouldn’t quite say that Australia is ‘tennis mad’, but since it is a nation that is home to one of the four Grand Slams, there is obviously a fair bit of interest. But besides the Australian Open, the top sportsbooks tend to follow both ATP and WTA Tours quite closely, with betting markets open for matches that are taking place all over the world. And since there is only ever one winner in tennis, this is a sport that is quite popular to bet on amongst Aussie punters.

Common FAQs concerning online betting in Australia

What are the registration requirements at these bookmakers?

In order to successfully (and legally) open an account with an online bookmaker, you must be based in Australia and be over the age of 18. These are the standard legal requirements in place for people to place online bets.

Can I also download mobile apps for these sportsbooks?

Yes, especially at the best sites. In order to see whether an app is available to download, just head into the respective App Store for your device and search for the brand. If one is available, just download it and start betting!

Is it pretty straight-forward to deposit funds for my account?

Yes. After you have run through the registration process at your desired site, you will be asked to verify your account and make a deposit. After verifying your details, you’ll usually be able to make deposits through methods like debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, prepaid cards, and a handful of other methods too.

How do I actually place a sports bet online?

After logging into your online betting account, you simply need to browse through the sportsbook and look for a market that looks valuable. From here, you must click that market, enter your stake, and place the bet.

Do these brands also have customer support systems in place?

Yes. Most of the top sites offer 24/7 customer support these days, which can usually be done via methods like live chat, email, and phone support.

How would I know whether the odds would be seen as competitive or not?

For the odds to be classified as ‘competitive’, we’d usually like to see that the odds are higher on that site compared to some of the other major brands.

*Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.