This page provides a one-stop reference for betting agencies that are suitable for Australians. The agencies listed here all offer Australian dollar accounts. Agencies fall into two categories: bookmakers and exchanges. Bookmakers are agencies that set the odds and you bet against the agency. With exchanges, the odds are determined by fellow users within a marketplace, so you bet against fellow users. Bookmakers are recommended for beginners, while an exchange membership is a must have for serious enthusiasts, because it enables you to bet against outcomes.
Some useful features and articles:
- The Bookmaker Reviews section features comprehensive reviews of the top betting agencies that are available to Australians.
- Bookmaker Ownership Structure in Australia outlines which companies own which bookmakers and which bookmakers are locally or foreign owned.
- Bookmaker Membership Combos That Reduce Bookmaker Margins looks at the impact of bookmaker membership combinations on effective bookmaker margins and which combos are best.
- Betting Agencies that Don’t Ban Winners surveys which betting exchanges will not limit or close the accounts of winning members.
If you’re in a hurry…
If you don’t wish to spend too much time choosing an agency, below are our picks for the best in the following categories:
- Best odds – Pinnacle (high bet limits), Marathonbet (low bet limits), Matchbook (football), Betfair (futures betting)
- Won’t limit or ban you for winning – Pinnacle, Betfair, Matchbook
- Best range of features – bet365, Betfair, Sportsbet, Ladbrokes
- Best betting selection on international sports – bet365, Unibet
- Best betting selection on Australian sports – Sportsbet, William Hill
- Best for beginners – Sportsbet, Ladbrokes
- Best for promotions and competitions – Ladbrokes, CrownBet, Sportsbet
- Best betting exchange – Betfair (great for tournament winner betting)
- Best bookmaker membership combinations – see article
- Best for spread betting – PointsBet
- Best for high stakes wagering – Pinnacle
Frequently asked questions
- Q: I’m a beginner, should I go with a bookmaker or an exchange?
A: Go with a bookmaker - Q: What benefits are there to using an international bookmaker?
A: The Interactive Gambling Act makes it an offence to offer live online wagering to Australian residents. Operators are only permitted to offer phone betting during live events. International services either ignore or aren’t aware of this law, and continue to permit Australians to bet live ‘in-play’. Adherence to the Act is the responsibility of gambling operators and not individual Australians. It is not an offence for Australian residents to bet live ‘in-play’ online. Another upside is offshore bookmakers typically offer a greater betting selection on international sports. - Q: What benefits are there to using an Australian bookmaker?
A: Australian agencies offer superior betting selections on Australian sports. They also offer a better range of deposit and withdrawal methods for Australians. - Q: How many memberships do I need?
A: Just one if you’re a casual punter. If you’re looking for additional memberships, view our recommended bookmaker combinations.
If margins are what drive you
The margin is a measure of the bookmaker’s profit for an event and can be regarded as a hidden transaction fee for punters. From a betting perspective, the lower the margin, the better.
The table on the right displays the fixture results from our latest bookmaker margin survey. The bookmaker with the lowest average margin for a given market is highlighted in green, while the bookmaker with the highest margin is highlighted in orange.
Pinnacle, Matchbook and Marathonbet were the standout performers, with average margins in the 2.7%-2.8% range.
Betfair was the strongest overall performer for futures betting, however Matchbook was highly competitive for the limited futures markets that it does offer.
Combining bookmaker memberships achieved an average margin of 0.6%.
View the complete bookmaker margin survey results.
Bookmakers that are suitable for Australians
Below is a short list of the best betting agencies that support Australian dollar accounts.
All new member sign up offers can be viewed here
- Name: bet365
- Owner: Bet 365 Group Limited
- Owner HQ: Stoke-on-Trent, England
- Licence: Northern Territory, Australia
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: Phone & online (PC & mobile)
- Average margin: 4.8%
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, Skrill, Neteller, bank transfer, POLi, BPAY, Paypal
- Positives: Great betting selection & interface. Live video feeds.
- Negatives: Limits accounts of successful punters
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: Betfair
- Owner: Crown Resorts & Matthew Tripp
- Owner HQ: Victoria, Australia
- Licence: Northern Territory, Australia
- Type: Betting exchange
- Live (in-play) betting: Phone
- Average margin: 4.6%
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, Skrill, Neteller, bank transfer, POLi, BPAY
- Positives: Fantastic betting selection. Can bet against outcomes. Great for tournament winner betting.
- Negatives: $5 minimum bet. 1.5% fee for Australian credit card deposits. Lack of market depth on less popular events.
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: Betstar
- Owner: Ladbrokes plc
- Owner HQ: Harrow, England
- Licence: Northern Territory, Australia
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: Phone
- Average margin: 5.5%
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, bank transfer, POLi, BPAY
- Positives: Excellent user interface. Strong betting selection for Australian sports.
- Negatives: Not as many promos as sister site Ladbrokes
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: BlueBet
- Owner: BlueBet Pty Ltd
- Owner HQ: Randwick Racecourse, NSW
- Licence: New South Wales, Australia
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: none
- Average margin: no data
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, bank transfer, POLi, BPAY
- Positives: clean interface, founded by former Sportingbet & Centerbet CEO Michael Sullivan
- Negatives: no live betting, no online identify verification
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: Bookmaker
- Owner: Ladbrokes plc
- Owner HQ: Harrow, England
- Licence: Northern Territory, Australia
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: Phone
- Average margin: 5.5%
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, bank transfer, POLi, BPAY
- Positives: Excellent user interface. Strong betting selection for Australian sports.
- Negatives: Not as many promos as sister site Ladbrokes
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: Centrebet
- Owner: William Hill
- Owner HQ: London, England
- Licence: Northern Territory, Australia
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: none
- Average margin: no data
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, bank transfer, POLi, BPAY, Skrill
- Positives: backed by large company with long history
- Negatives: no in-play betting or promotions
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: ClassicBet
- Owner: ClassicBet Pty Ltd
- Owner HQ: New South Wales, Australia
- Licence: New South Wales, Australia
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: none
- Average margin: no data
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, bank transfer, POLi, BPAY, cheque
- Positives: individualised service, good for odds shopping
- Negatives: no in-play betting, tougher bonus bet turnover requirements
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: CrownBet
- Owner: Crown Resorts & Matthew Tripp
- Owner HQ: Victoria, Australia
- Licence: Northern Territory, Australia
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: Phone
- Average margin: 4.9%
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, Skrill, bank transfer, POLi, BPAY
- Positives: Good promotions. 100% Australian owned.
- Negatives: Limited help section.
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: Ladbrokes
- Owner: Ladbrokes plc
- Owner HQ: Harrow, England
- Licence: Northern Territory, Australia
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: Phone & online (PC & mobile site)
- Average margin: 5.5%
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, bank transfer, POLi, BPAY
- Positives: Generous promotions. Excellent user interface.
- Negatives: Inactive account fees
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: Luxbet
- Owner: Tabcorp Holdings Limited
- Owner HQ: Melbourne, Australia
- Licence: Northern Territory, Australia
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: Phone
- Average margin: 4.9%
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, Skrill, bank transfer, POLi, BPAY
- Positives: Backed by Tabcorp
- Negatives: Below average customer service
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: Mad Bookie
- Owner: Mad Bookie Pty Ltd
- Owner HQ: Melbourne, Australia
- Licence: Norfolk Island, Australia
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: Phone
- Average margin: no data
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, bank transfer, POLi
- Positives: fast, easy to use interface
- Negatives: narrow range of markets on overseas sports
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: Marathonbet
- Owner: Panbet Curacao N.V.
- Owner HQ: Brighton, UK
- Licence: Curaçao
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: Online
- Average margin: 2.8%
- Key deposit methods: Visa, Skrill, bank transfer
- Positives: Competitive odds
- Negatives: Low stake limits
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: Matchbook
- Owner: Triplebet Ltd
- Owner HQ: Alderney, Channel Islands
- Licence: Alderney & the UK
- Type: Betting exchange
- Live (in-play) betting: Online
- Average margin: 2.7%
- Key deposit methods: Visa, Skrill, bank transfer, Neteller
- Positives: Competitive odds, low minimum stake
- Negatives: Narrow range of sports and leagues covered
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: Palmerbet
- Owner: Palmer Bookmaking Pty Ltd
- Owner HQ: NSW, Australia
- Licence: NSW, Australia
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: Phone
- Average margin: 4.8%
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, bank transfer, POLi, BPAY
- Positives: Competitive odds. Australian owned.
- Negatives: No exotic multi support. Betting in $0.50 increments.
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: Pinnacle
- Owner: Pinnacle Worldwide
- Owner HQ: Curaçao
- Licence: Curaçao & Malta
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: Online
- Average margin: 2.7%
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, Skrill, Neteller, bank transfer
- Positives: Very low margins (great odds)
- Negatives: not licensed in Australia
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: PointsBet
- Owner: Pointsbet Australia Pty Ltd
- Owner HQ: Victoria
- Licence: Northern Territory
- Type: Spread betting bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: No
- Average margin: not applicable
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, bank transfer
- Positives: only spread betting operator in Australia
- Negatives: limited deposit options
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: Sportsbet
- Owner: Paddy Power plc
- Owner HQ: Dublin, Ireland
- Licence: Northern Territory
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: Phone & online (mobile app)
- Average margin: 5.2%
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, Skrill, bank transfer, POLi, BPAY, Paypal
- Positives: Frequent promotions. Easy to use interface. Good betting selection.
- Negatives: New member bonus based on first bet, not first deposit
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: TopBetta
- Owner: TopBetta Pty Ltd
- Owner HQ: Newcastle, Australia
- Licence: Northern Territory, Australia
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: none
- Average margin: 5.5%
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, bank transfer, BPAY
- Positives: Tournament betting
- Negatives: Limited deposit options, basic sportsbook
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: Unibet
- Owner: Unibet Group plc
- Owner HQ: Malta
- Licence: Northern Territory, Australia
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: Phone & online (PC)
- Average margin: 5.1%
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, bank transfer, POLi, BPAY
- Positives: Good interface & betting selection
- Negatives: Fewer deposit options than leading competitors
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: William Hill
- Owner: William Hill
- Owner HQ: London, England
- Licence: Northern Territory, Australia
- Type: Bookmaker
- Live (in-play) betting: Phone & online (PC & mobile)
- Average margin: 5.1%
- Key deposit methods: Credit card, Skrill, bank transfer, POLi, BPAY
- Positives: Great betting selection on Australian sports
- Negatives: Sports navigation menu not as beginner friendly as it could be
- Visit website
- View our full review
Other overseas bookmakers that offer Australian dollar accounts are:
- Name: 18bet
- Licence: Curaçao
- Type: Bookmaker
- Visit website
- View our full review
- Name: SBOBET
- Licence: Philippines
- Type: Bookmaker
- Visit website
- View our full review
Notes and explanations of terms
- Live betting – due to the Interactive Gambling Act, bookmakers licensed in Australia cannot offer live online betting to Australian residents. Australian customers must phone in to bet live.
- Key deposit methods – other deposit methods such as cheques and Ukcash may be available, but only popular methods have been listed.
- POLi – enables you to make online bank transfers that are acknowledged immediately by the bookmaker. This feature is only available for Australian bank accounts.
