Is Betting Legal In Australia
Helping Australian Players Learn About The Laws And Legalities Regarding Sports Betting
Australians are huge fans of sports. Rugby and football make up the two most popular sports in the country with passionate fans in every far-reaching corner of the country. Australia is a fortunate country in that they get to combine two of their favorite pastimes together – gambling and sports. When it comes to sports betting, Australians have options. There are both brick-and-mortar and offshore sportsbooks that cater to local punters.
This page was created specifically for residents interested in sports betting and has information about the legal status of sports betting in the country, how offshore sportsbooks work, and what types of betting lines and wagering types are available.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Australia?
What is Matched Betting. Matched betting or Matching is a process of using the bonus bets and promotions offered by online sports betting sites in Australia to make Guaranteed profit regardless of the results. Why Is Matched Betting Legal? You are not doing anything wrong just taking advantage of promotions offered to you. Helping Australian Players Learn About The Laws And Legalities Regarding Sports Betting. Australians are huge fans of sports. Rugby and football make up the two most popular sports in the country with passionate fans in every far-reaching corner of the country. Australia is a fortunate country in that they get to combine two of their favorite pastimes together – gambling and sports. Live Sports Betting Sites in Australia Live online betting has been through a lot. The Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 made it illegal for bookmakers to accept in-play bets over the internet. However, the Government doesn’t prohibit punters from placing live bets. Australian law snapshot; Legal age to place a bet: The minimum age to bet either in person or online in Australia is 18: Internet betting: Internet betting is allowed in Australia: Is gambling tax free: Winnings from gambling are considered tax free for recreational players. Players that bet professionally should seek advice on taxation matters.
Yes. Unlike online casino gambling, online sports betting is legal and faces fewer restrictions in Australia. Australian-based and licensed offshore sportsbooks are both available to Aussie residents. For bettors looking for a more well-rounded sports betting experience, offshore sportsbooks may prove to be the better experience. Australia has no laws against betting with offshore sportsbooks as long as they are legally sanctioned and regulated.
Most Trusted Legal Online Sportsbooks For Australians (Play In AUD)
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1. Find A Reputable Online Sportsbook That Accepts Aussie Bettors
There are a multiple online sportsbooks operating online. Because of this, it is vital you ensure the sportsbook you are betting with is a legally sanctioned and regulated destination. Australians are fortunate enough to have access to both domestic and offshore online sportsbooks, but understanding the legal status of these sportsbooks is imperative. Our team of industry professionals has done the research portion for you in compiling a list of licensed offshore sportsbook brands. These sportsbooks have been in the industry for years and have built strong reputations of quality, legitimacy, ethics and security.
2. Create An Account
When you find a sportsbook you are interested in, you have to create an account before being able to place a bet. You are free to browse the available betting lines on the sportsbook before opening your account. All you need to do to create an account is enter some personal information such as your name, email, address, DOB, country and contact number. This is for verification purposes and allows the sportsbooks to make sure they are allowed to accept your business. The sportsbooks outlined in this guide are all Aussie-friendly. You shouldn’t be asked to enter any sort of financial information until you elect to make your first deposit into your account.
3. Deposit Funds Into Your Account
In order to place any type of sports wager with these offshore sportsbooks, you need to first make a deposit into your account. You can deposit funds into your account in several ways. Deposit methods change depending on the sportsbook you use. Different sportsbooks offer different deposit and bonus methods. Some of the more common deposit methods include debit cards, credit cards, eWallet services, money transfers and Bitcoin. Australian dollars are an accepted form of currency with several these sportsbook brands. Those sites that don’t process transactions in AUD will be happy to provide you with currency conversion.
4. Place Your Bet
Once you have successfully deposited money into your account you can being placing bets on your favorite teams. There are betting lines from teams and leagues around the world. You can bet on major tournaments like the World Cup, Super Bowl, NBA Playoffs and Wimbledon. Bets are easily managed via your bet slip. Wagering types vary, but most reputable sportsbooks include point spread bets, over/under bets, prop bets, future bets, parlays and more. Betting lines are updated frequently, so be sure to check back with the sportsbooks to see what is available.
Is There An Advantage To Betting With An Online Sportsbook v. A Land-Based Sportsbook?
Yes. Online sportsbooks often have more betting lines from more sports and leagues around the world. Their bonus packages give bettors an advantage in having more money to bet with. Mobile and live betting add another exciting twist to sports betting that can’t be found in most land-based sportsbooks.
What Types Of Betting Lines Are Available?
These offshore sportsbook brands offer betting lines for domestic and international sports and leagues. Betting lines are updated constantly in accordance with the latest fixtures and odds. There are even betting lines for major sporting events like the Summer and Winter Olympics.
Can I Have Accounts With Multiple Sportsbooks?
Yes. There are no rules against having accounts with multiple sportsbooks. If anything, this would be advantageous in that you would have access to more betting lines and wagering types and allow you to shop around for the best odds possible.
Do Offshore Sportsbooks Have Mobile Betting?
Yes. The offshore sportsbooks that we recommend have mobile versions of their websites that can be accessed without any downloads. The mobile versions function the same as the web versions do, are optimized for mobile use, and work across a variety of carriers, operating systems and devices. You can even participate in live betting at our featured destinations. Live betting allows you to place wagers during live events.
How Do I Know If An Online Sportsbook Is Legitimate?
Reputable online sportsbooks will be legally sanctioned and regulated by a respected government. While the information may not always be incredibly easy to find, we have thoroughly verified that the sites we’ve recommend in this guide hold legitimate credentials that include legally sanctioned licensing, compliance certifications and regulatory oversight.
Do These Sportsbooks Offer Additional Betting Options Other Than Sports?
Yes. At least the big names in the industry do. Most of the big sites will offer casino, horses and poker action in addition to sports betting.
Additional Legal Online Betting Options In Australia
Live betting has become one of the most popular aspects of the sports gambling industry in recent years. Live bets offer a way to get in on the action even after the games have already begun, and they can also help you recoup potential losses if a game isn’t exactly going as you’d originally hoped.
Live betting is not huge in Australia, but it still has a market. What should you know if you’re planning on getting in on the fun from down under?
Legality
The Australian government took a stance on live betting with legislation passed way back in 2001. The Australian Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) made it illegal for websites to offer or advertise “real money” gambling services to residents of the country. This law includes sports betting under its umbrella and applies to all licensed internet operators that function within Australia’s borders.
However, there is an important detail to note with regard to the law. The IGA only applies to Australian gambling site operators, not regular citizens. As a result, if you don’t happen to run your own site or book, you are free to gamble online if you’re a run-of-the-mill citizen.
Australians are also free to place bets at offshore sites that are not affected by the IGA. Any infringement would be the fault of the operator rather than the bettor, so there are no penalties to Aussie citizens for placing bets online. With that said, the government is looking to make it more difficult and expensive for unlicensed, offshore operators to receive customer deposits.
However, about midway through last year the Australian government announced a ban on all in-play sports betting at least through the next federal election. The government is attempting to regulate the rapidly-growing sports gambling industry in the country. Placing a live bet via the internet is banned, and even though operators used to be able to get around this law by using a “click-to-call” loophole (placing a live bet initiates a call to the operator which, technically, makes it a bet over the telephone and not over the internet), that opportunity has closed as well.
These measures were put into place in an attempt to help domestically regulated gaming operators, such as Tabcorp and Tatts. These companies are forced to pay more than $1 billion a year in taxes and fees while internet operators were exempt from such taxes.
Most Popular Betting Sites in Australia
So, if you were to find a place that offered live betting in Australia, which sports would you want to bet on? As you may expect, most domestic websites tend to have a special focus on the nation’s most popular professional sports leagues.
Aussie Rules Football (AFL) is easily the most popular sport for bettors and television viewers alike. The AFL pulled in over $500 million in 2015 revenue, which blows some of the other sports completely out of the water.
Some of the other more popular sports from both a gambling and viewing perspective are rugby (both NRL and Rugby Union), basketball and cricket. International soccer leagues are also hugely popular, particularly those in Europe such as La Liga, the English Premier League and the Bundesliga.
You can also get action on all four major North American sports. The National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Hockey League (NHL) are all rather popular in Australia, as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if an Australian betting site is legitimate?
As is the case wherever you place a bet, it is crucial to do a good bit of research before getting started. The most reputable Aussie betting sites are run, regulated and licensed by the eight State and Territory regulatory bodies. The Northern Territory’s Licensing Commission and Queensland’s Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation are two examples. This information is usually easily found somewhere on the gambling websites themselves.
Is Betting Legal
Offshore betting sites are obviously operated and regulated in different countries. This is more of a wild card, as a site having proof of licensing certainly doesn’t clear them of any and all ethical concerns. However, if you come across a site with no licensing information whatsoever, that should be an immediate red flag. Do not risk depositing money at a site with no licensing information readily available.
An easy rule to follow is to seek out sites and brands that have a history of success and solid reputations. Playing at a site that has been in operation for at least five years seems like a good benchmark. By now, any site that has been around that long has likely done enough to build a trustworthy reputation.
What should I know before placing a live bet?
If you are new to the live betting game, starting out small is surely the way to go. Getting a hang of how you perform and what your weaknesses are is crucial, otherwise you will find yourself losing constantly. If you don’t risk much in the first place, that frees you up to make a few beginner mistakes without it really costing you dearly in the end.
You should also focus in on sports that you are truly and deeply familiar with. Spreading yourself too thin with a variety of sports can get overly complicated. If there are one or two sports you consider yourself an “expert” about (football and basketball, for instance), then you should try to focus most of your efforts in those areas.
This will allow you to gain more familiarity with the way odds for that particular sport work, and how a changing game environment can affect your betting strategy.
Where Is Sports Betting Legal
It is also wise to develop an in-game strategy before the game even begins. “If this happens, then what?” Are you going to make the decision to hedge your bets if a score breaks a certain way? What are all possible outcomes for this game and how should I approach it? Flying blind is a dangerous way to approach any bet, and a live bet is no exception.