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Australia isn’t a territory that every cricket betting site looks to get into but, just because a betting platform is available here, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should use it.
Not all cricket bookmakers are created equal and here is our review of the best, along with some tips on what to look out for.
Where are Australian Betting Sites Located?
More specifically where are the operating companies incorporated? Hover over the map below to see the cities, states and territories where Australian betting providers are registered. In most cases their headquarter office is located in the same city. You can also find out the exact location from the list below.
Alphabetical List of Australian Cricket Betting Sites
- bet365.com.au
- BetDeluxe.com.au
- BetStar.com.au
- BlueBet.com.au
- Bookmaker.com.au
- BoomBet.com.au
- GunsBet.com
- Ladbrokes.com.au
- Neds.com.au
- Palmerbet.com
- Playup.com.au
- Robwaterhouse.com
- Sportsbet.com.au
- Tab.com.au
- TopSport.com.au
- Unibet.com.au
- WinnersBet.com.au
Best Cricket Betting Sites
These are the best of the established online cricket betting sites in Australia. Those that stake regularly in the markets will probably be very familiar with them and here’s a round up of what they have to offer.
Bet365 Australia – The very Best Cricket Betting Site
Founded in the UK in 2000, bet365 are widely known as the biggest cricket live betting platform in the world. It may well be true that their list of in play cricket markets cannot be matched but they are a good all-round sportsbook with plenty of options in the pre-match betting too.
Bet365 like to declare their odds earlier than most so, if you’re staking some way ahead of the game or tournament, they are likely to appear well in advance. Odds are always competitive and, in many cricket betting markets, they are quoting the best odds in the industry.
Those odds are backed up by a generous bet credits and you can always expect to find ongoing promotions that will add to their all-round value.
There are few disadvantages in signing up with bet365: Perhaps their list of customer service options and banking methods could be wider but, if you’re serious about the cricket markets, this is one of the first places to check out.
Unibet Australia
Unibet has its origins in Scandinavia where the company originally formed as a betting community in the 1990s. In the present day, they are known for reaching into a wide global territory and that’s why they are a popular option across much of Australia.
One of the big advantages for customers is the presence of Unibet TV which is one of the best and most comprehensive live streaming services of any sportsbook. That’s a real benefit to customers betting in live markets and there are many who feel that Unibet’s in-play platform is second only to bet365.
They are also strong in pre-match markets with competitive odds which are complemented by a welcome bonus, free bets and ongoing offers.
One issue that some bettors have with Unibet is that customer services can be hard to locate. Hopefully there should be no issues with this online betting site but that’s one area that they may want to address.
There’a also just a small choice of funding methods here with VISA, Mastercard and POLI.
Playup.com.au
Following a merger of three bookmakers, Playup has emerged to become one of the most popular new sportsbooks around. 2019 was the year that this particular operator was formed and, while they may have fewer sports than others, cricket receives wide coverage.
The markets are extensive within the sport with all of the main side bets added to match result and tournament betting. Once again, that range is backed by some seriously competitive odds. Like all of the top australian bookies on this list, there is effective customer service but the live chat is not open 24 hours a day and that could be a small disadvantage for some.
Sportsbet.co.au
Sportsbet make a number of bold claims: They bill themselves as the best online horse racing and sports betting platform while also going on to state that they are Australia’s favourite online betting and entertainment website.
There will obviously be some debate over that but this is certainly a popular destination for a number of reasons. Their history predates the digital age with a license first granted in 1993 so there is a lot of trust and history behind them.
One key area where Sportsbet score very highly is with their list of markets and they are very comprehensive for all major cricket matches. There are ongoing promotions for existing customers but one issue across Aussie cricket betting sites is a lack of a welcome bonus.
Betstar Australia
Originally established in 2007 as a local Australian enterprise, Betstar was acquired by the UK giant Ladbrokes in 2014. Those who use both platforms will recognise similarities between the two but Betstar has long been one of the best australian bookmakers in its own right.
Like all top bookies, there is wide coverage of the cricket markets with competitive odds across the board. One benefit that customers seem to like is the fact that they can withdraw from their account balance using an ATM card. Meanwhile, the absence of any live streaming is one of the few downsides here.
Bookmaker.com.au
Bookmaker have been available to Australian bettors since 2012: Their site is one of the most attractive and the striking design is backed up by a platform which is easy to navigate. Their aim is to be competitive in every department and that means combining excellent odds with a wide choice of cricket betting markets.
There is no welcome deal here but there can be generous promotions once a customer is on board. Once again, the lack of live streaming could be a disadvantage but this is a solid all-round cricket betting platform.
Bluebet.com.au
Having opened in 2015, Bluebet are relatively new when compared to others on this list but they are owned by the well-known Michael Sullivan who has over 30 years of industry experience behind him.
Sullivan was unhappy with UK bookmakers who he felt failed to understand the average Aussie punter. As a result he’s introduced a platform that focuses on the country’s favourite sports including horse racing, AFL and, of course, cricket.
There is a welcome bonus here along with other promos. The choice of side markets could, perhaps, be wider, but this remains one of the favourite bookies for cricket betting experts.
New Australian Online Betting Sites
Just because a cricket betting site is brand new, it doesn’t mean that they should be overlooked. Some of the newest entries into the industry have quickly joined the list of top australian bookies and here are the most impressive.
Bets.com.au
As well as being a regular sportsbook, Bets say that they provide some of the best cricket betting tips in the industry. It’s an odd mix because why would a bookmaker want to provide winning tips but it’s fair to say that the previews make for interesting reading.
Bets work on a no frills approach so there are no gimmicks here – just sound odds in a wide range of cricket and other sports markets. The lack of live streaming is becoming a common downside to many of the newer sites and unfortunately it’s absent again here.
Boombet
A 2020 rebrand saw Boombet join the schedule of Australian bookmakers and they’ve worked hard in order to climb the list. They cover all the key elements needed and have some exceptional odds in the cricket markets.
The absence of live or in play betting is clearly going to be a big downside for some but, if you concentrate solely on the pre-match options, those excellent odds plus an extensive range of markets for all domestic sports mean that Boombet is worth checking out.
WinnersBet
A Melbourne based company that launched in June of 2020, it’s been an impressive start to life for Winners Bet. Fully owned and licensed in Australia, they are passionate about delivering the type of service that local bettors would want.
As part of the mission to attract Australian players, there is a focus on the country’s most popular sports and, naturally, that includes cricket. This is another operator where the loyalty club is especially impressive and it should help to retain customers with its added value. Strong odds and a wide set of markets complete the picture.
There is no live streaming as yet and no phone line for customer services but it’s early days and these may appear in the future.
Neds
They’ve only been around since 2017 but there are some impressive parts of the Neds package that have put them among the top australian bookies in a short period of time. There is no welcome bonus or free bets but there are generous ongoing promotions and their loyalty programme should prove especially rewarding for regular players.
Other strong areas of the platform are there to tick all the important boxes: There is a good range of cricket betting markets and the odds are competitive. Live cricket bets can only be placed by telephone and there is no live streaming service here.
What Makes a Good Australian Cricket Betting Site?
All of these best cricket betting sites have to meet certain criteria in order to be placed on the top performing list. Here are the key characteristics that are assessed before adding them to the schedule of best australian bookmakers.
Value Cricket Odds
There’s little point playing with a sportsbook if they aren’t giving you value on their cricket betting odds. If their prices are consistently shorter than the rest of the industry then you really should be looking elsewhere.
The bookies on this list are known for providing value, not just in the cricket betting markets but for events right across the sporting calendar.
License – Reputation
In order to provide gambling services in Australia, a bookmaker must be licensed and regulated. There are a number of licensing commissions across the country, with gambling being regulated at both State and Federal levels.
A common authority for most australian bookmakers is the Northern Territory Licensing Commission. Others use the New South Wales Liquor and Gaming Commission while you may also see the South Australia Independent Gambling Authority or the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation.
Details of the license held will usually be shown at the very bottom of an operator’s homepage. If it’s not there, it should be a warning sign and you should carry out some research before proceeding.
All of the recommended cricket bookmakers on this list are licensed and allowed to provide betting on cricket services in Australia. It’s all part of the need to establish a trusted presence in the market here.
Banking Options
All sports betting sites should provide bank cards as a form of funding. Most will also allow bank wire transfers but it helps when the list of deposit and withdrawal methods is much wider. Not everyone wants to use their bank every time and, like the rest of the world, many Australians have accounts with the big eWallet providers.
You may find PayPal on some platforms. They are the world’s biggest eWallet but are not always open to betting companies so it’s actually a good endorsement if a bookmaker offers PayPal.
Other, less common providers may include Skrill, Neteller, Ukash and POLI.
Available Markets
Choice is important and a good cricket bookmaker needs to cover a wide range of cricket betting markets attached to the sport. All sportsbooks will offer options for match and tournament winners but serious cricket bettors want more.
The best cricket bookmakers will include all of the important side markets such as Top Batsman, Top Bowler, Total Runs, Man of the Match, Mode of Next Dismissal and many more. The best value can often lie in these prop bets and that’s why our list of top australian bookmakers requires our recommendations to have plenty of choice.
Mobile Online Betting Apps
Being able to bet on the go is especially important for in play betting on cricket but, in general, it simply makes things that much more flexible. The best australian bookies should all have a mobile platform of some sort.
At the very least, there should be a dedicated mobile website which is quick to call up and fits neatly into your browser. Ideally, however, we’d like to see all bookmakers provide a cricket betting app which is available for both Android and iOS.
This is the quickest way to access the markets and that can be vital in a sport where best odds can change rapidly.
Live Cricket Betting Options
Staking in the live markets is a fast-paced way in which to approach cricket betting. As a match fluctuates, there is often the potential for longer odds to reflect all the twists and turns that take place along the way.
The best cricket betting sites should have an extensive live platform where we can still enjoy a comprehensive choice of markets as well as competitive odds throughout.
The majority of those pre-match cricket markets should also be available once the game has begun. Match Result, Top Batsman, Player of the Match and many others should be here. The live markets also provide options that you won’t find pre-match such as Next Batsman to be Dismissed.
To make sure that you can access the best cricket betting odds from the live sections, we suggest downloading a cricket betting app where available.
Live Streaming
A live stream can provide access to many top sports from around the world and, with high quality sound and graphics, the feed can often be a match for the live TV broadcasters. Many cricket bookmakers offer a live stream with fair and simple rules regarding access.
Those rules will differ depending on which sportsbook you are playing with but, in general, you should expect to be an active customer with funds in your account.
Bookmakers Where There is Streaming
The vast majority of australian bookies on this list do not offer any form of live streaming. This tends to be more widespread amongst operators based overseas and the only difference between them is the coverage provided. Some will only broadcast the bigger cricket matches while others will be far more comprehensive.
BetEasy
Founded in 2014, BetEasy is licensed in the Northern Territory and has one of the better live streaming services of Australian-based bookies. As a national bookie with eight offices around the country, there’s lots to enjoy here including strong odds and regular promotions but the comprehensive live streaming platform is a big plus point. Update: BetEasy has merged with Sportsbet.
Conclusion
Australian regulation makes it tough for sportsbooks to set up in business within their own country. The fact that a national bookmaker has earned their license is, in fact, an endorsement in its own right.
It’s said that around 80% of Australian adults engage in online gambling and that’s a significant percentage. Strict regulation has to be put in place to encourage responsible play and current rules come from the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001. Among the legislation contained within are strict rules banning most forms of advertising.
As mentioned at the top of this preview, being accessible to Australians doesn’t automatically make a bookmaker a good choice. That’s why we’ve applied all of the above criteria to provide a list of the top online cricket betting sites available in Australia.
