Live betting is one of the most popular ways of sports wagering. We list the best live betting sites in Australia and explain how to place in-play bets. You can also learn more about the best live betting apps and the most popular in-play markets.
Due to Australian laws, live betting is only legal in click-to-call format for local punters, except when betting with the Betfair exchange. We explain how live betting works in practice and provide expert live betting tips. More experienced punters can jump straight to our list of top 5 live betting sites.
Most Australian bookmakers offer live sports betting, so there is a great chance that you’ll have that option available regardless of the betting operator you choose to play with. But not all of them are made the same.
Always play at betting sites that have all the necessary licenses because that is the only way you can be sure that they are legal, safe and fair. We recommend you take a look at our list of the best bookmakers in Australia that feature in-play betting. All of them have fantastic betting offers and all required licenses, so you can be sure that you’ll have an awesome live betting experience if you choose any of them.
AussieBet Approved Live Betting Sites Up Close
Learn more details about our top picks for the best live sports betting sites. Alternatively, you can also visit some of our betting reviews to find out even more about any of the listed operators or go directly to betting sites and see for yourself what they’re all about.
Betfair – Live betting without calling is available in Australia!
While all of our recommended live betting sites are great at offering regular telephone live betting for Aussie punters, there is another option. At Betfair, you can place live bets without ever having to pick up your phone. Just pick a live market and place a live bet entirely online.
The reason why this is available only at Betfair is that, in this case, you are betting against fellow punters, which means the regulations that prevent live betting in Australia for other sites don’t apply here. Betfair is one of the world’s largest betting exchanges, and the betting process is almost the same as with any other bookmaker. You have odds, markets and real money prizes, with the only difference being that you don’t bet against the bookie but against other punters. You can check out our review to learn more about Betfair.
Bet live online without calling
Solid selection of live markets
Betfair usually offers higher odds than regular bookies
One of the main reasons why Aussie punters like bet365 so much is the quality of their live betting platform. They offer tens of sports for live betting, including the best selection of football live betting markets you’ll ever find. All of this is available on their iOS and Android apps as well, meaning that you can bet live even when you’re on the go.
On top of that, bet365 is also known for having a market-leading live streaming platform. They cover many sports events, including top-level cricket (like IPL), the best European soccer, tennis (both APT and WTA), horse racing, basketball, baseball and so on. You can watch live sports on mobile or desktop and place live bets at the same time with just a few clicks.
Unibet is another famous bookie with an excellent live betting platform. They cover a solid range of sports for live betting, including all the most popular ones like NRL, AFL, cricket and soccer. Unibet is also known for having some of the highest live odds on the market, especially for European sports. You can also bet live using a very user-friendly Unibet app which allows you to give them a call by just clicking a button.
Unibet also offers a very good live streaming platform, and the option to quickly place bets while watching live games. They broadcast an excellent range of sports, including cricket, tennis, basketball and horse racing. On top of that, Unibet is known for having the best live stats centre on the market, which can be of great help when making quick live betting decisions.
Live betting in Australia works in quite a different way than in most other countries. That’s why it’s important for you to know how the process goes before placing any bets. But don’t worry, we explain everything below!
Because of the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) from 2001, it is illegal for Australian bookmakers to offer online in-play sports betting. However, it is not illegal for Aussie punters to place live bets. So the bookies around here have found a loophole. They display live odds on their websites and leave a phone number where you can call and place in-play bets. That way, it’s not considered as “online live betting”, and therefore bookies are legally allowed to do it.
It’s a bit more complicated process than at non-Aussie betting sites, but the result is the same – you can place real money sports bets on live events. All you need to do is pick up your phone and give bookie a call. If this is your first contact with live sports betting, check out our step-by-step guide below.
How to Place a Live Bet?
As we mentioned above, the whole process of placing live bets at Australian online bookmakers is a little trickier than in Europe. They accept in-play bets on the so-called click-to-call principle. It means that once you have decided which live market you want to wager on, you’ll have to call the number displayed on their in-play betting page and place your bet over the phone.
At first, it may look complicated, but actually, it’s pretty easy once you get the hang of it. To make things even easier for you, we have come up with a detailed step-by-step guide on how to place in-play bets at any Australian betting site. Just follow the instructions below, and you’ll be ready to start with online live betting in no time.
Sign up with your favourite betting site – We recommend you try some of the bookmakers from our list since they are all trustworthy and have great in-play betting offers.
Make a deposit – If you still haven’t decided which payment method to use, we recommend you try some of the betting sites with PayPal deposits because it’s one of the safest and most convenient payment options for online gambling.
Find the live betting section – It’s also known as in-play betting and it’s usually located in the top menu.
Choose the sport and betting market you want to back up – You’ll see a list of all the games that are live right now.
Get the live bet code – All you need to do is click the desired live odds, and the code will pop up.
Dial the phone number to place your in-play bet – If you’re using some of the live betting apps, you can call a bookie directly from the app by just clicking the button.
Confirm the live bet – Once you get in touch with the betting operator, just say the code, and that’s it!
Your in-play bet is now placed – All you need to do is wait for the results and hope for the best! Good luck!
Live Betting Odds Explained
Live odds tend to change rapidly to reflect the happenings in the game. That’s why you’ll probably need some time to get used to in-play betting in Australia, especially if you are new to online gambling.
Before you start betting, one of the most important things you should do is find a betting site that offers solid odds. It’s not easy to accurately compare live odds because they are changing all the time.
When betting in-play, the best way to get the best odds is by keeping track of these odds shifts compared to the game situation. For example, in a soccer game a team could have gone a goal down against the run of play. Due to this there odds are now much bigger for them to come out on top, or even get a draw. By comparing the in-play odds being offered to the current match situation shows that there could still be some value in backing the team that has just gone behind.
How We Rate Live Betting Sites in Australia
We consider several important factors when picking the best Australian live betting sites for our top list. Our experts check every area of a betting site, and these are the most important things that affect the betting experience the most.
Licenses
Having a valid betting license from one of the official betting agencies is a complete must for any betting sites we list here. Unlicensed betting sites have no obligation to pay you your winnings or store user data in a safely manner.
Live sports coverage
It’s always good to have more sports available for live betting. Top live betting sites cover tens of sports, from the most popular ones like AFL, NRL, NBA and BBL, to the niche sports like darts, table tennis or volleyball.
Selection of live markets
Live betting offers many more options apart from the simple betting on the final winner of the match. You can also try more advanced markets, such as over/under, next team to score, next player to score and so on. Keep in mind that the selection of markets can vary depending on the sport.
Live betting apps
In-play betting is much more convenient on an app, since it’s easier to quickly call your bookie when you already have a phone in your hand. That’s why we also rate the best live betting apps on this page based on factors such as, design, loading times, ease of use etc.
Live streaming
Live streaming perfectly compliments live betting because it’s much easier to place high-value live bets when you can actually see what’s happening on the playing field. That’s why betting sites with a strong live streaming offering, like bet365 or Unibet, get a big plus in our books.
Best Live Betting Apps
If you are one of those punters who like to place real money bets on the go, we have great news for you. Most Australian bookmakers have live betting available on their mobile betting apps as well. In case your bookie has a native app, just visit the App Store or Play Store, and you’ll be ready to start placing live bets right away.
We have picked the best live betting apps for Australian punters and listed them below, together with their App Store and Play Store ratings, so you don’t have to wander around the internet to cross-compare these apps.
Unibet’s betting app has proven to be the best for online live betting. Its combination of the excellent selection of live markets, user-friendly interface and solid live streaming coverage makes them a perfect choice for most punters. You can also claim the Unibet bonus code even when betting on mobile, meaning that the app users won’t miss anything.
However, bet365 is in a close second place, so you may also consider them if you prefer to bet live on soccer or some of the niche sports that aren’t available at other betting sites. BlueBet is another bookie with a solid live betting app, especially if you’re a beginner who wants only a straightforward app with great live coverage of Australian sports.
When we talk about in-play betting markets, it all comes down to the sport you want to bet on. As with pre-match betting, markets are very sport-specific. However, there are some market types, such as match winner or total points, that are more or less available for any sport.
We list below some of the most popular live betting markets, but if you want to learn more about sport-specific markets, scroll down and take a look at the section about live betting on different sports.
The most popular live betting markets
Match Winner/Result: This is a bet on which team will win the match. Odds change as the game progresses.
Next Goal/Point/Run Scorer: A bet on which team or player will score the next point, goal, or run.
Total Points/Goals/Runs: Betting on the total points, goals, or runs scored by both teams during the match. Typically, an over/under format is used.
Point Spread/Handicap: This involves predicting whether a team will win or lose by more or less than a set margin of points.
Race to (X) Points/Goals: A bet on which team will be the first to reach a certain number of points or goals.
Correct Score: A bet on the exact final score of the game.
Half-Time/Full-Time Result: Betting on the result of the game at half-time and full-time.
Individual Player Performance: A bet on the performance of a specific player, such as total points scored, assists, rebounds (in basketball), goals scored (in football), or runs scored (in cricket).
Popular Sports for Live Betting
If you decide to try live betting in Australia, you’ll have almost as many sports available as for pre-match wagering. Both established and new bookmakers have all the most popular sports available for in-play betting in Australia, so there will be more than enough options to choose from. The most popular picks are soccer and tennis, but cricket, rugby, AFL and horse racing don’t fall too far behind.
In case you get bored with betting on mainstream sports, you can always try wagering on some of the niche sports. Bookmakers in Australia usually offer a range of lesser sports as well, such as surfing, table tennis or badminton. Keep an eye on those big Aussie-based international events too, such as the Australian GP, Australian Open golf or even the NSW Masters Darts betting. Live betting should be an option for these as well.
Live racing betting
Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in Australia. But when it comes to online live betting, it’s much less convenient than other sports, which is why not many bookies offer live racing betting. Horse races are very fast-paced and volatile, so the opportunities for in-running bets are much smaller.
In-running betting requires you to be very fast because the events are over much quicker than when betting on soccer or tennis. Live odds are changing rapidly, so we don’t recommend in-running betting on horses or harness racing for beginners or faint-hearted sports fans.
NRL Live Betting
NRL is a sport that lends itself well to live betting. This is largely due to the fast-paced, high-intensity nature of the sport. With frequent scoring, significant momentum shifts, and often unexpected results, there is plenty of excitement and betting opportunities throughout each match.
In terms of markets, live NRL betting usually offers a broad array. Live bookmakers in Australia may provide around 30 to 50 different in-play markets for each match. This variety of markets enhances the live betting experience by providing numerous ways to engage with the action as it unfolds. Some of the most popular live betting markets are detailed below.
Match Winner – This market fluctuates as the game progresses, with odds changing after every try, goal, or significant event. One strategy could be to back the underdog team if they are playing well and look likely to stage a comeback.
Line Betting – This is a popular live market in NRL betting, where you predict whether a team will win by more or less than a certain margin (the ‘line’). The line changes in real-time depending on the game situation.
Total Points – You can bet on the total points scored by both teams during the match. This market is typically presented as an over/under bet, with the line shifting as the game unfolds.
First/Next Try Scorer – This market involves predicting the player who will score the first or next try in the match. The odds can fluctuate greatly, especially as certain players get more involved in the game.
Team to Score Next – This market allows you to bet on which team will be the next to score points. This can be particularly exciting in a close match where momentum is swinging back and forth.
AFL Live Betting
AFL is one of the most dynamic sports globally, and its thrilling, high-scoring nature makes it an exciting option for live betting. With frequently changing game dynamics and lead changes, it provides bettors with a variety of in-play betting opportunities.
In Australia, bookmakers may offer around 50 or more different live betting markets for each AFL match, depending on the magnitude of the game and the teams involved. The array of markets ensures that bettors can engage in different ways throughout the match, adding another layer of excitement.
Match Winner – Similar to most sports, you can place a live bet on which team will win the match. The odds fluctuate in real-time based on how the match is progressing.
Next Goal Scorer – This is a bet on which player will kick the next goal in the match. Odds change in real-time depending on the player’s involvement and likelihood of scoring.
Behind Betting – This is a unique aspect of Australian Rules Football, where a team scores a ‘behind’ (worth one point) if the ball hits the goalpost, goes between the behind posts, or is touched before going between the goalposts. You can bet on the number of behinds scored by a team or in total during the match.
First/Last Scoring Play – In AFL, scoring plays can either be a goal (worth six points) or a behind (worth one point). You can bet on whether the first or last scoring play in a match or a quarter will be a goal or a behind.
Disposal Markets – Disposals (consisting of kicks and handballs) are a key component of AFL. Live betting markets often feature bets on which player will have the most disposals or whether a player will reach a certain number of disposals during the match.
Football Live Betting
Live betting on football is especially exciting because bookies usually provide a huge range of live markets and even a few dedicated promotions now and there. Football is extremely popular in Europe, so don’t be surprised to find out how big European bookies, like bet365 and Unibet, offer by far the best selection of games and markets.
Bet365 even broadcasts many football matches on their site, including some of Europe’s top leagues. If you want to start with live betting on football, you don’t have to look further because, in this category, bet365 is the by far the best option.
Bookies usually offer a plethora of exciting live soccer betting markets, so you can be sure that there will always be something interesting to wager on. Here you can bet on match winners, goals, cards, corners and many other live markets. We have broken down some of the most common live soccer markets:
Team markets – Here you can bet which team will win the game. You can also try to guess who will score next, how many goals there will be in total, will both team score a goal, and so on. These are basic, easy-to-understand markets suitable for beginners and experienced bettors alike.
Goals – These markets allow you to bet on the number of goals scored. You can try over/under bets on the number of goals in a single half or during the whole match, as well as the correct score at the end of the game.
Bet on players – With these kinds of markets you can back up a player to score next goal or 2+ or 3+ goals during the whole game.
Cards and corners – Bet on whether there will be over or under the set number of corners or cards. You can also try to guess which player will get a red or a yellow card.
Live Cricket Betting Markets
The nature of cricket matches makes them perfect for live betting. Games can last up to five days, which gives punters more than enough time to place in-play bets. This also makes tactical betting on cricket events a lot of fun.
You won’t have to worry about finding an Australian bookie that offers cricket live betting. Almost every decent bookmaker will offer these kinds of markets. When betting on live cricket, you can back match winner, runners, wickets, innings and so on. We’ll explain a few of the most important markets in the paragraph below.
Head to head – Simply back up a team you think will win at the end. Since cricket games are long, odds can drastically change during the course of the match. So the most important thing here is to place a live bet at the right time.
Player run markets – Here you can bet on whether the player will have over or under the set number of 2-way or 3-way runs. Also, you can try to guess if the player will score more or less than the set amount of points.
Totals – These markets let you bet on whether there will more or less total runs during the whole game. Totals markets usually provide more value to the bettors, because you are relying more on the knowledge than pure luck.
Dismissal markets – Here you can place bets on wicket dismissal for each team. You can also back up the next player to be dismissed.
Live Tennis Betting Markets
There are a few reasons why tennis is so popular when it comes to betting in-play, for example, the score changes quickly, and there are regular breaks between gems. This allows bookies to come up with fresh odds that reflect what’s going on on the court.
You’ll find a wide range of live markets when betting on tennis. Bookies in Australia tend to offer even more than 40 in-play markets for each game. You can bet on the exact set score, who wins next gem, ace totals and many other exciting markets. We have listed below and explained a few of the most popular live tennis betting markets.
Match winner – Odds on this market will change after every point scored. One of the best strategies here is to bet against the winner of the opening set. That’s because in that case the winner is usually determined by who had the serve first. Prices will skyrocket, while your player will still have a solid chance to end up as a winner.
Set score – Another very popular market where you can try to guess the exact score of the set. Always consider which player is serving first and who is most likely to make a brake.
Total gems – Here you can back up a player you think will win more gems during the set or a whole game. Also, you can place an over/under bet on the total number of gems during the game. Many bookies also offer handicap betting on total gems markers.
Points betting – Bet on who will win the next point. The easiest way to win here is to back up a great server. But to maximise value try analysing if some player has an advantage on a particular side of the court.
Live Golf Betting
Golf is an exciting sport to watch, and its nature offers unique opportunities for live betting. Unlike most team sports, golf tournaments play out over several days, with multiple players participating simultaneously. This extended timeframe, along with the sport’s individualistic character, leads to a multitude of live betting opportunities.
In golf, there are typically several markets available for live betting. The exact number varies based on the tournament and the stage of play but could range from a dozen to several dozen for larger events like the majors. Here are some of the most popular live bets.
Hole-by-Hole Betting – This involves betting on the outcome of a specific hole for a specific player. For instance, you could bet on whether a player will score a birdie, par, or bogey on the next hole.
3-Ball/2-Ball Betting – Golfers typically play in groups of two or three during the first two rounds of a tournament. In this market, you bet on who will have the lowest score on the next hole or for the remainder of the round within the group.
Leader After Each Round – This market allows you to bet on who will be leading the tournament after the current round. It’s updated continuously as the round progresses.
Shots Over/Under Par – This live market lets you bet on how many strokes a player will take on the next hole or for the remaining holes of the round relative to par.
Next Hole Eagles/Birdies/Bogeys – This market allows you to bet on specific outcomes on the next hole such as eagles, birdies, or bogeys. It offers exciting opportunities for bettors due to the high variance in golf.
Live Betting Vs Pre Match Betting Online
Live online betting refers to placing bets in real-time as the event unfolds, while pre-match betting involves placing bets before the event starts based on analysis and predictions. Each style comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages that can significantly impact the betting experience.
This analysis aims to outline the pros and cons of both styles to help you make more informed betting decisions.
Live Betting
You can adapt your bets as the game unfolds and make decisions based on the actual performance of the teams or individuals
You may be able to exploit changes in the odds to secure a profit regardless of the outcome
The ability to bet during the game adds an additional layer of excitement
You get access to many more different bet types when betting live
Since live odds are quick to change, you’ll have to make swift decisions, which can lead to rash choices
Live betting requires you to constantly monitor the game and the betting odds, making it more stressful
Technical issues may stop you from placing the bet at the right time
Pre-Match Betting
With pre-match betting, you have more time to research and analyze your bets
The odds are fixed, so you don’t have to worry about them changing
It’s less stressful since you’re not having to make rapid decisions during the game
Pre-match betting makes it easier to manage your budget
You’re making your betting decisions based on limited info available before the match
You can’t adjust your bets based on what’s happening in the game
There are usually fewer types of bets available before the game compared to during live play
Live Streaming and In-Play Betting
Signing up with an Aussie bookmaker that offers great live streaming can be a big help for those who want to take advantage of live betting. Being able to watch the action unfold can give you great insight into how a game is going and the form of the players taking part.
Looking into the streaming service should be a key factor in picking a good live betting site in Australia. It is also something we considered when putting together our list of the best options.
Cash out is a feature offered by many online betting platforms that allows you to exit a bet early at the current offered price, which can change rapidly in response to live events.
When you place a bet, the betting platform will often provide a Cash Out value that you can accept at any point during the event. This value is based on the current state of play and the likelihood of your bet winning, which can be higher or lower than your original stake.
Since live betting tends to be more volatile than pre-match betting Cash Out feature serves as an extra tool for risk management. If a game takes an unexpected turn, you have the flexibility to cash out and minimize potential losses. Alternatively, if your bet is performing well, you can use Cash Out to lock in a profit before the event concludes, avoiding any last-minute surprises.
Moreover, in live betting, the Cash Out feature can be used for profit-making. You might spot opportunities where the Cash Out value is higher than your stake and the potential winnings, even though the game’s outcome remains uncertain.
With ‘Cash Out’, you can end your bet early. You might do this if things are going really well and you want to make sure you win something rather than risk it all on the final result. Or maybe things aren’t going so well and you want to get some of your money back before it’s all gone.
In-Play Betting Strategies
When it comes to live sports betting, you have to act quickly. The trick of the trade is to pick the right time to place a bet. If you are too soon, you may miss much higher odds. On the other hand, you can’t wait too long either because you are going to miss the whole bet.
It’s all about details and timing when it comes to live sports betting. But don’t worry, with our advice and a bit of practice, you’ll master in-play betting in no time. We have listed below a few of the best tips that can help you make your live bets more profitable, so be sure to check it out.
Live betting strategies
Come up with the betting strategy in advance – Before you start betting, decide on your strategy for the game. You’ll have to make many quick decisions during the match, so it’s best to think in advance about what would you do if games start unfolding differently than you have expected.
Don’t hesitate to cover other odds – If you’re not so sure anymore that your initial bet will come up as a winner, don’t be afraid to back up an opposing team and in that way cover at least a part of your losses or even guarantee a profit. This is known as hedging and is discussed further below.
Choose markets carefully – It’s easy to get caught up with bad value markets, such as next goal scorer or next point winner in tennis. The bookie has a great advantage on markets like this, so you should always try to bet on the final outcomes rather than events during the game.
Become a specialist – Bookmakers’ margins tend to be pretty high on live betting, so the best way to increase your chances of winning is to specialise in a small number of sports. That way, you are not just going to become an expert for that sport, but you’ll also get to know how live odds change in various situations.
Hedging Your Bets with Live Betting
One important strategy to understand about wagering with live sports betting sites is the practice of hedgingyour bets. Live betting gives you the opportunity to guarantee yourself a profit by putting your money on opposing outcomes when the timing is right.
Live betting odds can shift considerably during a game of football, tennis or cricket. That means it is possible to bet onthe different outcomes to make sure you turn a profit regardless of the result.
For example, in a game of T20 cricket you could bet on Team A at 3.0 before the match gets underway. Your selection could bat well so that their odds shorten. As a result, Team B go out to 3.0 to take victory. It means you could then back Team B as well and guarantee a profit unless the match ends in a tie.
The fact it takes longer to place a live bet over the phone can hinder this approach, but it is still possible if you are quick enough to get your money on at the right time in the match.
Conclusion
While live betting in Australia isn’t as easy as in other places, it is still possible to do with the best live betting sites. These will offer ever-changing odds while the action is taking place.
To place live bets you just need to get the odds you want and place the bet over the phone rather than online. Live betting odds is a big plus point about top bookies and adds another dimension to your betting options.
Most of the Australian betting sites are offering live betting. We have cherry picked the best of the best and put them in one place. Check out the full list!
There are plenty of Australian bookmakers that offer live betting odds. We have rated and reviewed the best live sports betting sites to help your search.
What is Live Betting?
Live or in-play betting is a form of wagering where you place real money bets on sports events after they have started. That way, you’ll be in the heart of the action, placing bets on markets with rapidly changing odds. Learn how to place a live bet.
What is the best live betting app?
There are a few bookies with fantastic live betting apps, but we believe that bet365 offers the best one. Unibet and Palmerbet are also pretty good. All of them have a full range of live sports and markets available on iOS, Android and web-based apps. To learn more about top in-play betting apps, check out the article above.
Why is live betting phone only?
Due to the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA), all Australian bookmaker are prohibited from providing online live betting services. But they are allowed to display live odds on their sites and accept live bets over the phone since it’s not perceived as online gambling.
How are live betting odds calculated?
Live odds should represent what is currently happening on the playing field. Bookmakers calculate these odds based on complex statistical analysis and market movements. Since every bookie has its own system, odds may drastically differ from bookmaker to bookmaker.
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