Always check the footer of a betting site or the about us page to see if they have a valid betting license. Even if a bookmaker doesn’t have an NSW betting licence, you can still bet with them as long as they have a license from another government regulator. Betting with offshore betting sites isn’t safe because nobody guarantees that they’ll keep their end of the bargain. That’s why we suggest you stick with regulated welsh betting sites.
Best NSW Bookmakers Online
Online betting is very popular in Australia, and NSW punters can pick between several excellent betting sites. Our experts reveal the best NSW bookmakers online and list the most popular betting options.
You can also learn more about the best betting apps and how betting bonuses are regulated in New South Wales. We even list the best bookies for betting on popular NSW sports teams.
List of the Best NSW Online Bookmakers
Best Live Streaming
Many Sports Covered
Great Betting App
Watch Live Streams
Horse Racing Live Streams
Big Races Covered
Aussie Sport Focus
Great for Multi Bets
Sports and Fantasy Betting
Range of Markets
Sports and eSports
eSports Live Streaming
Best Fantasy Betting Site
Large Prize Pools
Live Betting Online
Betting Exchange
These are the best NSW online bookmakers based on our research. Every bookie you see above is licensed and 100% safe, so you can relax and enjoy betting on your favourite sports or racing events. They also feature a plethora of advanced betting features, such as the same game multi, live betting and live streaming.
Note that even if online bookmakers don’t hold a license issued by the office of Liquor & Gaming NSW, they are still legally allowed to accept customers from New South Wales. As long as they have a license from any other government regulator, such as the QLD Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation or Northern Territory’s Department of Business, bookmakers can accept punters from any part of Australia.
How We Rate NSW Betting Sites
These are the most important factors we consider when ranking NSW betting sites. We cover many more areas in our reviews, but these are the most important ones. If you follow the steps below when picking your next NSW online bookmaker, you can be sure you’ll end up with a high-quality betting site.
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Licenses
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Betting Apps
All sports betting sites in NSW we list on this page have native bet apps for Android and iOS. If a bookie offers only a web app, you can be sure you’re dealing with a subpar operator. We also check how fast these betting apps are and if they’re easy to use. Even complete beginners should be able to find the odds and market they need with relative ease.
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Sports & Markets
There are no sports restrictions for NSW betting fans, so the selection of odds at local betting sites should be pretty broad. Best NSW betting agencies, such as bet365 and Unibet, offer over 30 sports and hundreds of markets for the most popular games. Apart from the most popular sports like AFL, cricket or NBA, these bookies also cover many niche sports, such as volleyball, snooker and table tennis.
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Live Betting & Live Streaming
Live betting is something you’ll find at all betting agencies in NSW. Top in-play betting sites have even niche sports available for live betting, not only the big ones. On the other hand, live streaming is much less available, and it can only be found at the best betting sites, including bet365 and Unibet.
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Payment Methods
Top NSW online bookmakers have several payment options available, including POLi, BPAY, VISA, MasterCard and bank transfer. The most prominent bookies also offer PayPal, which is easily the most popular payment option among Aussie punters. Some bookies even offer Apple Pay, a fan-favourite payment option among iPhone users.
Is Online Betting Legal in NSW?
The short answer is yes, online betting is legal in New South Wales. Every NSW resident can legally bet online on sports and racing. However, it comes with a few limitations.
In 2001, the Australian Government introduced the Interactive Gambling Act, which regulates all online gambling in Australia, including sports betting, casinos and lotteries. This law prohibits any kind of online interactive gambling for real money. Luckily, this law has some exceptions, including online betting on sports and racing, as long as bets are placed before the start of the match.
This leads us to the first major limitation – the ban on live betting. In-play betting is considered ‘interactive’, making it illegal in Australia because of the Interactive Gambling Act. This means that, unlike anywhere else in the world, NSW bettors can’t go to the betting site and place a live wager online.
However, online bookmakers have found a workaround for this. They still display live odds on their site and accept bets over the phone, meaning that you can still bet live online in NSW, just over the phone.
Note that the Interactive Gambling Act regulates gambling companies and not individual Australians, meaning that citizens can’t be punished for gambling online. You can even bet at offshore betting sites, but we strongly advise against this because of safety reasons.
NSW laws even restrict bookmakers from advertising their services on TV and print media, which was a regular occurrence back in the day. These are the rest of the laws that regulate online betting in New South Wales. In case you want to learn more about NSW gambling laws, go to the part of this page where we explain how NSW gambling legislation has changed through time.
- Betting Tax Act 2001
- Casino Control Act 1992
- Charitable Fundraising Act 1991
- Gaming and Liquor Administration Act 2007
- Gaming Machines Act 2001
- Gaming Machines Tax Act 2001
- Liquor Act 2007
- Lotteries and Art Unions Act 1901
- Betting and Racing Act 1998
- Totalizator Act 1997
- Unlawful Gambling Act 1998
Who Regulates Online Gambling in NSW?
NSW Office for Liquor, Gaming and Racing regulates all online betting activities on the territory of New South Wales. They issue gambling licenses and control the implementation of betting laws.
There aren’t many betting sites with NSW betting licenses, but that shouldn’t worry you because NSW residents can bet at online bookmakers that hold licenses from any other regulatory agency. So, for example, if you see a bookie with a Northern Territory license, you can be 100% sure that they’re legit.
If you have experienced any problems when betting online in NSW, feel free to contact NSW Liquor & Gaming office for help.
Betting Bonuses in NSW
Betting bonuses are highly regulated in Australia. The Broadcasting Services Act banned advertising of any incentives that may encourage people to bet. In other words, online bookmakers aren’t allowed to advertise any betting bonuses. That’s also the reason why we don’t display any promotions on AussieBet.com.
However, this doesn’t mean that betting bonuses are banned altogether. NSW punters must register an account before checking out a bookie’s bonus offering. Bonuses are still available to all registered customers.
Bonuses at NSW betting sites are regulated even more then, for example, at bookmakers in Western Australia. NSW betting regulators have limited the use of betting bonuses even further. The NSW Betting and Racing Act of 1998 forbids NSW betting sites to offer any kind of sign-up bonuses or even promotions for the outcome of certain sports events.
Local punters can’t benefit from the referral bonuses, which were a regular occurrence in the past. On top of that, the law bans all types of cashback bonuses, meaning that bookies can’t offer any bonus returns for lost bets. This means that you can’t use bonuses like risk-free bets or in-play betting refunds when betting in NSW. Since there are so many additional bonus restrictions for NSW players, you will even see disclaimers in some bonus T&Cs that go something like ‘not available for the residents of NSW’.
Even though many types of betting bonuses are forbidden in NSW, local punters can still enjoy a plethora of other betting promotions. For example, NSW betting sites still offer odds boost, parlay insurance and free bet promotions on a regular basis. The shift from betting bonuses means that bookies now have to focus on creating the best products possible, which is much more beneficial in the long run.
How to Place a Bet with NSW Bookmakers Online
It’s very straightforward to place bets at online betting sites in New South Wels. All you need to do is find a site you like and create an account. Note that you’ll have to enter some of your personal details when registering an account, such as your address and ID number. Don’t worry, that’s standard procedure bookies must follow to ensure all their customers are over 18 years old.
If this is your first time betting online, follow the steps below, where we explain the whole process in great detail.
Best New Bookies in NSW
New NSW betting sites offer punters fresh and exciting platforms to place their bets. Betting with new operators can be a great idea for several reasons. Firstly, new NSW bookies often offer unique markets that you won’t find elsewhere. For example, Draftstars offers a unique Rapidfire feature that allows you to bet on horses in head-to-head bets, and PickleBet has many eSports bets you won’t find anywhere else.
New NSW bookies, like PlayUp and PickleBet, offer state-of-the-art betting apps that are responsive, feature-rich, and easy to navigate. They provide a superior user experience with a design that is usually more modern, appealing, and easy to navigate. The use of the latest technologies makes these sites more visually appealing and intuitive to use, enhancing the overall betting experience.
PlayUp – The Best New Bookie in NSW
PlayUp has emerged as the top choice in New South Wales, because of its user-friendly interface and an excellent selection of horse racing bets. They also offer a wide range of sports, particularly impressive considering they are among the newest betting sites in Australia. Mobile bettors will appreciate that PlayUp offers native apps for both iOS and Android, making betting on the go a breeze. PlayUp’s integration with DraftStars also allows you to play fantasy sports on their app or desktop site. They offer competitive odds and a wide variety of markets, making them a versatile choice for all types of punters.Sports Betting in NSW
NSW punters are in luck since there aren’t any sports restrictions. You can bet on any game you want and take advantage of a huge selection of markets. NSW betting sites are well-equipped, so you can pick from an excellent selection of Australian and foreign sports and leagues.
You can bet on AFL and other Australian leagues, like NRL or BBL. The Sydney Swans, NSW’s number one AFL team, is a favourite among bettors, especially given their recent success in the league. The A-League also boasts four teams from NSW: Western Sydney Wanderers, Sydney FC, Newcastle Jets, and Central Coast Mariners, all of which are part of the premier soccer competition. These bookies will also have a keen focus on New South Wales-based events such as the popular NSW Darts Masters.
Cricket is also a popular sport for betting in NSW. The Blues, the state cricket team, compete in the Sheffield Shield and the Marsh Cup. Additionally, two Big Bash League teams from NSW, the Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers, compete in the national T20 competition.
There are also a lot of sites with excellent NBA betting coverage, as well as a solid selection of odds for NFL, EPL, tennis and other international sports and leagues.
Best NSW online bookmakers, like Unibet and bet365, offer over 30 sports, including many niche sports. These are some of the sports that are also available to punters from New South Wales.
- Baseball
- Boxing
- Cycling
- Darts
- Futsal
- Golf
- Hockey
- Netball
- Snooker
- Surfing
- Tennis
Betting on NSW Sports Teams
New South Wales is the home of several sports teams, including the super popular Sydney Swans from AFL and several A-League franchises. We list below the best bookies for betting on each of these teams. Our experts consider factors like the selection of markets and quality of odds for that particular sport when picking the sites you see below.
Bookies like bet365 even offer live streaming of certain matches. Fans of Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers can watch their teams directly on the bet365 app or website without any additional costs. All you need is a funded account and you can start watching.
Horse Racing Betting in NSW
Betting on horse racing is very popular in NSW. Local betting sites cover an extensive selection of national and international events. You can bet on everything, from the most prominent festivals like the Melbourne Cup to numerous races from various local venues such as Gosford, Royal Randwick, Lismore, and Rosehill Gardens. NSW is also home to a few popular Stage 1 races, including the Championships.
NSW betting sites offer an excellent selection of racing betting markets, including basic win/place bets and a full range of exotics like quinella, trifecta, exacta and so on. Most of them even offer live stats, historical data and form guides to help you guide your horse racing betting decisions.
A few sites from our top list even have horse racing live streaming available. Unibet, Betr, bet365 and PalmerBet all offer an option to watch live racing for free on their websites, but nobody does it better than bet365. They are an absolute leader when it comes to live streaming. Bet365 covers the most racing events from Australia and around the world and offers a superb selection of betting markets and live stats. If you want to watch live races and bet at the same time, bet365 is the place for you.
Best Live Streaming
Many Sports Covered
- Great horse racing live streams
- Wide range of futures
- Excellent betting app
Great Betting App
Watch Live Streams
- Good horse racing odds
- Horse racing live streaming
- Top betting app
Horse Racing Live Streams
Big Races Covered
- Live streaming of Aussie racing
- Wide choice of horse racing markets
- Very competitive racing odds
What NSW Betting Site Has the Best Odds?
It’s almost impossible to say which bookie always has the best odds. Prices are constantly changing, and different bookies tend to be more generous for certain sports. That’s why we highly suggest you go around and compare odds before betting to ensure you get the best deal available.
Australia is a well-regulated betting market with a lot of established brands, which is why you’ll probably find more or less the same odds at all betting sites. We have compared odds between a few of the most popular NSW online bookies, and the results support our claim.
As you can see from the table below, all these bookies offer almost identical odds. The same goes for most of the other popular sports. However, even a tiny difference in odds can make a lot of difference, especially if you’re betting big, so we still suggest you get out there and compare prices before betting.
bet365 | Unibet | Betr | PalmerBet | |
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Phoenix Suns | 2.20 | 2.16 | 2.21 | 2.17 |
Denver Nuggets | 1.70 | 1.71 | 1.70 | 1.70 |
Overround | 104.28% | 104.78% | 104.07% | 104.91% |
Most Popular Bets in NSW
Top NSW bookies offer an excellent selection of betting markets. You can find even over 100 bets for the most popular NRL, AFL and NBA matches. Big European bookies, like bet365 and Unibet, also offer an extensive selection of soccer betting markets. At the same time, Australian bookmakers, like Betr and PalmerBet, are more focused on sports like cricket and domestic horse racing.
We list the most popular bet types below and explain how to get the most out of them. Note that the selection of markets can be quite different depending on the sport. For example, in basketball, you can bet on assists and rebounds, while betting on goals is available for soccer. The bets you see below are the most popular ones available for most sports and at every betting agency in NSW.
Match betting – This is the easiest bet type. You just pick the side you think will win, and that’s it!
Handicaps – With handicaps, a bookie gives one team a points difference before the start of the match to even out the odds. For example, in the match between Newcastle Jets and Sydney FC, you can bet +1.5 goal handicap on the Jets, meaning that the Jets now start the game with an imaginary 1.5 goal advantage. So, Sydney FC will have to win with at least two goals difference to win this match in handicap.
Player props – Here you bet whether a player will have more or less of a particular stat than the line set by a bookie. For example, you can bet whether Steph Curry will have over or under 28.5 points in a certain match.
Total over/under – You can bet whether there will be over or under a certain number of points in a game. For example, you can bet whether there will be over or under 3.5 goals in a match between Newcastle Jets and Sydney FC. Some bookies also offer this market for halftimes or quarters of games.
Futures – Here you can bet on the outcome of the entire tournament or a league, usually months in advance. It’s also possible to bet on individual player awards. For example, you can bet that Sydney Swans will win the AFL title or that Luka Doncic will be the next NBA MVP.
Best NSW Betting Apps
Having native betting apps is a complete must in today’s world, which is why every NSW betting agency we list on this page has dedicated apps for iOS and Android. However, not all of them are made the same. We have picked the top 3 betting apps and listed them below.
Bet365 app is our top choice. Their app is very user-friendly and has a market-leading selection of sports and markets. On top of that, bet365 allows you to watch numerous live games and races on your phone or tablet.
Unibet also offers a solid selection of sports and a live streaming feature on their iOS and Android apps. Their app is a bit easier to handle, and they use brighter colours, so it may appeal more to younger customers.
But if you want only a straightforward betting app that’s not too crowded with features, Betr may be the right choice. They offer a nice little app with easy-to-follow navigation and excellent coverage of Australian sports and races.
Live Streaming & Live Betting
We already mentioned that live betting online is forbidden in NSW and the rest of Australia, but bookies like bet365 and Unibet make it as easy as possible to dial a phone and place live bets. Even though in-play betting over the phone may seem inconvenient, you still have access to an excellent selection of live sports and markets.
bet365
Unibet
Betfair
The only bookmaker that has live betting available on their website is Betfair. They’re able to offer you to bet live without dialling a phone because they’re a betting exchange, meaning that you’re betting against other punters, not the house. Betting exchanges follow different regulations, so Betfair is the only online bookmaker in NSW that offers online in-play betting.
The choice is much clearer when it comes to live streaming. Bet365 is the best option by almost every parameter. They cover most sports and racing events, including IPL, NBA, European soccer and numerous races from around the world. Everything works smoothly, and you can also watch on both mobile and tablet. All you need is a funded bet365 account, and you can start watching live sports or racing right away!
Payment Methods
Online betting sites in NSW offer all the popular payment methods. You can deposit via VISA, MasterCard, POLi, BPAY, Apple Pay and a few other methods. Best bookies also offer an option to bet with PayPal, which is the favourite banking option among Aussie punters.
Note that you’ll have to withdraw your winnings using the same payment method you used to deposit. Also, not all payment methods support withdrawals. For example, POLi can be used only for depositing money. In this case, bookies will send you your winnings via bank transfer. You can learn more about these payment options from the table below.
Timeline of Changes in NSW Gambling Laws
The gambling laws in New South Wales have undergone several changes over the years. Here’s a timeline of some of the significant updates.
- July 1, 2015: The Betting Tax Legislation Amendment Act 2015 came into force. This act reduced the amount of tax totalizator licensees must pay and the payment of amounts to or on behalf of racing controlling bodies.
- October 6, 2015: Changes were made to TAB Limited’s Totalizator Licence Conditions and to the Totalizator Betting Rules. This allowed TAB to enter into pooling arrangements with the Hong Kong Jockey Club. It also changed the jackpot accumulation period on certain bet types from two to 12 months.
- December 18, 2015: The Racing Administration Amendment Regulation 2015 was enacted. This change gave the Minister for Racing permission to declare a sporting event a betting event and give permission for a new type of bet. The Minister is under an obligation to ensure that a sports controlling body has been fully versed and that they bookie have an integrity agreement in place.
- December 8, 2015: The Racing Administration Amendment (Sports Betting National Operational Model) Act 2014 came into force. The amendments changed the name of the Racing Administration Act 1998 to the Betting and Racing Act 1998. The changes to the legislation also brought the state policy into line with the National Policy on Match Fixing in Sport.
- June 22, 2016: The Public Lotteries Act 1996 was altered to allow the expansion of Keno Jackpot Pooling Agreements between NSW and Victoria to include the ACT.
- May 28, 2018: Significant changes were made to the NSW Betting and Racing Act 1998, including language that expressly prohibited bookmakers from advertising any kind of bonus or reward as an incentive for signing up and betting.
- July 2, 2018: NSW punters could no longer have incentives marketed to them to sign up to a bookmaker regulated in Australia. It became illegal for websites to even display bonuses that punters from other Australian states could claim. The crackdown also included harsher restrictions around advertising sports betting during prime time on television and even in print publications, where gambling advertisements were frequent in NSW publications.
- July 7, 2023: Credit card cash out was not welcome at gaming venues across NSW.
Online Betting in Other Regions of Australia
Below you can check out how online betting works in other parts of Australia and what are the best bookmakers in each region.
Conclusion
Even though New South Wales imposes stricter betting regulations than most of the other Australian regions, local punters can still have an excellent online betting experience. All of the top Aussie bookmakers are available in NSW, and there are no sports or racing restrictions. Some bonus types are restricted, but you can still take advantage of odds boosts, free bets and enjoy features such as live streaming.
FAQs
What is the best NSW betting site?
Several great online bookmarks are available to NSW punters, but we believe bet365 is the best of them all. They offer native betting apps, excellent sports coverage and an excellent live-streaming platform.
Is online betting legal in NSW?
Yes, online sports and racing betting are legal in NSW. However, Australian laws prohibit live online betting and advertising of betting bonuses. NSW laws also restrict the use of certain bonus types, such as referral bonuses.
Do NSW sites offer live streaming of sports and racing events?
Yes, there are a few NSW betting agencies that offer live streaming. Bet365 offers the best live streaming platform, followed by Unibet. You can also watch selected live races on several other NSW betting sites, including Betr.
Do NSW bookmakers online have betting apps?
Yes, all online bookmakers from NSW we list on this page have native betting apps for iOS and Android. Our research has shown that bookies with the best betting apps in NSW are bet365, Unibet and Betr.