Small Online Bookmakers in Australia
If you’re tired of betting with big operators, trying some of the best small Australian bookmakers may be a good idea. These small betting sites usually treat their customers with greater care while providing almost the same range of markets, odds and betting features as big corporate bookies.
We list below the best small online bookmakers in Australia, so you don’t have to do all the research on your own. You can also learn more about whether small betting sites offer competitive odds, what is the range of markets and payment methods and do small bookies offer betting bonuses.
Top 4 Small Online Bookmakers in Australia
Sports and Fantasy Betting
Range of Markets
Aussie Sport Focus
Great for Multi Bets
Horse Racing Live Streams
Big Races Covered
Sports and eSports
eSports Live Streaming
Our in-house experts created this list based on several important criteria, such as the quality of odds, range of markets and availability of different features, such as live streaming, live betting and so on. But the most important thing is that every site you see here is licensed and tested, making them 100% safe to use.
If you want to learn more about how we created this list, check out the part of this page where we explain our rating criteria.
#1 PlayUp
2# Palmerbet
#3 BlueBet
4# PickleBet
How We Rate Small Australian Bookmakers
With so many options available, it’s essential to carefully evaluate each small betting site before entrusting them with your hard-earned money. We outline the critical factors to consider when rating the best small Australian bookmakers online.
By understanding these criteria, you’ll be well-equipped to make an informed decision and enjoy a seamless betting experience.
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Safety and betting licensesThe safety and security of an online bookmaker should always be a top priority. A reputable bookmaker must hold a valid betting license from a recognized authority, such as the Northern Territory Racing Commission in Australia. A valid license ensures that the bookmaker adheres to strict regulations and guidelines, guaranteeing a safe and secure betting environment for users.
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Quality of oddsThe quality of odds a bookmaker offers is crucial in determining potential returns on your bets. To maximize your earnings, it’s essential to choose a platform that consistently provides competitive odds. A good bookmaker should offer diverse odds across various sports and betting markets, allowing you to find the best value for your bets.
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Quality of a betting appIn today’s fast-paced world, having a user-friendly and efficient betting app is critical for a seamless betting experience. The best small Australian online bookmakers should offer a top-notch app that is compatible with various devices, including iOS and Android. The app should have an intuitive interface, allowing you to easily navigate through different markets and place bets quickly.
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Live betting platformLive betting, also known as in-play betting, has become increasingly popular among punters. A robust live betting platform allows you to place bets during the course of an event, offering an engaging and dynamic betting experience. The best small Australian online bookmakers should provide a reliable and user-friendly live betting platform, complete with real-time odds updates, live streaming, and a wide range of in-play betting markets.
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Selection of betting marketsA diverse selection of betting markets is essential to cater to the varied preferences of bettors. The best small Australian bookmakers should offer an extensive range of markets across various sports, including popular ones like football, cricket, and rugby, as well as niche sports like darts, snooker, and eSports. Additionally, the platform should provide a variety of bet types, such as money lines, point spreads, over/under, and prop bets, to give you ample opportunities to find the best value.
Pros and Cons of Betting With Small Australian Bookmakers
Small online bookmakers have a lot of advantages over their bigger counterparts. For example, minor bookies tend to have more approachable customer support and usually care more about every customer, giving you a much more personal experience.
On the other hand, most small betting sites don’t have sports live streaming because having this feature requires a lot of investment. Big Australian bookies also tend to be better if you want to bet on niche sports, like surfing or snooker. But if you only want to bet on horse racing and popular sports, like NRL, AFL or NBA, even the smallest bookies we list here will have everything you need.
- Small betting sites are usually Australian-owned, unlike big international betting operators.
- Small bookies usually cater more to every customer, offering better customer support and more incentives.
- Players who win big are much less likely to be restricted at small betting sites.
- Small betting sites work harder to attract new customers by offering unique features and more promotions.
- Small online bookmakers are more likely to offer better-priced odds than big bookies to attract more customers.
- Small bookmakers usually don’t offer the same range of niche sports as the big ones, but they do cover all the most popular sports.
- Small bookies are less likely to have betting features that are expensive to maintain, like sports live streaming.
There is no clear cut between small and big bookmakers, especially since we don’t have access to bookies’ sales figures.
That’s why we use a few relevant factors to determine the size and importance of a bookmaker, combined with our expertise and common sense.
We primarily focus on Google Search Volume and in-depth online research to determine what Australian betting sites could be considered small. After that, we rank those bookies based on a set of requirements, such as the quality of odds, betting apps, and special betting features.
How to Bet With a Small Betting Site
Are you new to online betting and looking to start your journey with one of the small Australian bookmakers? We’ve got you covered! Our step-by-step guide will direct you through the simple process of placing a deposit at small betting sites. Just follow the steps below, and you’ll be ready to place your bets in no time.
Select from reputable small Australian bookmakers like Palmerbet, PlayUp, or BlueBet.
Complete the registration form with your personal details.
Submit required documents for identity verification (e.g., driver’s license, passport).
Locate and open the cashier and choose a preferred payment method (e.g., VISA or POLi).
Decide how much money you want to deposit and confirm the transaction.
Pick any market you like, enter the amount, and confirm the bet.
Do Small Bookmakers Offer Better Odds?
We tested the odds of our top two small Australian betting sites, PlayUp and Palmerbet, against two of the biggest bookies currently operating in Australia, bet365 and Unibet. We used the AFL match between Carlton and Geelong for this test.
As you can see from the table below, all the bookies offer pretty much the same odds, with Palmerbet being the best by a slim margin. But the most important thing is that this means you don’t have to worry about getting lower odds when betting with smaller bookies.
The odds comparison shows that small betting sites actually offer slightly better odds than big operators. However, keep in mind that this test is based on only one game, so it’s best to go around and compare odds before every bet, just to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.
| PlayUp | PalmerBet | bet365 | Unibet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlton | 2.40 | 2.38 | 2.35 | 2.38 |
| Geelong | 1.56 | 1.59 | 1.60 | 1.56 |
| Overround | 105.77% | 104.91% | 105.05% | 106.12% |
Do Small Bookmakers Offer a Good Range of Bets?
Most people assume that small betting sites offer a subpar range of markets compared to big online bookmakers. We put that to the test and found surprising results!
As you can see from the table below, we counted the average number of AFL, NRL and NBA markets at four Australian betting sites, two small and two big bookies. Results show that not only do those small bookies not fall behind the big operators, but they actually exceed them when it comes to the available range of bets for these sports.
They are all toe to toe in AFL markets, but both Palmerbet and PlayUp are better for betting on NRL and NBA. Bet365 only excelled when it comes to the range of NBA markets, with many great betting options available, such as Player Points Milestones, Player Points & Assists, Total Odd/Even by quarter etc.
The conclusion is that you won’t miss out on anything if you join a small Australian bookmaker, especially if you want to bet on more popular sports or racing. Not only that they have all the usual betting market, but small betting sites are also equipped with all the advanced bets you’ll ever need.
| PlayUp | Palmerbet | bet365 | Unibet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRL | 129 | 139 | 117 | 89 |
| AFL | 160 | 156 | 174 | 163 |
| NBA | 184 | 216 | 264 | 44 |
Best Small Bookmakers for Horse Racing Betting
When it comes to horse racing betting, small Australian betting sites are a great option, especially if you want to bet on local races. The sites we recommend, like Palmerbet or BlueBet, also offer an excellent selection of international races, but Australian events are still their bread and butter.
Palmerbet specializes in horse racing, offering a user-friendly interface and an excellent range of bets. With a rich history as an on-track bookie, Palmerbet has a deep understanding of what bettors look for in a racing platform. Their racing stats centre provides bettors with the necessary information to make informed wagers, and their extensive list of futures markets for the Aussie racing calendar sets them apart from the competition.
BlueBet is another small bookie focused on horse racing. They offer popular betting features such as Same Race Multis, Cash Out, and many rare racing markets, such as favourite vs field. Additionally, they offer Best Tote + SP on all Aussie thoroughbred races and strong odds on outsiders. Another bonus is the fact they off live streaming of Australian horse racing.
Aussie Sport Focus
Great for Multi Bets
Horse Racing Live Streams
Big Races Covered
Bonuses at Small Betting Sites
Due to Australian laws, bookmakers, both big and small, are forbidden from advertising betting bonuses to unregistered customers. However, this doesn’t mean that promotions aren’t available. They are still there, but you’ll have to register an account before seeing them.
Once you have a registered account, you can claim any betting bonus you want. But note that some Australian regions, such as New South Wales, impose additional bonus restrictions.
The small betting sites we show here offer many different betting promotions for sports and racing. There are reload bonuses, match deposit bonuses, free bets, bet backs and so on. Most of the small bookies also offer odds boosts on a daily basis. For example, BlueBet offers enhanced odds promotions all the time under the promo name BlueBoost. You’ll find similar promotions at Palmerbet and PlayUp as well.
There are also seasonal promotions for big sports or racing events. Besides the bonuses that are available all the time, bookies also tend to have special offers for events like the Melbourne Cup and the Grand Final of the NBA Finals. These will be available only for a short time, so keep your eyes on the bookie’s promotions page to avoid missing out.
Small Online Bookmakers with the Best Bet Apps
Having solid mobile betting apps has become a must these days, so it’s not a surprise that all of the small betting sites you see on this page have a great mobile presence. But if you’re primarily betting on the go and want to have the best betting app possible, we suggest taking a look at our top 2 betting apps from small Australian bookmakers.
We like the PlayUp app the most because it has a very simple design and all the odds and features you’ll need. It’s the most convenient app on the list, so we recommend it to new and experienced bettors alike.
BlueBet also have excellent betting apps, especially if you’re more into horse racing betting. They have horse racing live streaming on mobile, which is something only a very few operators offer. However, note that BlueBet covers only Victorian racing through a free Racing.com account.
Payment Methods at Small Betting Sites
Long story short, all the small betting sites in Australia cover the most popular payment methods. You can deposit via POLi, BPAY, VISA or MasterCard at any of the sites you see here. Palmerbet even accepts PayPal betting deposits.
However, you may have to dig deeper if you want to deposit with some of the less common payment options. Some small bookmakers do accept more niche payment methods. For example, Picklebet is one of only a handful of Aussie bookies to accept Apple Pay.
Certain small betting sites accept less widespread payment options, but for the most part, they focus on the ones that are the most popular with a broader audience: POLi, BPAY and major credit cards.
| Payment Method | Avg Withdraw Times | Fees |
|---|---|---|
 | 24-48 Hours | 1.5% – 2.5% |
 | 24-48 Hours | 1.5% – 2.5% |
 | 24-48 Hours | 1.9% |
 | 2-6 Days | No Fees |
 | 7-28 Days | No Fees |
 | N/A | 1% (up to $3) |
 | N/A | No Fees |
 | 24-48 Hours | 1.5% – 7.5% |
 | N/A | No Fees |
 | N/A | No Fees |
 | 2-5 Days | $12 – $30 |
Conclusion
Australian punters can pick between several excellent small betting sites. Many reputable smaller operators are 100% Aussie owned and offer an excellent selection of sports and racing odds. These smaller bookmakers have almost the same betting offer as the biggest bookies on the market, excluding a few advanced betting features now and there.
Smaller bookies tend to have competitive odds, excellent customer service, and a fantastic selection of odds and markets, especially for Australian sports and racing. If you’re unsure which site to pick, check out our comprehensive list of the top 4 small online bookmakers in Australia.
FAQs
What are the best small bookmakers in Australia?
Some of the best small Australian bookmakers are PlayUp, Palmerbet, BlueBet, and Picklebet. Each offers unique features and competitive odds, catering to various betting preferences. Visit our full page to learn more about their offerings.
How to bet with small Australian bookmakers?
Betting with small Australian bookmakers is simple. Start by choosing a reputable bookie, creating an account, verifying your identity, and making a deposit. Check the step-by-step guide on our full page for more details on how to begin your betting journey.
Are small betting sites reliable?
Yes, small betting sites are reliable if they hold a valid betting license from a recognized authority, such as the Northern Territory Racing Commission in Australia. This ensures adherence to strict regulations and guidelines for a safe betting environment.
Do small Australian bookies offer many betting markets?
Small Australian bookies offer a diverse range of betting markets, often exceeding their larger counterparts for popular sports like AFL, NRL, and NBA. They also provide unique and advanced bet types.
Why is it good to bet with small bookies?
Betting with small bookies offers numerous advantages, such as more personalized customer support, better incentives, and fewer restrictions on winning players. They often provide competitive odds and unique features to attract customers. Visit our full page to explore the pros and cons of betting with small bookies.
