Free Bets in Australia
While new regulations forbid bookies from advertising free bets, there are still plenty of them available. The top Aussie betting sites offer a massive selection of free bet bonuses. All you need to do is register and claim them!
Best Free Bet Betting Sites
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Strong focus on racing, Excellent for enhanced odds, Good bet builder
Payment methods
(5 in total):
Licences:
New South Wales
- Excellent for enhanced odds
- Impressive betting blog
- No very low minimum deposit options
Traditional Values and Great Betting App
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Sports and Fantasy Betting
Range of Markets
Range of sports markets, Daily fantasy sports offered, Apps for iOS and Android
Payment methods
(4 in total):
Licences:
Northern Territory
- Lots of sports markets
- Fantasy betting offered
Key Player on the AUS Betting Scene
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Top mix of sport and eSports, Horse and greyhound racing offered, Easy-to-use site
Payment methods
(4 in total):
Licences:
Northern Territory
- Sports and eSports covered
- eSports live streaming
- Not lots of futures markets
Great eSports and sports offering
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Copy and Follow Other Punters
Social betting site, copy bets, share tips
Payment methods
(4 in total):
Licences:
Northern Territory
- Discuss bet with others punters
- Use ‘copy bet’ feature
- Less payment methods accepted
Excellent social betting app
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Great all-round bookie, Unibet TV, Impressive app
Payment methods
(3 in total):
Licences:
Northern Territory
- Great betting app
- Live streaming
Reliable Bookmaker with Flawless Track Record
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Racing focus, other sports covered, good betting app
Payment methods
(4 in total):
Licences:
New South Wales
- Bonuses from ‘The Vault’ once registered
- Impressive betting app
- No live streaming service
Impressive racing and sport offering
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Excellent Racing Bookmaker
Lots of Racing Odds
Simple to use site, great racing focus, main sports covered
Payment methods
(5 in total):
- Promotions for registered customers
- Odds boosts available
Good focus on racing odds
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Easy to use bookmaker, great for racing odds, sports markets available
Payment methods
(5 in total):
- Great for horse racing betting
- Promotions available
Good bookie for racing and sport
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Easy to use bookmaker, excellent racing odds, popular sports offered
Payment methods
(5 in total):
- Easy to find latest odds
- Enhanced prices
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Simple to use site, impressive racing focus, popular sports odds available
Payment methods
(5 in total):
- Excellent racing focus
- Sports also well-covered
Good Racing and Sports Odds
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Place live bets online, The Betfair Hub, High-value odds
Payment methods
(4 in total):
Licences:
Northern Territory
- Live betting online
- Regularly high odds
Unique Betting Product – So Far Undisputed
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Horse Racing Live Streams
Big Races Covered
Superb betting app, Watch live horse racing, Range of sports markets
Payment methods
(7 in total):
Licences:
New South Wales
- Great for same game multis
- Superb betting app
Variety of Betting Markets
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Best Fantasy Betting Site
Large Prize Pools
Array of fantasy sports leagues, Big prize pools, Private fantasy leagues
Payment methods
(4 in total):
Licences:
Northern Territory
- Best for fantasy betting
- Large prize pools
- Specialist for fantasy wagering
POLi for Quick FS Tournament Buy-ins
Our Top 3 Free Bet Betting Sites
It is not easy to pick a bookie based on their free bet offers alone. That is why it is vital to also check out their other features before making your decision.
The three bookies below are renowned for having plenty to offer their customers, from live streaming and a great app to competitive odds and a wide range of markets.
#1 Palmerbet
Palmerbet is a great choice for an authentic Aussie bookie! You’ll find a great selection of sports and racing markets and some of the highest AFL odds available. Their racing offering is particularly good, especially the big Aussie meetings. They don’t offer live streaming, but you can still follow live results on their sites and place in-play bets.
Palmerbet offers a clean-looking interface that would be easy to grasp even for complete beginners. They also have betting apps for iOS and Android that are equally easy to use. If you’re looking for a 100% Australian bookie with solid selection of free bets, look no further then Palmerbet.
- Excellent for Australian horse racing betting
- Easy to use website
- 100% Australian bookmaker
#2 PlayUp
PlayUp is one of the newest bookies around but has a lot of appealing features, including a strong focus on horse racing. This bookmaker is also great for betting on Australian sports. They usually offer a market-leading selection of over 150 bets for every AFL and NRL match, as well as very competitive odds.
They don’t offer as many fancy betting features as bet365 or Unibet, but when it comes to their odds prices, PlayUp is a top contender. We liked them because they offer very simple websites and mobile apps, making them an excellent choice for novice bettors. They offer online free bets, especially for Australian sports and racing, but you’ll first have to register an account to see them.
- Great prices for horse racing
- Very straightforward betting site and app
- Integration of fantasy sports through Draftstars
#3 Unibet
Unibet is another huge international bookmaker with remarkable free bet offers. They have an excellent selection of racing and sports events, as well as a great range of free bet bonuses. They list free sport bets and free horse racing bets in separate tabs, so it’s very easy to find what you want.
Apart from an excellent selection of international sports and markets, this bookie also provides an option to watch live sports and racing via Unibet TV, so don’t be surprised if you find some in-play betting promos as well. All of this is also available on their Android and iOS mobile apps, so you can bet even when on the go.
- Excellent selection of sports and international races
- Great mobile app
- Trusted brand
Australian Free Bets Are Legal
Since the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering came into force in May of 2019, Bookies are forbidden to advertise any betting bonuses or free bets in Australia. However, the Broadcasting Services act of 2019 says that not allowed to display these incentives only to unregistered users, meaning that all free bet bonuses are still available to customers with verified betting accounts.
This means that you’ll have to create an account before being able to see which betting specials are on offer or make a free bet comparison. We show bookies that are known for having the best betting offers, but you’ll have to register an account to see actual free bets.
Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) oversees the advertisement of betting incentives across the whole of Australia. They are in charge of imposing rules and settling possible disputes. If you have any further questions about this subject, feel free to contact them directly.
How to Claim Free Bets in Australia
The great thing about Australian free bets is that they are super simple, so even complete beginners can use them. The whole process is very straightforward, but if this is your first time using betting promos, take a look at our step-by-step guide.
1
Register a betting account
Pick a free bet betting site from our top list and fill in the form to register an account.
2
Verify your identity
Verify your age and identity by showing your ID or some other identification document.
3
Make a deposit
Deposit using some of the listed payment methods. Check free bet T&Cs to see if some payment options are restricted.
4
Go to the ‘Promotions’ page
The ‘Promotions’ or ‘Bonuses’ page is usually listed in the top menu.
5
Claim one of the free bet bonuses
Pick the free bet bonus you like and follow the instructions.
6
Place a bet
You can place a free bet once the bonus money is available on your account.
Free Bets in NSW
Even though the federal laws are clear, there are still some differences in gambling regulations on a local level. The most notable exception is New South Wales. If you’re an NSW resident, then this section is essential reading.
New South Wales has even stricter regulations than the rest of Australia. They made amendments to the Racing Administration Regulation that effectively forbid all NSW residents from using the following betting inducements:
- New customer bonuses
- Cashback or money back refunds
- Refer a friend promotions
- In-play betting offers
Other states are not so strict, so you’ll probably see a note that says ‘Offer not available to NSW residents‘ on the side of many Australian free bets. Punters from New South Wales may have a very limited offer of betting specials, but they still can access all sports and racing odds and markets.
What Is a Free Bet?
Free bets are one of many other betting bonuses that bookies offer to their customers. Free bet offers are just specific wagering amounts used to place bets without having to touch your own bankroll. For example, a bookmaker can award you a $10 free bet that you can later spend on their site.
Keep in mind that these promotions usually come with some limitations, such as minimum odds or restricted sports, so always read the full T&Cs before playing. These are the main things to look after:
Free Bet Restrictions
- Expiration date – Free bets usually come with an expiration date that’s between 7 and 30 days.
- Wagering requirements – This is how many times you’ll have to play through the bonus before you can withdraw it from your account. In most cases, it’s only a 1x bonus amount, but some bookies may impose 5x or 10x wagering requirements.
- Minimum odds – There may be minimum odds you can bet on using a free bet. The minimum odds are usually set between 1.50 and 1.90.
- Sports restrictions – Some sports may be forbidden to bet on using free bet funds. However, most bookmakers allow you to bet on any sport or race you want.
- Maximum bonus amount – There can be a maximum free bet amount you can get from some promotions. For example, match deposit free bets can have T&Cs that say something like ‘100% matched deposit free bet of up to $100’.
There are many different kinds of free bet offers, and we’ll explain them all down below. But the great thing is that they all work on the same basic principle we previously described, placing bets without risking your own money.
Remember that winnings from free bookie bets are returned to you without the stake. E.g. A winning $10 free bet on odds of 2.30 will net you a return of $13, not $23 like when you put down a stake of your own.
Free bets in Australia are great because they allow you to play without risking too much of your own money. Many punters use free bets to try their luck with riskier markets as you aren’t risking your own hard-earned cash. On the other hand, bookies are also happy because they now have much more satisfied customers.
Types of Free Bets in Australia
The best free bet offers come in many different forms. These can be because you have just signed up or because you have been with the bookie for a long time. Here are some of the main examples:
Free Bet Sign Up Bonus
One of the most common special offers are free bets on sign up, also known as new customer free bets. As the name says, you can only claim these offers just after registering a betting account. Note that some bookies put an expiration date on free bet sign up offers, meaning that you have to claim the offer before the deadline.
These free bets for new customers are usually more generous than bonuses for regular customers. This is mostly due to the fact that each punter can only claim a free bet sign up bonus once. For the best offers, check out some of the new Australian bookmakers. Those bookies still have to compete for new customers, which makes them extra generous.
Many special terms apply to these promotions, so always read the small letters in T&Cs. For example, some bookmakers may impose payment methods restrictions or have huge wagering requirements. These conditions impact how easy or difficult it is to turn a profit from free bookie bets, so pay careful attention to them.
Free Matched Bet
With free matched bets, a bookie will give you a certain percentage of your deposit as a free bet. In most cases, you’ll be getting between 50% and 100% matched deposit. But in some cases, it can go as high as 200% or 300%! So the more you deposit, the more you get back in free bets.
However, note that these offers usually come with a max bonus limit, for example, a 100% deposit match free bet of up to $100. It means that even if you deposit $200 dollars, you’ll end up with a $100 free bet since that’s the top limit.
Be wary if you see some ridiculously high free matched bet offers. In those cases, bookies usually set very high wagering requirements, which can diminish your chances of earning a profit. As with any other bonus offer, carefully reading T&Cs is a must!
This is how it works if you deposit $100 and claim a free matched bet. We’ll explain this on a few different examples.
Matched Deposit Free Bet Example
- Deposit $100 to claim a 50% deposit match free bet of up to 200$ gives you a $50 free bet.
- Deposit $100 to claim a 100% deposit match free bet of up to 200$ gives you a $100 free bet.
- Deposit $100 to claim a 200% deposit match free bet of up to 200$ gives you a $200 free bet.
Risk Free Bets
These types of free bets are rewarded only in case your qualifying bet loses. You’ll be required to place a certain bet, and if that bet loses, the bookie will refund your initial deposit up to a certain amount in the form of a free bet. That’s why it’s called a risk free bet since even if you lose, you still get your initial stake back.
Keep in mind that there are a few common limitations. Most bookies set minimum odds for your qualifying bet, so you probably won’t be able to bet any odds below 1.50 or 1.80 to qualify for these promotions. Also, there is a maximum free bet amount you can win. For example, a risk free bet of up to $50.
Let’s say you want to claim a promotion that goes like this ‘risk free bet of up to $30’. To qualify, you first have to place a qualifying bet, for example, this one:
- $20 bet on the Chicago Bulls to win against the Los Angeles Lakers at odds of 2.40
In case your qualifying bet loses, you’ll end up with a $20 free bet. But in case the Bulls win, you won’t get any free bets.
Also, if you decide to bet $30 on your qualifying bet and it eventually loses, you would end up with a $30 free bet. But in case you bump up your initial bet to $50, you won’t be able to earn more than $30 in free bets since that’s the maximum limit in this case.
Loyalty Bonus Fee Bets
Loyalty bonuses are common with the best free bet bookies. It means you don’t only get rewarded for joining a new bookie but also when you have been with them for a while.
A common example includes weekly free bets if you reach a certain amount of wagering. Another is if your account has been dormant for some time and a bookie wants to get your business to return.
Again, like all free bet offers in Australia, you won’t know until you sign up, so pick the bookie that suits you the best and appeals most due to their other offerings.
Free bets for existing customers don’t tend to be as large as those when you initially get a free bet on sign up but are still a welcome addition to your funds and do show that your bookie appreciates your returning business.
Free Bet No Deposit Bonuses
Free bet no deposit bonuses are probably the most tempting betting offers. As the name says, they don’t require you to place a deposit to activate a free bet. Punters love them because you don’t have to risk any money to start playing. So in case you see a bonus like that, just register an account, claim the free bet no deposit offer and start betting right away.
However, there is some obvious drawback to free bet no deposit offers. The most notable one is that they are hard to find because not many bookies are ready to offer such generous promotions.
If you’re searching for no deposit free bets, we suggest starting at some of the huge international bookies, such as Unibet. Even if they don’t have any no deposit free bets right now, there is a solid chance that one will pop up at some point.
Another thing to look out for are wagering requirements. Since you don’t have to deposit anything to claim a bonus, bookies usually impose very high wagering requirements. In some cases, they can be as high as 50x or 60x the bonus amount. This means that it can be tough to turn your free bet no deposit bonus into profits, so always do the math before betting.
It is our experience that if you are looking to bet online then the best offers tend to come from sign up bonuses that match your deposit or similar. Whilst free bets with no deposit are great, they won’t be as high as the bonuses you get for committing to having a wager of your own cash. This is an area where our list of recommended free bet bookies comes in. The best have excellent match deposit bonuses even if the option of no deposit bonuses isn’t available.
However, some bookies may also offer you a no deposit free bet as a loyalty reward. This is usually reserved only for big betting sites, such as Unibet. You never know when or if this is going to happened but don’t be surprised if a bookie decides to treat you with a free bet like this.
Free Bet Apps
Back in the day, when betting on mobile wasn’t that popular, bookies were offering app-only free bets to encourage punters to play on the go. Nowadays, people use Australian betting apps way more than desktop sites, so free mobile bets have gone out of fashion to some extent.
Instead of having a separate set of free bets in Australia for mobile users, bookmakers now offer the same set of promotions for all customers. It means that you’ll always have access to all free bets, regardless of the device you use.
If you’re one of the punters who like to bet on the move, we suggest checking out some of the apps we feature below. Our research has shown that Unibet is the best free bet app in Australia because they offer the most well-rounded mobile presence together with a range of sports and racing promos. They even have in-app live streaming available!
However, in case you’re just a casual bettor looking for a simple app to place a few bets now and there, check out Palmerbet or Picklebet apps. Palmerbet is better if you’re more into betting on racing and Australian sports, while Picklebet is more recommended for international sports and eSports betting.
How to Pick the Best Free Bet Betting Sites
Since you can’t see any special offers before creating an account with Australian betting sites, it can be hard to find a certain bookie with the best free bets in Australia or start to make free bet comparisons per bookie. We have listed below a few points that can help you determine whether a bookmaker is worth your time, even before registering an account.
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Licences
Don’t join a bookmaker if it doesn’t hold a license from one of Australia’s local governments. Offshore betting sites tend to lure punters with huge bonuses, but nobody guarantees they’ll actually horror their part of the deal and pay you your winnings. That’s why we suggest sticking with the regulated bookmakers.
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Free Bet Amount
The size of a free bet is very important, but keep in mind that bigger doesn’t always mean better. If a free bet bonus looks too big to be true, it usually is. Always read the full T&Cs, since there may be some hidden terms, such as high wagering requirements.
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Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements mean how much time you have to play through the bonus amount before you can withdraw it as real money. The law requires you to wager it at least once, so most of the bookies keep wagering requirements at 1x. However, some operators may impose higher wagering of 5x or 10x the bonus amount. The lower these requirements are, the better, so don’t even bother if they ask you to play through a free bet more than 5x.
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Expiry Date
Almost every free bet offer comes with an expiry date. In most cases, it will be 7 or 14 days, but some promos can have an expiry date of even 30+ days. You have to use all the bonus funds until that date, or they’ll become invalid. All the data around the bonus expiry dates are clearly stated in the bonus T&Cs.
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Odds & Sports Restrictions
Free bets usually come with minimum odds restrictions. However, you’ll still have lots of great markets to bet on since minimum prices are usually set between 1.50 and 1.90. Some bookies even restrict certain sports, but nowadays, almost every operator lets you use free bets to wager on any sport you like.
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Overall Site Quality
Don’t fall in love with a betting site just because they have a few great promotions. Pick a betting site primarily based on features they have, such as a broad selection of sports and races, excellent betting apps, a user-friendly interface and so forth. The great news is that high-quality betting sites usually offer a plethora of excellent free bet bonuses as well.
Free Bets for Horse Racing
Horse racing is popular in Australia, so it’s no wonder that local bookies tend to offer a bunch of racing free bets to their customers. The best horse racing bookmakers will have all sorts of different free bet offers for racing events throughout the year.
From sign in free bets to matched bonuses, they are all available when betting on horses. Bookies tend to offer even more options around big events, like Grand National or Melbourne Cup, which we will describe in more detail below.
Melbourne Cup Free Bets
Every decent bookie in Australia offers at least a few Melbourne Cup free bets, so it won’t be hard for you to find racing specials. They are available usually around a month or so before the race, meaning that you can browse them well in advance. However, the bulk of the offering will be ready just days before the big race.
Betr usually has a great selection of Melbourne Cup offers, which isn’t a surprise if we know that they are one of the biggest local bookies. Visit their site to learn more.
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Horse Racing Live Streams
Big Races Covered
Superb betting app, Watch live horse racing, Range of sports markets
Payment methods
(7 in total):
Licences:
New South Wales
Variety of Betting Markets
Cheltenham Free Bets
The Cheltenham Festival, which includes the famous Gold Cup, is one of the most popular overseas race meetings among Aussie punters. If you want to get the best Cheltenham free bets, we suggest joining some of the big European bookies.
Unibet is a UK native with an excellent racing focus. This will increase the chances of them offering Cheltenham free bet offers.
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Great all-round bookie, Unibet TV, Impressive app
Payment methods
(3 in total):
Licences:
Northern Territory
Reliable Bookmaker with Flawless Track Record
The Grand National Free Bets
Grand National is another famous UK event that grabs the attention of Aussie racing lover. Both local and international bookies feature a host of Grand National free bets, but Unibet is, again, the one that stands out from the crowd.
They may have a range of different free bet offers, but also boast excellent mobile apps and an option to watch live racing directly on their site.
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Great all-round bookie, Unibet TV, Impressive app
Payment methods
(3 in total):
Licences:
Northern Territory
Reliable Bookmaker with Flawless Track Record
Free Bet Offers for Sports Betting
The short answer is yes. There are a bunch of free bets in Australia you can use to bet on different sports events. Some of them are only available for a particular sport or event, while others are much more flexible. We will take a look at the free bet offers for some of Australia’s most popular sports down below.
As one of the most popular sports leagues in Australia, AFL is featured in every local sportsbook. Most Australian free bets include betting on AFL, so you won’t have a problem finding these promos. Don’t be surprised if you also see weekly or monthly free bet offers dedicated specifically to AFL betting. Top bookies usually offer different kinds of promos, such as matched deposit offers and risk free football bets.
Football free bets are available for both season and finals games, meaning that you’ll have a good share of options throughout the entire season. Unibet is known as one of the best bookies for betting on AFL and even other regional Australian Rules football leagues, so go and check them out. This bookie has a very well organised promotions page, so you’ll find your football free bets in no time. However, don’t forget that you have to register an account before seeing any of the promotions.
Visit Unibet
Free Soccer Bets
If you’re searching for free football bets, there is no better place than Unibet. They are one of the biggest European bookmakers, and soccer betting is their speciality.
When it comes to specials, Unibet usually offers lots of promos for big events and all major leagues from around the world, including the EPL and the Champions League. Apart from a great selection of odds, Unibet also has one of the best in-play betting platforms out there.
Visit Unibet
Free Bets for Tennis
When it comes to betting on tennis, both Unibet and PlayUp are great option. Both bookis have a great selection of popular markets as well as occasional tennis free bets. Most promotions come around Grand Slam tournaments, so that’s when you should keep an eye out for free bet offers.
Visit PlayUp
Free Bet Codes
You usually don’t need a bonus code to claim Aussie free bets. But even if a promo requires a special code, it will be easily available on the promotions page. Bonus codes were widely used back in the days when bookies could promote their online free bet offers. However, they aren’t so popular nowadays, meaning that you only need to visit the betting site, claim the free sports bet you like and start betting right away.
If you want to learn more about how free bet bonus codes work at different betting sites, check out some of our dedicated bonus codes pages, where we explain in great detail how to claim different bookie free bets.
All the top Aussie betting sites offer free bets. Click the button below to see our list of the bookies with the most generous free bet offers.
Best free bet offers
Free Bets Australia FAQs
How to get free bets in Australia?
You’ll have to register and verify a betting account to claim any free bet offer. After that, everything is straightforward, just go to the ‘Promotions’ section of any betting site and take the promo you like the most. Note that bigger sites usually have more free bets available.
How do I use free bets?
You must register an account with one of the best Aussie bookies before claiming any free bet offers. Once you have joined you can then take advantage of their free bets and other promotions.
How can I get free bets without a deposit?
Some bookies offer no deposit free bets, which means that you don’t have to make a deposit to claim these promotions. Instead, just register account and use the no deposit free bet right away. However, not many bookies have these kinds of offers, so they may be hard to find.
Do bet365 give free bets in Australia?
Australian bookies, including bet365, aren’t allowed to advertise free bet offers, so we can’t say what promos are available. If you want to learn more about bet365’s bonuses, we suggest you register an account and see for yourself what they have to offer.
