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PlayUp Review – A Top New Bookie
PlayUp is one of the newer betting sites with a strong racing offer and fantasy sports features. Needless to say, I was already a member before I was asked to review this bookie.
Horse racing is their forte, but fantasy sports is what makes them unique. I compared the odds on offer and all other aspects that apply to the regular punter. This PlayUp review covers everything you need to know before joining this betting site.
- Decent range of payment methods
- Native apps for iOS and Android
- Great selection of sports
- Fantasy sports available
- Live Streaming is not available
PlayUp Australia Overview
Even though the PlayUp brand only saw the light of day relatively recently, they’ve had an Australian betting license for quite some time. They first did business as TopBetta. At some point, two other well-known Aussie bookies, MadBookie and ClassicBet, joined them to form the PlayUp we know today.
In case you already had an account with any of these operators, as I did with TopBetta, all your funds were automatically transferred to PlayUp. Since my old account was automatically moved, I didn’t have much choice but to give PlayUp Australia a chance. After looking around a bit and placing a few bets, it was clear that this operator means business. They have now become one of the top bookies in Australia.
Even though I’m a huge fan of Australian sports, having solid coverage of international events is always a sign of a well-equipped bookmaker. PlayUp doesn’t disappoint in that regard. They offer all of the top leagues from around the world, as well as a nice selection of niche sports.
PlayUp Horse Racing – A Solid Offer
Aussies love their horse racing, and PlayUp is well aware of that. As soon as you enter the site, you’ll see the list of all upcoming thoroughbred and harness races. If you scroll down, there will be a list of the most popular outright bets.
There are mostly win and place wagers on the major horse racing events. There is also a quick preview of futures bets on offer as well.
PlayUp Australia doesn’t lack any of the popular horse racing markets. Among many others, you can place bets like:
- Win/Place
- Quinella
- Exacta
- Trifecta
- Quadrella
Another thing I liked at PlayUp is that jockey challenge and tote betting are both on offer. All of these wagers are available on their full range of events, both international and local.
The PlayUp betting markets may not be as extensive as at Palmerbet or bet365, but still, you should find more than enough racing odds for all the top events. Their list of racing cards both today and in the next few days is another bonus. Since the user interface is so straightforward and the offer isn’t too overwhelming, I would highly recommend PlayUp for anyone who is just starting out with online betting.
Horse Racing Odds Comparison
When it comes to odds, PlayUp stands shoulder to shoulder with some of the most prominent horse racing betting sites in Australia. In the comparison test I did below, they came last by a close margin.
This, however, doesn’t mean that PlayUp is the worst. The odds are ever-changing, which means that for some of the next races, they may even end up on top. That’s why I highly suggest you do an odds comparison test before each bet since that is the only way to ensure you’re getting the best offer.
| Belmont | PlayUp | Unibet | Palmerbet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish Hurricane | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.50 |
| Brains | 5.50 | 5.50 | 5.50 |
| Divine Service | 11.00 | 11.00 | 11.00 |
| I Can I Will I Am | 10.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 |
| Guangzhou | 3.00 | 3.10 | 3.10 |
| Steelz Time | 3.80 | 3.90 | 3.90 |
| Salesman | 6.50 | 6.50 | 6.50 |
| Autmed | 19.00 | 19.00 | 20.00 |
| Overround | 131.9% | 130.1% | 128.9% |
PlayUp Betting on Sports
I love how simple it is to place a sports bet at PlayUp. The interface is so straightforward that even a complete beginner can handle it. When you enter the homepage, there’ll be a list of top races by default. But, you can easily check out all the upcoming sports events by merely switching the tab.
The individual sports pages are also minimalistic. There is just a list of upcoming events and a button to see all of the available bets. PlayUp offers a nice range of sports markets. All of the usual ones are there, but the depth didn’t quite blow my mind.
All of the sports are listed on the left side of the screen. Domestic sports and a few popular international leagues are listed as ‘Featured’. To see the full list of sports, you’ll have to expand the ‘Sports’ tab. There you’ll find the full PlayUp betting offer of around 25 sports, which is a solid range for a bookie of this size.
Sports Betting Odds Comparison
The odds comparison test above showed that PlayUp Australia is once again offering very competitive odds. They have almost the same prices as Unibet and BlueBet. Both of these operators are highly respected, so it’s a big compliment for PlayUp to be in their company. If you thinking about where to bet on local or international sports, note that this bookmaker is as good as any other.
| AFL | PlayUp | Unibet | BlueBet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond Tigers | 1.96 | 1.94 | 1.95 |
| Brisbane Lions | 1.85 | 1.86 | 1.85 |
| Overround | 105.1% | 105.3.% | 105.3.% |
Fantasy Sports Partnership with Draftstars
If you’re a fan of betting on both real and fantasy sports, PlayUp is the right place for you. They are offering DFS through the Draftstars platform, and since the same company owns both of them, the transition is almost seamless. They used to offer everything under TopBetta, but since the merger, fantasy sports have been moved to Draftstars. Integration of these two is truly great. Just log in with PlayUp and click on the quick link in the top left corner to start with fantasy betting.
As a huge fan of daily fantasy sports, I can say that Draftstars is the best site of that kind in Australia. They cover everything from top Aussie horse races and local sports, such as AFL and NRL, to popular international leagues like NBA and NFL.
If this is your first encounter with fantasy sports, it may be worthwhile to read our separate review of Draftstars. We reveal everything you should know about this awesome betting site, including how to play DFS, what are the awards and how to make the most out of your bets.
Live Betting
PlayUp Australia has a solid in-play betting service. Nothing too fancy, but enough to keep you going. Once again, I liked what they’ve done with the design. It’s very simple, so you won’t have any problems finding the live odds you like.
However, the range of available events isn’t as extensive as at some other top bookies like bet365 or Unibet. More experienced bettors may find the PlayUp offer to be insufficient, but I believe it will be good enough for casual bettors.
You probably know by now that Aussie bookmakers can’t accept in-play bets over their websites. Instead, you’ll have to give them a call and place a bet over the phone. One more issue here is that the in-play betting phone line is open from 7 am to 12 am. So if you are into non-Australian sports and leagues, PlayUp is a no-go.
Live Streaming Isn’t Available
At the time of writing, PlayUp doesn’t offer live streaming services. It’s a shame since I liked almost every other aspect of their sportsbook. When they introduce sports or racing live streaming, you’ll hear about it first at Aussiebet.com.
Until then, I recommend bet365 to all live streaming fans. Their platform is unmatched both in terms of selection of live events and quality of streams. We also cover this in greater detail on our best live streaming betting sites page.
PlayUp App – As Simple As It Gets
PlayUp, once again, did a great job creating a user-friendly piece of betting software. Their app follows the same, simplistic design of the desktop site. You can switch between their sports and racing markets with a single click from the home screen. There is also a button to access your account settings and the bet slip, and that’s it.
I like the fact that I almost never had to use the full menu in the top left corner since everything important is right there on the home page. Some people may say that the PlayUp app interface looks too simple or even dated, but I like it just the way it is, and its functionality can’t be faulted.
I can say from my own experience that the iPhone app works without any hiccups. After testing the PlayUp app for Android, it’s safe to say that it works more or less the same as the iOS one. The only thing you should keep in mind is that Android users will have to download an apk file directly from the PlayUp site to install the app. If you’re not 100% sure how to do it, take a look at our PlayUp mobile app review for more info. Or if that’s too big of a fuss for you, just enter their site using a mobile browser and start betting over PlayUp web-based app.
Payment Methods – Only a Basic Selection
PlayUp is a 100% Australian bookmaker, so they only offer domestic payment options. You can deposit via POLi, BPAY, EFT and credit/debit cards, which is as basic a selection as it gets. A range like this is acceptable but cutting it close.
My biggest concern is the lack of e-wallets, which can be a deal-breaker for many punters. I would love to see PayPal, or at least Skrill added in the future.
Deposit Limits Per Payment Method
PlayUp applies a minimum deposit limit depending on the payment option you choose. Knowing the minimum amount you are allowed to put into your betting account can help you decide which one works best for your betting needs.
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Withdrawing from PlayUp
You can withdraw money by EFT or cards. After you send the request, the money should be in your account within 2 or 3 working days, which is average for betting sites.
Just don’t forget to verify your account in time. Australian bookmakers aren’t allowed to accept money deposits from unverified players.
| Payment Methods | Withdrawal Times |
|---|---|
| Visa | 1 - 3 Working Days |
| MasterCard | 1 - 3 Working Days |
| Bank Transfer | 1 - 3 Working Days |
| BPAY | N/A |
| POLi | N/A |
PlayUp Bonus is for Registered Customers
If you are wondering what bonuses you could get from PlayUp, then you are going to have to wait. Like all Aussie bookies, they have bonus offers for their customers but can’t advertise them until you have joined.
You should choose the bookie that suits you the best, especially if you like their markets, value odds or added features. You can then enjoy the bonus after that.
You will see the PlayUp bonus as soon as you have registered. This could include anything from a sign up bonus to regular odds boosts or free bets.
Customer Support
The good thing about PlayUp customer support is that you can get in touch with them via the PlayUp live chat. The bad news is that the live chat is available only from 7 am to 12 am. So, it’s the same story as with live betting, PlayUp definitely isn’t an operator for punters who like to bet late at night.
On a brighter note, they offer phone support as well, but the working hours are the same as for the live chat. The last option is to send them an email, but only if you don’t mind waiting up to 24 hours to get an answer.
PlayUp support almost always replies within a few minutes. Every time I tried to reach out to them, the agents were very friendly and professional, and they managed to answer my queries really quickly. Also, don’t forget to take a look at the FAQs first. They aren’t the most extensive I have ever seen, but still, there are plenty of great guides to help you skip dealing with customer care altogether.
- PlayUp Live Chat: from 7 am to 12 am
- PlayUp contact number: 1800 752 987
- Email address: [email protected]
Is PlayUp Australia Safe?
The first thing I look at when joining a fresh bookmaker is how responsible they are when it comes to their customers’ safety. Luckily, I didn’t encounter a single security concern in all my time with PlayUp. This bookmaker has everything set right, from a gambling license issued by the Northern Territory Government to 2048-bit encryption on their website. To put it shortly, don’t worry about security when betting with PlayUp. Just place bets and enjoy!
When we’re talking about customer safety, it’s important to mention that PlayUp has a strong responsible gambling policy as well. They offer all of the tools that may help you not to get distracted while betting. It includes things like self-exclusion and pre-commitment limits. If you think you’ll use professional help, note that there are numbers to a few of the agencies that deal with problem gambling, such as Gambling Help.
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Conclusion – PlayUp Is Here to Stay
In a flood of overpacked betting sites with too many unnecessary features, PlayUp is refreshing. A straightforward bookmaker, with a well-designed website and strong betting products. They offer everything a punter could wish for, including a smooth integration of Draftstars’ excellent fantasy sports.
There are, however, a few downsides. For example, PlayUp doesn’t offer live streaming, and there could be more options for live betting. But even when we consider all of that, this bookmaker is still a great option. As I mentioned several times in this PlayUp review, they have nailed all the basics. If you’re searching for a reliable bookmaker with a simple site and a great mobile app, PlayUp is a great choice.
PlayUp FAQs
Is it safe to bet at PlayUp?
Yes, PlayUp is a completely safe betting site. They hold an official betting license from the Northern Territory government and have all other security features in place, such as 2048-bit encryption. To learn more about safety at PlayUp, take a look at the review above.
What deposit methods are available at PlayUp?
At PlayUp, you can deposit via Electronic Bank Transfer, credit/debit cards, POLi and BPAY. All of the deposits are instant. If you want to find out more about PlayUp payment methods, check out our review above.
How can I contact PlayUp?
The easiest way to get in touch is via the PlayUp live chat, which is available from 7 am to 12 am. Other options are phone and email. To learn more about PlayUp customer support, check out our review.
Who owns PlayUp?
A company named Wizer Pty Ltd owns PlayUp, as well as a few other betting brands in Australia. They are licensed by the Government of Australia’s Northern Territory. In case you want to learn more about PlayUp, go and check out our review of this bookmaker.
Comments
Susan 01/26/2020 at 10:55 pm
Recently PlayUp offered a Promo via EMail then refused to honour payout of same promo saying it was sent in error.
Also told that promos were no longer available as per notification sent about a month ago – Strange never received notification but PlayUp continued to take promo bets on my account whilst still offering Promos on website. Is this a reputable company or is this just a convenient bungle????
