PlayUp Review

– Chris Flavell
AussieBet Editor

PlayUp is one of the newest betting sites around. They launched a result of TopBetta, Classic Bet and MadBookie merger. They offer a full range of Australian sports and races, as well as most international events. On top of that, you can also play various daily fantasy sports leagues at PlayUp.

– Chris Flavell AussieBet Editor

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 alongside conventional markets is what makes them stand out. 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.

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 since 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.

They have now linked up with Draftstars to offer punters the chance to switch between each bookie depending if you want a sole fantasy betting focus or a range of other odds and markets as well.

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.

PlayUp Sports Betting

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.

PlayUp Odds

One thing that stood out when reviewing PlayUp was that the odds available are up to scratch. There are occasions when you will be able to get top prices with PlayUp even when compared to some of the biggest bookies around, like bet365 or Unibet.

You can never expect a bookie to be the best for every sport and every market available but they are consistently solid with the prices they offer. They maybe don’t have as many futures markets as some competitors but all the main sports are still covered.

A look at recent outright NBA championship odds highlights this quite well. The odds they offered at the start of the season show how closely matched they are, proving this isn’t an area they slack on.

NBA Winner Odds 2023-24

Team
Boston Celtics	4.00	4.00	4.00
Oklahoma City Thunder	8.00	8.50	8.00
Philadelphia 76ers	9.00	9.00	9.00
Denver Nuggets	9.50	9.50	9.00
New York Knicks	10.00	10.00	9.00
Minnesota Timberwolves	11.00	11.00	11.00
Dallas Mavericks	11.00	11.00	11.00
Milwaukee Bucks	13.00	13.00	13.00
Phoenix Suns	26.00	31.00	31.00
LA Lakers	31.00	31.00	31.00
Miami Heat	41.00	41.00	31.00
Cleveland Cavaliers	41.00	41.00	41.00
New Orleans Pelicans	41.00	41.00	41.00
Golden State Warriors	41.00	36.00	41.00
Memphis Grizzlies	41.00	41.00	41.00

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.

Does PlayUp Offer 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.

What Payment Methods Are Available at PlayUp?

PlayUp is a 100% Australian bookmaker, so they only offer domestic payment options. You can deposit via POLi, BPAY, EFT and 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.

Payment method minimum deposits

POLi

$10  

Debit Card

£10  

BPAY

$10  

Withdrawing from PlayUp

You can withdraw money by EFT or cards with PlayUp. After you send the request, the money should be in your account within 2 or 3 working days as a general rule, which is usually the times given by online betting sites.

Just don’t forget to verify your account in time. Australian bookmakers aren’t allowed to accept money deposits from unverified players.

Overall, the number of withdrawal options isn’t as large as some other bookies, especially bet365 which has a wide range of choices, but there should still be enough to get the job done. Using your Visa or Mastercard debit card is usually the most common.

PlayUp Withdrawal Times

I tested the time it would take to withdraw from PlayUp to my debit card to give you a more accurate idea of how long this takes with this popular payment option.

On average it took 33 hours and 16 minutes for the money to appear in my bank account after requesting the withdrawal. I made withdrawals on the weekend and weekday and it took much longer when making the request on the weekend and that is the reason for the average time being higher. The time on a weekday was actually very fast even when compared to other top online bookies. There could be many reasons for the time it takes to get your withdrawal, including your own bank, but this should give a general idea of the time it takes.

Withdrawal Options

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.

Ad disclosure

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1

PlayUp

4.5/5

Visit Site PlayUp Review

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):

Minimum Deposit:

AU $10

Withdraw Time:

1-3 Days

Licences:

Northern Territory

App availability

App availability:

Close – Open +

Key Player on the AUS Betting Scene

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.

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.

Who Owns PlayUp?

PlayUp is owned by Daniel Simic. A number of different bookies were merged to make PlayUp as we know it, inclduing TopBetta, MadBookie and ClassicBet. The same owner is also in charge of Draftstars after PlayUp acquired them in 2018.

How We Rate The Best Bookies

We always consider a number of different factors when compiling our betting site reviews. This one for PlayUp was no different. Let us round up a few of the key areas we always look at when cross-comparing betting sites.

• 
  Betting odds

  Getting the best price for your bet is a must for any punter, which is why we consider the quality of odds with every betting site review we do. No single bookie will have the best odds for every market on offer but the best are regularly offering excellent value prices.

• 
  Betting apps

  Betting on the move is important to punters in Australia and we understand this at AussieBet. We always make sure to assess the quality of the betting apps available to punters. All the best bookies, including PlayUp, have betting apps that can suit everyone. It was a key factor we considered here.

• 
  Licenses

  If a bookie wants to be placed high on our recommended lists then they need to be licensed and regulated by the Australian government. That way punters know they are safe and secure for betting online. We will never recommend unlicensed bookies to you.

• 
  Selection of markets

  The more choice of markets a bettor has, the more chance they have of identifying a value betting opportunity. For this reason, we like to check out the number of markets a bookie offers. More markets on a high number of different sports means they are worth your time.

• 
  Payment methods

  Being able to deposit and withdraw quickly and easily is a must. This is another factor we look at when putting our reviews together and when comparing different bookies. The more options available will mean a bookie scores better in our eyes. This is the same with the time it takes to process your payments.

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 is one of the finest new betting sites in Australia. To find out how they impressed our reviewers, read our detailed PlayUp review.

PlayUp Overview