Before You Start: The Basics
Sports betting in Australia is legal for adults 18 and over. All legitimate bookmakers operating in Australia are licensed by state and territory gambling authorities and regulated under the Interactive Gambling Act. Any bookmaker you use should display their licence information on their website — if it's not there, don't use them.
This guide assumes you've never placed a bet before. We'll walk through every step — from choosing a bookmaker to understanding your first bet slip — in plain language. No jargon, no assumptions.
Step 1: Choose a Licensed Australian Bookmaker
There are several reputable options. For a first-time punter, the easiest starting points are:
- Sportsbet — the largest Australian online bookmaker. User-friendly app, wide range of sports and markets, well-known brand
- TAB — Australia's oldest bookmaker, excellent for racing, solid for sports
- Neds — modern app, competitive odds especially for NBA and soccer
For more advanced punters, Betfair Exchange offers better prices but has a slightly steeper learning curve — that's a step 2 upgrade once you're comfortable with the basics.
Always ensure the bookmaker displays an Australian licence. Offshore unlicensed bookmakers are illegal to use in Australia and offer no consumer protections.
Step 2: Create and Verify Your Account
Opening a betting account takes about 10 minutes. You'll need:
- Your full legal name
- Date of birth (you must be 18+)
- Australian address
- Email address and mobile number
- Identity verification — typically a driver's licence or passport (required under Australian anti-money-laundering laws)
Identity verification is mandatory for all licensed Australian bookmakers. It usually happens automatically via a digital ID check within minutes. Occasionally it requires uploading a document photo and takes 24-48 hours.
Step 3: Make a Deposit
Once verified, you can deposit via credit/debit card, PayID, bank transfer or PayPal (availability varies by bookmaker). Start with an amount you're comfortable losing entirely — your betting bankroll should be treated as entertainment spending, not investment capital.
Before depositing, go to your account settings and set a deposit limit equal to your planned weekly betting budget. This prevents you from depositing more than you plan in the moment — a simple but effective safety tool.
Step 4: Understand the Markets
Sports betting has several types of bets. The most common:
Head-to-Head (Match Winner)
The simplest bet — you pick which team wins. In NRL and AFL, there are only two outcomes (no draws). This is the best starting point for beginners. Example: Melbourne Storm to beat Sydney Roosters at $1.85.
Line Betting (Handicap)
One team starts with a points advantage or deficit. Example: Melbourne Storm -7.5 means you're betting the Storm wins by 8+ points. If they win by exactly 7, the bet is lost. Slightly more complex but offers better prices on heavy favourites.
Totals (Over/Under)
Betting on the total combined score being above or below a set number. Example: Over 38.5 total points in an NRL game. Neither team needs to win — you're just predicting total scoring.
Multis (Parlays)
Combining multiple selections with multiplied odds. Higher payout, much harder to win. Beginners should avoid multis until comfortable with single bets — the compounding bookmaker margin makes multis poor value for most punters.
Step 5: Read the Odds
Australian bookmakers use decimal odds. They tell you exactly how much you receive per dollar staked — including your original stake back.
- $2.00 odds — you get $2.00 back per $1 staked. Win $10 on a $10 bet.
- $1.50 odds — you get $1.50 back per $1 staked. Win $5 on a $10 bet.
- $3.50 odds — you get $3.50 back per $1 staked. Win $25 on a $10 bet.
Lower odds = more likely to win, less profit. Higher odds = less likely, bigger payout. The bookmaker sets these odds so that their overall payout is slightly less than 100% — their "margin" — which is how they profit over time.
Step 6: Place Your First Bet
On any bookmaker app: navigate to the sport, find the game, tap the odds of your selection — it gets added to your bet slip. Enter your stake (the amount you want to bet), review the potential return, and confirm. That's it.
Start small. Your first bet should be an amount you're genuinely comfortable losing — $5-$10 is fine. The goal is learning the process, not making money.
Step 7: Bankroll Basics
The most important habit to build from day one:
- Set aside a fixed betting bankroll — money separate from your everyday finances
- Bet a consistent percentage of that bankroll per bet (1-2% is standard)
- Never chase losses — if you have a bad day, stop. Do not deposit more to "get it back"
- Track every bet in a simple spreadsheet: date, sport, selection, odds, stake, result, profit/loss
These four habits separate punters who enjoy betting long-term from those who burn through a bankroll in six weeks.
Getting Tips to Help Your Selection
If you'd rather not pick your own selections, our AI model does it for you. We analyse every major NRL, AFL, NBA, EPL, Tennis and Rugby Union game and produce tips where model confidence is genuinely high. Free members get one tip daily; Members get the full card for $29/month.
Join our free Telegram channel — one tip every morning at 7am AEST, no credit card required.
18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Set a deposit limit before your first bet. Gambling Help Online: 1800 858 858.