Bookie bonus bets

It is illegal to market bookie sign up offers to Australians, this information is intended for informational purposes and our international readers

Australians can no longer claim bookie sign up bonuses after May 26, 2019 with the National Gambling Framework officially banning incentives to open new betting accounts. This means punters won’t see the various matched deposit bonus offers we have been inundated with for many years. While there are still some great promotions run by online bookies these won’t be contingent on you being a new customer with the bookie. We believe the following online betting sites are the best for Australians:

This is my table

#1 World's Favourite Bookmaker Bet365 New Customers only. Up to £100* in Bet Credits. Sign up, deposit £5* or more to your account and bet365 will match your qualifying deposit in Bet Credits when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Full T's and C's. #2 By Players, For Players UniBet Get your money back up to €25

Best Australian online bookmakers

What is the NGF and how does it impact my state?

The National Gambling Framework was rolled out following the update to the Interactive Gambling Act in 2017, which also banned online poker and casinos. The National Gambling Framework is aimed at curbing many problem gambling issues, including a perceived idea that punters bet more because they are being advertised to loosely. While the bonus bet ban is everywhere in Australia, the way the new legislation was rolled out means there are some differences in each state. Read our state betting guides for further information:

How do bonus bets work

The following examples will help paint a clearer picture of how bookie bonus bet sign up offers work:

example 1:

If a bookmaker is offering a 100% matched deposit up to the value of $100, you can deposit $100 and receive an extra $100 in bonus bets (can be one bet or divided in most cases).

Sometimes in specific cases the bookmaker will make the bonus bet, the same amount as your first wager on the account.

An example of this would be a 300% deposit bonus up the value of $300. This means you could deposit $500 and make a $100 first wager (your qualified amount) and receive $300 in bonus bets on top of your stake. You could also make a $20 qualifying bet and receive a $60 bonus bet and so on.

After you have qualified for a bonus, you will generally find it hits your accounts instantly, but most say in the fine print it can take up to 24 hours.

The next thing you need to consider is the wagering requirements attached to your bonus.

Wagering requirements at our endorsed bookmakers

First we will give you a run down of how standard wagering requirements work, before getting onto the individual stipulations of each bonus offer that BettingSite.com.au recommends to bettors.

Example 2:

This example is using the assumption a bookmaker has given you a $100 bonus bet with a 3x wagering requirement.

In this case you will need to back something paying at least $3.00 to withdraw the stake after one bet. Your bonus bet will then be changed to a cash balance if it is a successful wager.

But remember in 99 per cent of cases you will not receive the initial bonus amount as a cash balance, so in our example you would receive $200 in cash in your account.

$3 (odds) x $100 (bonus amount) – $100 (initial bonus stake) = $200

Example 3:

This example is under the assumption that you have received $100 in bonus bets, with a 1x turnover requirements.

If you back a $5 shot and it’s successful you will have turned the stake into $500, which will then take away the $100 bonus bet, leaving you with $400 in cash.

$5 (odds) x $100 (bonus amount) – $100 (initial bonus stake) = $400

Keep in mind that each bookmaker will have different wagering requirements and rules surrounding turnover requirements. People outside Australia may also face a higher wagering requirement at bookmakers licensed to operate here

Bookie promos still available to Australians

What is an odds boost? An odds boost is when you back a horse or place a wager on the nose, your odds, either by your own actions or automatically on a selected runner are increased. For instance Sportsbet.com.au give customers one boost per day, which increases the odds on a runner or team of your choice. Ladbrokes has its own version of the odds boost, while Neds.com.au and several others also have variations on increased odds.

Up at half time promos: These generally come in the form of team sports, where if you make a win bet on a team and they lead at half time, but go on to lose you will have your initial stake refunded in real money. In 2019 Sportsbet is running a promotion of this kind on the AFL and NRL regular seasons.

New Zealand free bet offers

The Kiwis out there are much luckier than most of Australia with very little legislation covering bonus bet offers at bookmakers. The only full regulated NZ betting site is the TAB.

This means Kiwis are free to sign up at any bookmaker they please, with all the Australian-licensed bookies we promote on this site accepting NZ punters and allowing them to claim their bonus offers.

You can then use these bonus amounts on anything you wish, with far fewer restrictions placed on them by than Australian bettors.

Tips on the best way to use your bonus

Read all the terms and conditions relating to your bookie’s deposit bonus offer and comply with them. If you don’t it will give the bookie reason to cancel your bonus balance. Even if your bookie doesn’t insist on a minimum odds (eg. bonus bet must be used on odds of $1.50 or greater) use for your bonus, go with something a little higher to make your bonus bet worthwhile. There is no point using a $100 bonus bet on odds of $1.05 and only getting a real return of $5. Sign up to several online bookies. This is a great way to get a wide range of bonuses and then you can scour your different accounts to find the best odds for yourself in the future. If you are in a state which has banned bonus bets for new customers, don’t fret, most bookies if you sign up may email you privately soon after you become a member with an offer of some kind.

Reviews of bookie promos

BettingSite.com.au has some unique deals with the leading betting sites in Australia where we advertise their products, with many of their bonus deals still available, despite the updated NGF. The only real problem is that you usually have to already be an account holder at the bookie to really see what is on offer at the moment. For more information about the features and promotions still available at Australia’s best online bookmakers read our reviews: