Australia is a major player in the world’s economy, and betting is a big part of it. More than 25 million people are living in Australia, and a lot of them occasionally enjoy the thrill of gambling.
Thanks to the popularity of esports in the country, and the many famous esports players that hail from Australia, it’s easy to see why Australia has a powerful esports betting scene, with multiple major bookmakers operating in the country.
If you are wondering which are the best esports gambling platforms in Australia and how esports betting looks down under, read our article and get all the information you need.
Full List Of The Best Australian Esports Betting Sites
It can get challenging to decide which bookmakers to use, since Australia is full of quality ones that do an excellent job at providing betting markets and competitive betting odds to esports bettors. Nevertheless, we at Esports-Gamblers took on the task and have created a list including the best betting sites to bet on esports in Australia.
We do extensive research and testing before we recommend a bookmaker to our readers, and we always make sure to only recommend fully licensed websites to you. All the betting sites on the following list are completely legal to bet on in Australia, meeting all the necessary requirements set by the state.
Online Esports Betting In Australia
Australia loves sports betting, and it has a dedicated fandom for a wide variety of traditional sports. However, thanks to the increase in popularity of gaming, the same is happening with esports betting, and even though Australia has a relatively small population, it makes for a big chunk of the world’s esports betting revenue.
More than 40% of the Australian population plays video games at least once per month, meaning that there are potentially 12 million esports fans. In addition, a quarter of gamers are not afraid to spend money on esports, and 5% of all gamers watch esports regularly. With such high market penetration, it makes sense that so many esports betting sites have set their eyes on Australia.
According to the data provided by the Australian government, approximately 35% of all adults engage in some form of gambling, and of those, 3% are regular esports bettors. This means that there are more than 330.000 players who place esports bets on any of the regulated betting sites in Australia.
Although many forms of betting felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, esports betting was one of the few forms of gambling that saw an increase in players. In just one year, the number of esports bettors grew by 18%, which means that almost 60 thousand new gamblers joined the fun. That goes to show how entertaining esports betting can be.
Esports betting sites from all over the world offer their services to Australians, with famous bookmakers like Bet365 and Unibet attracting millions of bettors. Still, the majority of the users prefer local websites like Kaysports, which does an excellent job of covering esports matches.
The Most Popular Esports In Australia
Australians enjoy a wide range of esports in their free time. The country has a solid presence in the video game competitive scene globally, with numerous famous players and teams that have helped shape esports in general.
Some of the most popular esports in Australia are Call of Duty, Valorant, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, Dota 2, Rainbow Six Siege, Rocket League, Overwatch, FIFA, and more. As expected, Australia follows international trends in esports.
Australian Call of Duty teams have found great success in international competitions, propelling the video game into a mainstream sensation in the country. But, of course, the big three (Dota 2, CS:GO, LOL) still remain extremely famous, with millions of monthly viewers and a lot of discussions around the games taking place on online platforms.
One of the most notable teams in the Australian region is Mindfreak, which burst into the competitive scene in 2010 and has since remained very active in games like Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Valorant, achieving high rankings in various tournaments across multiple esports. However, the team’s highlight was when it achieved a first-place finish in both the CWL Anaheim Open 2019 and the CWL London Open 2019 in the span of one month.
Another esports team that started in Australia is Chiefs Esports Club, which has something of a cult following thanks to the popularity and dedication of its players.
Unfortunately, Australia lacks good Dota 2 teams, but the same cannot be said about good Dota 2 players since one of the most popular and well-paid esports players worldwide was born there. We are talking, of course, about Anathan “ana” Pham, the wonder kid that managed to win The International two times in a row as a part of OG – something that no one else had done in the history of Dota 2.
Justin “jks” Savage is another shining star of Australia and a world-class Counter-Strike: Global Offensive player with a lot of experience under his belt. Although he has been changing teams very frequently, he finally became the rifler for G2 Esports, one of the biggest esports organizations in the world, and an undeniably strong team in CS:GO.
Is It Legal To Bet On Esports In Australia?
Yes, esports betting in Australia is completely legal, and esports bettors don’t have anything to be afraid of when placing their bets on any legitimate bookmakers. As with other gambler nations like the UK, the various laws and regulations are putting the responsibility on the sportsbooks rather than the player, allowing you to place your bets stress-free.
Although Australia is slightly divided on the issue of online gambling, the stricter regulations only apply to local esports bookmakers. As a result, international operators can easily offer their services to Australians without complying with every regulation that applies to Australian sportsbooks. That being said, there are still a lot of native websites that are extremely popular.
So if you are wondering, “Is esports betting legal in Australia” the answer is yes, and you can join any of the bookies on our list and start betting completely legally.
Future of Esports Betting In Australia
Even though esports betting is currently not the most widespread form of betting, with only 4.2% of all bettors claiming they bet on esports, this is slowly changing since the popularity of esports competition is becoming increasingly popular.
According to studies conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), 22% of adults that regularly participate in gambling (at least once per month) are between the ages of 18 and 34, which is exactly the age of people that are interested in esports. Gaming is already part of young people’s lives, translating into increased esports betting in Australia.
We also consider the general rise of online gambling, which has seen great growth in the last few years. From 2020 to 2021, the number of Australians participating in online betting increased by 35%, a very promising sign for online sportsbooks. Even if the rise in online gambling doesn’t increase yearly, esports betting is bound to become even more popular.
How To Choose The Best Esports Betting Sites In Australia?
Australia is getting flooded with new betting sites that are trying to attract users, making outlandish claims about what they can offer to the users. You must be ready to distinguish quality bookmakers from sub-par options and decide on which one can cover your betting needs the best.
If you don’t know how to do that, you can follow our tips to choose the best esports betting sites in Australia.
First of all, you want to make sure that the sportsbook you are interested in offers a good variety of esports betting markets, especially for the games you are interested in. Any quality esports betting site will have multiple options to choose from, including prop and outright bets.
Another important characteristic of any good betting site is a balance between the esports betting odds it offers and its promotions and bonuses. It is pointless to join a sportsbook that offers a ton of free bets and bet boosts only to take back this money later by offering below-average odds.
Ideally, you want a bookie that gives you some bonuses here and there to spice things up but mostly focuses on providing solid esports odds.
The last thing you should check to make sure you will join one of the best Australian esports betting sites is how many tournaments it covers. If you only see betting markets for the biggest esports events per game (The International, IEM, FIFA eWorld Cup, etc.), you will most of the time be unable to be on your favorite games.
How To Sign Up At A Australian Esports Betting Site
Even though there are some differences between Australian esports betting sites, the registration procedure on either is pretty much the same, and you can complete it pretty fast. The only requirement for opening an account with a legitimate bookmaker in Australia is that you are at least 18 years old.
To sign up at an Australian esports betting site, you need to do the following.
- Navigate to the webpage of the bookie you want to join.
- Click on the sign-up button, usually located on the top right.
- Provide all the requested personal information.
- Add a promo code if you have one.
- Done!
Creating a betting account is very easy, and if you add any of the promo codes you find on our website, you can get some extra benefits before you even start betting.
Payment Methods At Australian Esports Betting Sites
Australia is home to many modern payment solution providers, and the esports betting sites in the country are accepting many of the most innovative payment systems globally. So if you live in Australia and you want to start placing esports bets, you are lucky because there will be plenty of options to make deposits and withdrawals.
VISA and MasterCard dominate the transactions field, handing most of the transactions in and out of bookmakers. Since everyone has access to a credit or debit card, it makes sense that this payment method still dominates the esports betting world. Approximately 40% of all transactions on sportsbooks are done through this network.
With an 86% internet penetration in the country, new methods based on the internet, like e-wallets and e-vouchers, are becoming increasingly common, and an estimated 47% prefer to make payments through an e-wallet. PayPal and Klarna are some of the ones that gamblers use the most since they can offer secure transactions quickly and without any effort.
Cryptocurrencies are an overlooked payment method that is increasingly popular amongst esports betting sites in Australia. Thanks to their anonymity features and very low transaction fees, crypto is the best option for paying on online betting sites, although some bookies still don’t accept crypto tokens for payments.
Mobile Esports Betting & Betting Apps In Australia
As mobile phones are becoming more and more powerful, competing with laptops and desktops, the focus of many online businesses has shifted to how they can make their products work on phones. Thankfully, many Australian esports betting sites already have excellent mobile gambling applications that allow the bettor to play no matter where he is.
Websites like Bet365 and Midnite have developed such good applications that a big part of their bettors only bets through their phones. If the application is well optimized, you can place a bet in a couple of seconds, and even the most boring train rides can become a thrill ride.
Gambling through mobile is more comfortable and accessible than any other way, and many bookies will offer you extra bonuses and promotions. Although, keep in mind that if you want to bet seriously, you must use your computer, which has the full range of features available.
Australian Esports Live Betting & Live Streaming
If you think that betting is only placing your bet before a game and then waiting for the results, then you need to learn about live betting. On almost every sportsbook, you have the option to place bets while the game is still going on, which makes the betting experience more dynamic and more complicated at the same time.
Australians seem to really enjoy live betting, with most online bettors reporting that they place both pre-match and in-play bets. Usually, in live betting, there are much more chances to find high odds that are in your favor, and thanks to specific live betting techniques, gamblers have managed to make some pretty big profits.
What accompanies esports live betting is a live stream to enjoy the game in real-time while deciding on whether you should place esports bets or not. Most esports games have a free live stream available on Twitch.tv, and any bookmaker can host the stream on its website for its users to enjoy. Good sportsbooks like Rivalry will also include extra live information to help you place better bets.
How Popular Is Esports In Australia?
Esports betting in Australia is very popular, with more than 25% of the population familiar with esports games and at least 5% watching esports regularly.
The love Australians have for esports also becomes obvious when you see the number of professional gamers currently active in the country. More than 3000 players compete in dozens of online competitions, making Australia one of the countries with the most pro esports athletes per capita worldwide.
This is only the beginning of esports popularity in Australia since the country is still in the early stages of adopting this new form of entertainment, and there is a lot of pushback by traditional methods. Still, the rise of esports is inevitable, and Australia will be a great country to live in if you are a fan of video games.
Australia Overview
Australia has a complex history and despite its location, it feels like it is in the center of the world. Moreover, it is an excellent place for esports gambling, as the home of many esports betting sites.
Unlike other countries like Germany, the country has flexible gambling regulations, and many bookies offer their services to Australians. It has become clear that as the market penetration of esports in the country is increasing, so will esports betting demand. The future is bright for the Australian betting ecosystem, and any esports gambler will find everything he needs there.
Below you will find some interesting facts about Australia and the esports betting scene of the country.
- The capital of Australia is Canberra, and the largest cities are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Newcastle, and Geelong.
- Australia has no official language on the federal level, but the national language is English.
- The official currency of Australia is the Australian Dollar (AUD), but people and esports bettors also use the United States Dollar (USD).
- Some of the most popular online payment methods in Australia are credit/debit cards (VISA, MasterCard), e-wallets (PayPal, Klarna), and cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum).
- Australia’s five most popular esports are Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, FIFA, and Rainbow Six Siege.
- The most popular esports players in Australia are Anathan “ana” Pham (Dota 2), Justin “jks” Savage (CS:GO), Rhye “Zer0” Perry (Apex Legends), Daniel “Torsos” Parsons (Fortnite) and Victor “FBI” Huang (League of Legends).
- The most popular esports competitions in Australia are the League of Legends Circuit Oceania (LCO), ANZ Champs (CS:GO), Oceania Tour (Valorant), Apex Legends Global Series APAC South (Apex Legends), Rainbow Six Siege Oceanic Nationals (Rainbow Six Siege).
- Qudos Bank in Sydney was sold-out for Intel Extreme Masters.
Final Words
If you live in Australia and are an esports fan, betting on your favorite game is the next level of entertainment. Multiple esports betting sites can cover your gambling needs, and thanks to the rise of popularity in esports, you will constantly have something to bet on.
All you have to do to join the fun is pick any of the esports betting sites on our list, and you are guaranteed to have the time of your life. Don’t forget to use our promo codes to start your betting journey the best way possible.
FAQ
Can you bet on esports in Australia?
Yes, you can bet on esports in Australia on any of the licensed bookmakers that offer esports betting markets. So no matter what game you prefer, you can easily find a bookie to bet on it and try to earn some extra money from watching the games you love.
What is the most popular betting site in Australia?
The most popular betting site in Australia is Bet365, with millions of monthly visitors. Bet365 is a bookmaker that has dominated the global online betting scene and is the uncontested most popular bookie in many countries. So regardless if you want to bet on regular sports, esports, or enjoy some casino games, Bet365 is a good choice.
Where can I bet on esports games?
You can bet on esports games on any of the legitimate betting sites operating in Australia. Some of the best options for Australians are Rivalry, Bet365, and Unibet, which are all popular betting sites that cover a wide range of esports titles like Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends Rainbow Six Siege, and more.
Where can I bet on eSoccer?
You can bet on eSoccer on any bookmaker that offers esports betting markets for eSoccer events. There are a lot of options to choose from in Australia, so be sure to pick an esports betting site that can give you fair odds and enough variety of bets to make the whole experience as entertaining as possible.
