Sports Betting in Australia
If you are in Australia and wondering about the legality of sports betting sites, you’ve come to the right place. Here we’ll cover the popularity and taxation of this activity. We’ll also go over offshore sportsbooks. Using an offshore sportsbook can be risky, so be sure to do some research to find the best sportsbooks in Australia.
Legality of sports betting in Australia
Legal sports betting is a popular hobby in Australia. It is so popular that the central bank of Australia has acted to raise interest rates on loans to pay for sports betting. According to recent statistics, almost 4% of Australians wager money on sporting events. The majority of bettors are male and between the ages of 18 and 49. On average, Australian adults lose $1,128 per year in betting. In the next few years, online sports betting will be available in Australia.
While the National Government of Australia permits sports betting in brick-and-mortar venues, state-managed sports betting has caused problems for bettors in Australia. Most Australian states have passed their own sports betting laws, but mobile sports gambling has been hit by the Interactive Gaming Amendment 2016 (IGA) in 2017. However, the number of sportsbooks in Australia remains the same.
Popularity of sports betting in Australia
Sports betting is a common pastime for Australians. According to Roy Morgan Single Source Australia, over 10% of Australians aged 18 and over have placed a bet in the past three months. Among this group, those aged under 25 placed the least amount of bets, while those aged 35 to 49 placed the largest number of bets. The study also found that the number of people who have placed bets has increased with age.
The Gambling Act 2001 brought a measure of regulation to the Australian sports betting industry. This act made it illegal to offer sports betting services without a license, and international and domestic sports betting companies are now regulated. The biggest sports betting app in Australia, called Tabcorp, has thousands of players. It also runs more than 2,500 retail betting facilities and nearly 13,000 gaming machines at licensed venues.
Offshore sportsbooks
Offshore sportsbooks in Australia are legal and accessible throughout the country. However, there are many factors to consider before placing a bet with one. You should find a sportsbook that meets your specific criteria and offers the features you are looking for. These factors apply to online and land-based sportsbooks alike.
Deposit match bonuses are a common feature of offshore sportsbooks. These bonuses can give you as much as double the amount of your first deposit in cash. For example, BetOnline offers a 50% deposit match bonus, which means that if you deposit $1,000, you’ll get an additional $500. For larger deposits, you can claim a bonus of up to $2,000 in cash.
Online sportsbooks in Australia offer various features to make betting easier for Australians. Some offer live streaming of games, which is popular among Australian gamblers. In-play betting, on the other hand, allows you to place bets on the game in progress. This feature has been gaining popularity among Aussie sports bettors in recent years.
Taxation of sports betting in Australia
Taxation of sports betting in Australia will see major changes in the coming years. In Victoria, the TAB would be covered by a higher tax. This is in line with its call for online rivals to pay a fair share. The government said it would make the decision in the interests of Victorians.
In the NT, the gambling industry has already seen a major change. Its largest operators, including Tabcorp, have allied with the anti-industry group the Alliance for Gambling Reform. Together, the group will push for a harmonisation of tax rates for online and land-based operators. Tabcorp argues that the current tax rate unfairly punishes domestic businesses.
However, Australian consumers are increasingly turning to illegally run online gambling websites. This is not only unsafe, but it also deprives governments of valuable tax revenue. It also threatens the integrity of Australian sports. In addition, illegal online sports betting websites have much lower levels of consumer protection and harm minimisation.