Aussie Rules Football is hugely popular in Australia and if you’re looking for the best AFL Betting Sites, you’ve come to the right place. This will be your ultimate betting guide for the AFL as it will discuss all the important features of AFL betting that you need to know about. Which will include betting strategies & tips, features to look out, what promotions are offered, who has the AFL best odds and much more.

Let’s get started! ➡️ 

How the AFL Works

The AFL stands for Australia Football League and is a Aussie Rules Football competition that is played in Australia. The season starts each year in March and ends with the finals series in September. During the regular season, each team will play 22 games and every team will play against each other at least once.

AFL Ladder

After every game in the regular season, the winning team is given 4 pts and 2 pts if it’s a draw. The margin of the game is also calculated to determine the team’s percentage. As the season progresses, each team is positioned on the AFL ladder by points and then by percentage if they’re tied on points. After the final round of the regular season, the top 8 teams on the ladder will qualify for the finals. 

AFL Finals System

Here’s a quick overview of how the AFL finals system works as of 2024.

Qualifying and Elimination Finals

1st Qualifying Final - 1st vs 4th 

1st Elimination Final - 5th vs 8th

2nd Elimination Final - 6th vs 7th 

2nd Qualifying Final - 5th vs 8th

Semi Finals 

1st Semi Final - Loser of QF1 vs Winner of EF1

1st Semi Final - Loser of QF2 vs Winner of EF2 

Preliminary Finals

1st Preliminary Final - Winner of QF1 vs Winner of SF2 

2nd Preliminary Final - Winner of SF1 vs Winner of QF2

Grand Final

Winner of PF1 vs Winner of PF2

AFL Teams

There are currently 18 teams in the AFL competition. The Melbourne Demons are the longest-running club, established in 1858. At the moment, the Greater Western Sydney Giants are the newest team having entered the comp in 2012. The Sydney Swans were originally based in South Melbourne but moved to Sydney in the ‘80s.

TeamEst
Adelaide Crows1990
Brisbane Lions1996
Carlton Blues1897
Collingwood Magpies1897
Essendon Bombers1897
Fremantle Dockers1995
Gold Coast Suns2011
GWS Giants2012
Hawthorn Hawks1925
Melbourne Demons1858
North Melbourne Kangaroos1925
Port Adelaide Power1997
Richmond Tigers1908
St Kilda Saints1897
Sydney Swans1897
West Coast Eagles1987
Western Bulldogs1925

Top AFL Betting Sites

  • PlayUp - If you’re looking for an Aussie bookie who does AFL well, PlayUp is worth checking out. They have a massive amount of features as well as great AFL betting specials. It’s also the only site in the country with AFL Daily Fantasy. Get on board today and enjoy the journey.
  • Bet365 - One of the best sports betting providers in the world is also a good choice for the AFL. They have excellent betting odds,AFL live betting, cash out, mobile app and much more. While it’s not possible to live stream AFL, Bet365 has arguably the best range of live streaming options in Australia.
  • Unibet - As an International betting site, Unibet has a large range of betting features and that makes them a suitable option for the AFL as well. One of their best features for the AFL is their statistics section where you can view a full overview of each game. They will also have great promotions during the season.
  • Palmerbet - The team at Palmerbet places a large focus on member betting promotions and you can expect this for the AFL as well. Not to mention, some of the highest AFL odds in the industry for every game of the regular season and finals.
  • Topsport - One of the best AFL features at Topsport is same game multi and that’s available for every game of the season/finals. There’s also a decent range of futures markets such as Rising star winner. During the AFL season, they’ll also provide their members with regularly updated promotions.

Best AFL Betting Apps

  • PlayUp - Looking for the best AFL betting app? It’s arguably PlayUp. They have some of the best features for AFL betting such as promos, live best AFL bets, same game multi and it’s all available from the app. Along with Draftstars and AFL Fantasy, PlayUp is definitely one of my top choices
  • Bet365 - Similarly to the desktop website experience at Bet365, they also have designed an excellent best AFL betting app. It’s easy to find the latest and updated AFL betting markets. You can also take advantage of all their great features right from your mobile device.
  • Palmerbet - Palmerbet have designed an easy to use mobile app that is quick and responsive. This is great because when there are multiple AFL games per day, you’ll need an app that can keep up with the fast-paced nature of the sport and PalmerBet app gived you exacly that.
  • Topsport - We highly recommended the Topsport app as sometimes, it’s actually preferred over their desktop website. For AFL, you can enjoy all of their great features such as same game multi.

Top 10 AFL Betting Sites

  • Playup: A simple and easy to use best AFL betting app.
  • Boombet: Excellent provider of updated AFL future markets.
  • Winnersbet: Recommended for beginners.
  • Bet365: Great odds, promotions and mobile app.
  • Draftstars: The only provider of AFL Daily Fantasy Contests.
  • Picklebet: Regularly updated betting markets for the AFL and decent odds.
  • Palmerbet: Some of the best betting promotions for the AFL and generally offering the highest AFL odds in the industry.
  • Topsport: Same game multi available for every game of the season and finals.
  • Dabble: The only social betting app in Australia that allows you to follow other Aussie Rules punters.
  • BlueBet: Unique promos throughout the season and same game multi.

Important Features of AFL Betting Sites

At My Betting Australia, we aim to spend time reviewing and comparing the best bookmakers so you don’t need to. We look at the overall features of certain betting sites and provide honest information for our readers.

As a result, we can be considered experts and can help you save time in search of the best betting sites for your needs.

In the below list, let’s go through the most important features you need to be aware of in your search for the best AFL betting sites.

  • Betting Markets - There should be a wide range of AFL best betting markets from the basics to the more advanced, such as player props. With most games being played on Saturday/Sunday, the markets should be added at least 3 days before the action as well.
  • Bet Types - Along the similar lines as betting markets, you’ll need a good variety of bet types to take advantage of different odds and such.
  • Betting Odds - Punters are looking for the best odds and we make sure our recommended sites are offering the highest odds possible.
  • Promotions / Offers - Enticing betting promotions always add to the betting experience and we look out for the sites that have regular offers during the season
  • Mobile App - Betting on the go is a key consideration for finding an Aussie bookie and luckily, most sites have focused on their betting apps in recent times. What’s the best AFL betting app? Well, there are many like Bet365, Palmerbet and Topsport. 

Top AFL Betting Sites Features

There are features that are not so important and others that can define a betting site. In this section, we’ll aim to provide an overview of the top AFL betting sites features that you need to be aware of before creating an account.

✔️ AFL Odds

Similar to any sports betting, you’ll want the highest possible odds so that you can make more money from your bets.

✔️ AFL Same Game Multi

With a maximum of 9 AFL games each weekend, the same game multi feature is a great way to enjoy the action. The majority of Australian betting sites now have this feature and it’s also very common to be used in their betting promotions. 

✔️ AFL Player Props

There’s a lot of focus on player stats in the AFL, especially with the popularity of fantasy football. So we definitely recommend looking for a betting site that offers a huge variety of player props for every AFL game of the season. It’s also ideal to find AFL betting sites that update their player props regularly, especially if there is late injury news.

✔️ Live AFL Betting

While live online betting is not allowed in Australia, it’s still possible to place live bets over a phone call with the betting sites that offer live betting.

✔️ Cash Out

A lot of betting sites will offer a cash out feature that can be used to take the money before a multi or futures bet ends. Check out the list of Google Pay Betting Sites that have Cash out available.

✔️ Multi Builder

A multi builder is a great feature for creating quick and easy multi bets.

✔️ Blog

The majority of betting sites in Australia will have a blog that aims to provide free AFL betting previews and tips for upcoming games. This is useful for beginners or people that are looking to bet via expert advice.

✔️ Legal / Security

It’s important to only sign up with legal betting sites and focus on bookmakers that offer a range of security features.

How to Bet on AFL

Wondering how to bet on AFL with success? Here are a few tips and strategies that I think you can take into account when you’re next betting on the AFL.

  • Form - Form is huge in the AFL. It’s not uncommon to see teams go on 10+ game-winning streaks in Footy if they’ve got their game plan right. It also helps if they don’t have any major injuries and a quality coach.
  • Injuries - Injuries are another thing you should consider. A lot of teams can rely on certain players, so if they’re injured, it can negatively impact the team's performance. 
  • Venue / Stadium - It’s important to think about where the game is being played. Some teams perform well at home, such as the Gold Coast Suns in Carrara or the Swans at the SCG. Some teams also struggle at venues, for example the Roos at Marvel Stadium.
  • Head to Head History - Some teams can struggle against certain teams. For example, the Power won 14 games against the Suns from 2012 until 2023. So this can work both ways. Maybe, a team has struggled against another team but that spurs them on to finally get a win. 
  • Player Milestones - Milestones are celebrated a lot in the AFL. When a player reaches 300 games, for example, the team and fans really get around them. So the motivation for the player to play well is sky high and this is where you should be betting on their player props, such as goals or disposals.
  • Player Against Former Team - I’ve also noticed that players usually play well against their former team. So try and look for this trend when thinking about how to bet on AFL.

AFL Betting Specials / Promotions

Bookies usually go all out when it comes to AFL betting specials so there’s a lot of action going on. Why? Because it’s arguably our favourite sport to watch and bet on. So I’ll be discussing some of the best betting specials that you can find across the industry.

  • Multi Bet Bonuses - Multi bet bonuses are pretty common in the AFL industry. It’s probably the most popular AFL betting specials that you can get. 
  • Money Back Specials - There are money back specials and offers to take advantage of at AFL sites in Australia. These are well worth it.
  • Enhanced Odds - A lot of sites also offer enhanced or boosted odds. I always try and take advantage of these. Check the list of Apple Pay Betting Sites for the best boosted odds.
  • First Goal Scorer Specials - Who’s going to kick the first goal? There are AFL betting specials for the first goal scorer in an AFL game and the odds are usually decent. 
  • Same Game Multi Specials - Same Game Multi is massive in the AFL and bookies know it. So, they usually offer enticing promos or betting sites bonuses to give punters the best odds of winning more.
  • Early Payout Offers - Some sites will pay you out before the game finishes, such as when a team leads by a certain amount of points. Debit Card Betting sites usually have this offer.
  • Player Performance Promotions - Sometimes there are player performance promos. For example, Jeremy Cameron to kick 5 goals or Lachie Neale to get 30 disposals.

AFL Odds Comparison

Another important thing about best AFL bets is considering the odds. You want a site that gives you the best bang for your buck and that’s where higher odds do exactly that. So in this section, I’m going to use a random game in Round 16, 2024 and compare the odds from our top 5 AFL sites.

SiteRound 16, 2024
PlayUpLions $1.17, Demons $5.10
BetfocusLions $1.16, Demons $5.00
VolcanobetLions $1.17, Demons $4.90
ChasebetLions $1.17, Demons $5.00
ColossalbetLions $1.16, Demons $4.90

As you see, there are slight differences in odds between our top 5 AFL sites. At PlayUp, you’ll find great odds for backing underdogs. In this example, they gave the best odds of the 5 sites that we compared. For favourites, there generally isn’t much difference between other sites, as you see in our comparison table. 

Get all the info about PlayUp in our detailed and honest Playup Review. If you want some of the best AFL betting markets and odds, this site is one of the top options.

Best AFL Bets

There are plenty of AFL betting markets and best AFL bets during the season or finals. So, let’s look at the most popular bets that I think you should be using when you’re betting on Aussie Rules.

  • Head to Head - The most simple way to get started, just punt on a team to win an AFL game. Also, useful for multi bets and backing underdogs.
  • Line / Handicap - Each game has a line set for both teams. The favourite team will have a line set and they need to win the game by that number for the bet to be successful. Whereas the underdog line means they can still lose the game but if they fall within the points, the bet still wins. So, that’s why punting on underdogs using the line / handicap in the AFL is a good strategy.
  • Total Points (Over/Under) - Bet on the total points, whether you think it will go over or under. The Over is good if you think the game will be high-scoring or played in good conditions. The Under is suitable if there’s some rain around or both sides are good defensively.
  • 1-39 Margin - If the odds are tight in the head to head, the margin is probably going to be close. So, that’s where I think the 1-39 points margin is very useful.
  • 40+ Margin - If a matchup is likely going to be a blowout, the 40+ points margin is usually a good bet.
  • First Goal Scorer - This involves betting on a player to kick the first goal. You’ll get good odds for a midfielder, defender or ruck, but the probability is low. So, try and stick with a forward from either team. 
  • Same Game Multi - Very popular way of placing a multi on the same AFL game. Include head to head, total points and more to make a massive multi.
  • Multi Betting - Useful for betting on multiple games across a round of AFL. Such as line betting on multiple games or backing underdogs together to get huge odds. Find the best BPAY Betting Sites to take your multi betting to another level.

AFL Futures

AFL Futures is another popular betting option in the unpredictable nature of Aussie Rules. It’s usually better to bet on Futures before the season but most bookies will offer futures throughout the Winter season. So in this section, I’ll be talking about some of the top future markets to think about.

  • Premiership Winner - Before the season even begins, it’s possible to back a team to win the flag. This comes with great odds if you get it right. Some sites also offer cash out throughout the season if that team is doing well. NRL betting sites also offer this market.
  • Top 4 Finish - You can choose to bet on which team will finish in the top 4 before the season even starts. Can give you some value odds if you pick the right team.
  • Top 8 Finish - Pretty similar to the top 4 finish bet, except you’re betting on a team to make the finals at the end of the season. Usually not the best value odds unless you pick a roughie.
  • Team Wins (Over/Under) - It’s possible to bet on how many games a team will win before the season begins. The bookie sets the number and you have to bet over or under.
  • Brownlow Medal Winner - After each game, the umpires give 1, 2 and 3 votes to one player. The Brownlow medal winner is then presented to the player who gets the most votes. The votes are read out on the Monday of Grand Final week. It’s possible for multiple players to win the Brownlow. For example, Ricciuto, Buckley and Goodes tied in 2003. 
  • Brownlow Votes Per Team - It’s also possible to bet on which player will get the most votes per team.
  • Rising Star Winner - The Rising Star is awarded to the best rookie per season. There are usually only a few favourites but the markets will change a lot if there’s a suspension, which happened in 2024.

AFL Daily Fantasy

Looking for a fun way to enjoy watching AFL? Then, I suggest trying AFL Daily Fantasy. It’s kind of like betting and AFL Fantasy all in one. Currently, Draftstars is the only AFL Daily Fantasy provider in the country and it’s one of the best betting apps for AFL. There are massive contests to enter for the AFL season and finals. They also have a ticket contest where you can win a share of a million bucks. You won’t find that at AFL bookies so it’s very attractive.

It’s also possible to bet on AFL Fantasy stats such as player/s to get over 100 fantasy points or over/under fantasy points. From my experience, here are some AFL fantasy tips to get you started.

  • Focus on Matchups - It’s a good strategy to look at matchups. If the top team in the AFL is playing the bottom team, generally you’ll find the top team and players are going to score more fantasy points. Focus on forwards and midfielders from the team that is expected to dominate.
  • Defence vs Position - In the AFL, teams can give up plenty of points to a certain position. For example, if a team is giving up a lot of points to defenders, then you should target the opposition defenders. It works for forwards, midfielders and rucks as well.
  • Watch out for Tags - Some teams will tag an opposition player to take them out of the game. This usually means that they’re going to struggle with scoring fantasy points. 
  • Defenders in Losing Teams - It’s a good strategy to focus on defenders in losing teams or teams that are predicted to lose. In theory, the ball should be in their backline a lot more and this should result in more fantasy points.
  • Solo rucks - Some teams will only play 1 ruckman and this is gold in fantasy scoring. It’s a lot easier for a solo ruck to score points compared to a team that is running with multiple ruckmen. 
  • Role changes - Sometimes coaches will play someone in a different position, such as forward moving into the midfield. This can unlock their fantasy scoring potential.
  • Injuries - Injuries usually open up opportunities for younger players to stand up and score more fantasy points.

AFLW Betting

The AFL Women’s competition is growing from strength to strength after each season. The Women’s comp started in 2017 with a few teams but has now expanded to a full 18-team competition. At the moment, the AFLW season starts in September and there are betting opportunities at the top AFL websites in Australia. While the options are usually basic such as head to head, line and total points, it’s good to see the Women’s comp get some attention and I’m sure it’ll improve in the future.

FAQs

When is the best time to bet on the AFL?

During the mid-season after each team has played each other, this is also an ideal time to bet since teams will be at their most consistent form. The AFL finals is a huge event in Australia and betting sites will cater to this popularity with enticing betting promos or offers. Meanwhile, if you can want to bet on future markets such as Grand Final or Brownlow medal, this is recommended for early on in the season as the odds aren’t as accurate compared to the end of the season.

Which bookmaker offers the best AFL bonuses?

It’s common for most betting sites to offer AFL bonuses and a lot of time, they are fairly similar throughout the industry. However, we would recommend checking out three of our best AFL betting sites in Bet365, Unibet and Palmerbet. They have arguably the best betting features available for AFL betting and will have a good range of bonuses available.

Can I bet on an AFL game after it has begun?

It is possible to bet on AFL games while the live-action unfolds. Most sites will offer in-play betting odds and this will fluctuate depending on how the game is progressing. So it’s ideal to get your preferred bets on quickly before the odds change too much. In Australia, you must place live bets via a phone call with a betting operator. Luckily, this is an easy process at most betting sites.

Is it possible to live stream AFL via betting sites?

Due to existing Television rights and agreements, it’s not currently possible to live stream the AFL on a betting site. Your best option for watching live AFL action online is signing up for a Kayo Sports subscription or creating a free account with Channel 7 plus.