It’s not always easy for bookies to separate themselves from the pack with so many of them in Australia, but betting sites bonuses are one way that they can do just that. From price boosts to deposit matches, betting promotions can often be the difference between choosing to bet with one bookie over another, and on this page we’ll delve into where you can find them, the kinds of bonuses often offered, and much, much more.
Betting Sites with Bonuses Australia


Exploring Betting Sites Bonuses & Promotions in Australia
With so many different betting sites in Australia, it will come as no surprise to you that there are plenty of different types of promotions to find if you hunt around. Having said that though, while some bookies do provide unique offers from time to time, there are a whole lot of similar promotions that you will come across, and even if they do vary in their specifics across different sites, their general premise is often similar. Below, we take a look at some of the different racing and sports betting promotions you’ll come across.
Money back racing offers
A promotion that you will come across with a number of different bookies is money back racing offers. These can vary in exactly how they are executed, but in general they involve the bookmaker paying back your stake in the form of bonus bets if a runner that you bet on to win finishes within the top handful of runners. Often, this will be 2nd or 3rd, though sometimes it’s only 2nd and other times – often for bigger race meets on bigger betting sites – you’ll get money back if your runner finishes anywhere in the top five.
Money back sports offers
Continuing on in the same vein as the above, one of the most common sports betting promotions that you will come across is another money back promo. Often, this will be present on sites which allow you to place Same Game Multis, which will regularly offer money back in the form of betting sites bonuses if you miss by one leg – though remember you will generally need to have at least three legs in the multi for this to work. Some betting sites will also provide this offer for multis across numerous sports or events, too, rather than simply for Same Game Multis.
Price boosts
Price boosts are a nice and simple type of promotion that you will come across on the majority of betting sites in Australia that have promos available. They’ll call them different names – sometimes price boosts, sometimes price pushes, sometimes another name entirely – but the premise is generally pretty simple. For certain events, you’ll have the capacity to boost your odds, with many bookies providing this option for punters a set number of times per day.
Don’t expect these boosts to be massive, but if you’re betting on something at $2.50, a price boost might get you up to $2.70 or so, depending on the site.
Early payouts
Early payouts can be a brilliant promotion or a not particularly useful one, depending on how you use them. This form of promotion usually occurs for head to head bets and involves the bookmaker paying out on a win bet prior to the conclusion of an event – for example, for NRL betting sites you might get paid out if your team gets 16 points up, or leads at half time by a certain amount.
This can be a really useful promotion if you’re into arbitrage betting, though if you’re just placing a solitary head-to-head – maybe after reading our AFL tips or NBA tips! – bet it’s worth remembering that these early payouts far more often than not come on teams that win anyway. Still, occasionally you might luck out and get paid as a winner for a team that goes on to concede a big lead and lose, and – as mentioned – particularly for arbitrage bettors this can be a great result.
Deposit match bonuses
Though betting sign up bonuses are a thing of the past in Australia due to rules and regulations, you can still get some early benefits from signing up with a new bookie through deposit match bonuses. These come in various different forms, but the basic idea is that when you deposit money to your account you will get a percentage of it matched in bonus bets.
For example, a 50% deposit match means that if you deposit $40, you’ll get $20 in bonus bets. These are often provided by betting sites when you sign up with them, though some might offer them to existing customers from time to time too.
Bear in mind that for these you may need to check whether they apply for the deposit method you’re using, though generally they will be universally applicable. You’ll never have a problem activating these promos if you’re debit card betting, while BPay betting sites, PayID sites and other common forms of payment, you shouldn’t have a problem accessing deposit match bonuses.
Australian betting promotions are certainly not limited to the above types, but those five are each among the most common and best betting promotions that you will find. Most betting sites will have at least a handful of them on offer at any one time, though remember – it’s always important to read the fine print, because the specifics can vary quite a lot from one bookie to another.
Recommended Betting Sites with Bonuses
There is a lot that goes into a good betting site, and bonuses are one of the factors that we will always consider when analysing a new bookie. While some don’t offer many worth bothering with, others regularly provide their customers with a range of quality promos, and below we take a look at some of the bookies with the best betting bonuses in Australia.
PlayUp
PlayUp has been one of the best betting sites in Australia for a few years now courtesy of a well-rounded website that ticks virtually every box, bonuses included. Their selection of promos is really comprehensive, with various sports and racing bonuses which are constantly being updated keeping the entirety of their clientele happy.
Pros✅:
- Really wide variety of bonuses and promotions
- Excellent range of different markets
Cons❌:
- Absence of any live streaming
- Not a particularly wide range of payment methods
UniBet
Unibet is a global betting giant, and for good reason. Aside from their virtually unmatched range of markets and odds, this international betting site also offers some unique bonuses for their customers. The focus here is generally on racing, with a virtually unprecedented range of promos covering various meets, though they do also have a good number of sports bonuses often focusing on boosts and multis.
Pros✅:
- Incredible array of different markets and nearly unmatched odds
- Fantastic betting promotions for racing in particular
Cons❌:
- Website can be a little clunky at times
- Not locally owned
BetFocus
BetFocus is a relatively new betting site, but unlike so many others which feel like different-coloured versions of each other, this bookie stands out from the crowd with a unique interface and really solid selection of odds. On top of that, they also offer a good selection of promotions for their users. Boosts are the feature here, with various odd-boosting promos generally making up a bulk of their bonuses and more often than not focusing on racing.
Pros✅:
- Easy to use website
- Good selection of futures markets
Cons❌:
- No live betting available
- No live streaming available
QuestBet
QuestBet is one of many new small betting sites in Australia, but with a standout ninja-oriented website they have quickly developed a solid base of customers. This website as well as the app are features of this bookie, but a decent selection of bonuses and promotions adds further to their appeal. They don’t have the range of promotions available as some of their more established counterparts like the aforementioned Unibet, but there is still more than enough here to sink your teeth into.
Pros✅:
- Stylish website and mobile app
- Solid range of promotions
Cons❌:
- No live betting
- No mobile phone support
BetRoyale
BetRoyale has only been around since 2023, but since that time they have proven to be a good option for punters looking for a new betting site, particularly racing-focused punters. Their quirky website utilises the popular BetCloud platform, which allows you to easily access their bonuses and promotions through the menu on the left-hand side of your desktop. Upon clicking through to this, you’ll find a selection of predominantly racing-based promos, with money back (in the form of bonus bets) for certain events one of their go-to bonuses.
Pros✅:
- Good odds for racing punters
- Nice selection of racing-based promos
Cons❌:
- Limited payment options
- No live streaming
ColossalBet
Based out of Randwick, ColossalBet launched in 2021 with a bold aesthetic and good racing odds their major selling points. They talk a big game when it comes to bonuses and promotions, plastering information about their ‘Colossal’ promos over the front page. In reality there are other, generally bigger bookies that have a wider range of bonuses, but ColossalBet still provides a few for punters, with ‘Price Pumps’ one of their most consistent offers. Their range of promos is ever-changing, so every time you check back into your account you’ll quite possibly find some new ones.
Pros✅:
- Good markets for racing
- Owned and operated in Australia
Cons❌:
- No live streaming
- Limited live betting
Bet365
Bet365 is one of the pre-eminent betting sites both in Australia and around the world, and a quick look at their extraordinary range of markets, huge list of sports and phenomenal odds makes it clear why. Such an experienced and successful bookmaker would always be expected to have some quality bonuses, and Bet365 is no exception. They’ve had some amazing promos over the years, with big money back offers as well as early payouts pretty common, but you’ll need to head to the site to find out the array of bonuses they’ve got at the moment.
Pros✅:
- Amazing range of markets and odds
- Elite selection of promotions
Cons❌:
- Mobile app can sometimes be a little buggy
- Hard to find customer support section on the website
ChaseBet
ChaseBet only launched in 2023, but they quickly became a respected member of the betting community courtesy of some really competitive odds – particularly for a new betting site – and really helpful customer support. On top of that, they have also always excelled in their selection of promotions, covering both sports and racing and providing a really broad range of different bonuses – including money back, price boosts and more.
Pros✅:
- Really good range of betting promotions
- Good odds
- Decent Fixed Racing Odds
Cons❌:
- No live streaming
- Lacking Sports Betting Markets
- No phone number
PuntGenie
PuntGenie launched in 2023, a big year for new betting sites in Australia, and with their unique graphics and solid racing odds they have found their niche within a very competitive industry. That aptitude extends through to their promos, too; though they, like every betting site, are constantly updating the promotions they have available, PuntGenie offers a decent selection on both sports and racing, with bet boosts one of the most common of them that you will come across with this bookie.
Pros✅:
- Unique website and functional design
- Competiting racing odds
Cons❌:
- No Phone Support
- No Live Betting or Live Streaming
Dabble
Dabble is a quintessential new-age bookmaker, making an immediate splash upon entering the industry in 2020 with their mobile-only offering. While some may prefer to use a desktop site, Dabble’s focus on mobile betting is indicative of the changes within the industry over the past decade, and with all their energy going into the one platform they unsurprisingly do plenty right when it comes to their betting app. Another thing they do pretty well is provide a good range of promotions. A lot of these focus around same game multis, with things like money back for SGMs which miss out by just one leg, while there are generally a wide-ranging selection of racing bonuses, too.
Pros✅:
- Elite mobile offering
- Good SGM odds
Cons❌:
- No Live Betting
- No Desktop Site Available To Bet On (Only Via The Dabble App)
ChromaBet
Having launched in 2024, ChromaBet doesn’t do a whole lot to stand out from the crowd, but they don’t necessarily have to. What they do provide is solid odds, a simple interface and a nice selection of promotions and bonuses, which is all that plenty of punters need. So what exactly are those promos? In line with Australian regulations we can’t specifically outline what ChromaBet offers, and they change constantly anyway, but by and large the offers available with this betting site are focused on racing. There are some sports promos too, but you’ll find a better selection if you’re on the lookout for racing-based promos.
Pros✅:
- Simple but effective
- Solid range of sports markets
Cons❌:
- Not all that many payment options
- No live betting option
Bet777
Bet777 follows much the same modus operandi as many new betting sites; provide a simple and effective site and betting app, and stand out with a few bright colours. Bet777’s aesthetic brings the casino experience directly to your phone or computer, and while they don’t stand out in many particularly obvious ways they do the basics well enough. This extends to their promotions. There are certainly other, more established bookmakers with a better selection, but Bet777 has a standard range of rotating promos like money back for multis in sports or place-finishes in racing, as well as bet boosts.
Pros✅:
- Quality mobile app
- Good range of futures
Cons❌:
- Good range of futures
- Average racing odds
PalmerBet
Unlike many of the aforementioned betting sites, Palmerbet has been around for a long while, and a quick glance at their website or betting app makes that abundantly clear. They might not have the brand recognition of a bookie like Bet365, but Palmerbet has an elite range of markets and great odds, to go with a whole lot of bells and whistles. Included among those are excellent promotions, which include a ‘Multi Guard’ (money back if one leg misses out), ‘Game Saver’ (money back if your team develops a big lead and loses), ‘Price Push’ (boosted odds) and ‘Racing Rescue’ (money back if your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd)
Pros✅:
- Fantastic range of markets
- Great promotions and bonuses
Cons❌:
- Website can sometimes be a little slow
- Unmemorable aesthetic
OldGill
Finally, we take a look at OldGill – another new betting site with a playful aesthetic to draw you in. Punters with this bookie are greeted by the man himself, Gill, who looks suspiciously similar to our old friend Gill from The Simpsons. Gill offers a pretty standard range of markets and odds, and some decent promotions. Don’t expect him to lead the industry in offers, but you will find a few standard promos like bet boosts and money back offers for certain events.
Pros✅:
- Fantastic range of markets
- Quirky aesthetic
- Simple to use website
- Great promotions and bonuses
Cons❌:
- Not a huge range of sports available
- Limited payment options
Free Bets
Free bets is a phrase that sounds like it’s too good to be true, but that isn’t always the case! Of course, the old adage that nothing in life comes free is true to an extent here, and generally there are certain criteria that need to be fulfilled in order for you to get a free bet in Australia. But they are out there, and these are some of the ways that you can get them.
Bonus bets from money back promotions
As mentioned in the previous section, lots of betting sites in Australia offer money back promotions for both racing and sports – the former if your runner finishes within the top few, the latter if your multi just misses out. If you do miss out on winning a bet but get money back through one of these avenues, you’ve essentially got two bites at the cherry.
If you’ve got some EPL tips or NRL tips you want to bet on, for example, you can use that bonus money that you received as a result of the promotion, and it’s essentially a free bet as you are using bonus bets in place of your own money – though be wary, just because it’s bonus money doesn’t mean you should neglect putting proper thought into it!
Betting using deposit match bonus money
Similar to the above, when you get a deposit match you are essentially getting free bets from that betting site. If, for example, you get $20 in bonus money for depositing $40, that $60 that you’ve got to play with essentially includes $20 of free bets. Of course, if these free bets lose you will end up back where you started, but say theoretically you separate it into two $10 bets, and one that pays $3 is successful, you’ve got $30 to play with or withdraw that you wouldn’t have otherwise had without those free bets.
Of course, ‘free’ is a relative term and you do have to be betting using your actual money in order to activate them. But search hard enough and utilise promotions wisely, and you’ll find yourself getting access to plenty of bonus bets.
No Deposit Bonuses
What’s better than getting a free bet as a result of a money back or deposit match promotions, you might ask? How about getting one without even having to deposit any of your own money.
These types of bonuses have long been part of the promotional programs of many betting sites in Australia, providing their customers (often new ones) the possibility to get free bonus money to play with without having to actually deposit or have any money in your own account.
These types of promotions have, however, gone the way of the dodo. Like betting sign up bonuses, which were relatively recently made illegal following a wave of new rules and regulations, no deposit bonuses were also banned by gambling regulators.
So while we had a good run of no deposit bonuses which no doubt provided free bets for plenty of punters – just like betting joining bonuses – for now we will have to settle for the array of bonuses and promotions already outlined above. Though as we have seen, there are still plenty of those around.
Live Betting Bonuses
In recent years, live betting has seen a massive surge in popularity, with the ability to bet on an event after it has already started proving to be a particularly attractive prospect for many customers. While there are still plenty of new betting sites that are not live betting sites, more and more betting sites in Australia are ensuring that they offer some markets in this space.
By and large these are for sports, which are much easier to provide live betting odds for due to the length of time sporting events take, but some bookies have also branched out to include live betting on racing – though given how quickly a race is run, you have to be mighty quick to take advantage of these.
There are, however, a couple of restrictions on live betting. For one, sports live betting markets can only be bet on over the phone – you won’t be able to place these bets on desktop sites or mobile betting apps. You’ll also note that you’re not really going to find much in the way of live betting bonuses.
For example, the money back promotions which are so common, or equally the early payout offers, are generally only available for bets placed prior to the beginning of an event – you won’t, for example, get paid out if your team is leading by a certain amount at half-time if you placed the bet halfway through the first quarter.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of live betting markets using your betting sites bonuses. If, for example, you’ve got $20 in bonus money sitting in your account as a result of a deposit match or another bonus, there is nothing stopping you from using that to place a live betting.
So while you might not explicitly get access to live betting bonuses in Australia, you can still use the array of betting promotions on offer with Aussie bookmakers to place live bets.
FAQ'S on Betting Bonuses in Australia
Do you have some questions about betting, bonus bets or promotions in Australia? Well, say no more! Below you will find some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to the Aussie betting bonuses scene – hopefully with all the answers you are looking for!
Can I withdraw money earned from bonuses?
This is a question that many have, and for good reason. You’ll find that across every betting site in Australia, you won’t be able to immediately withdraw bonus money – you will have to bet that bonus money, and if you then win real money from that you will often have to turn it over by placing it on another market with a pre-determined minimum odds – though these exact turnover requirements vary across bookmakers.
If, however, you win bonus money from something like a price boost, or even from early payouts with most betting sites, then that is real money and is yours to keep if you so wish. As long as your account is withdrawal verified, you can withdraw this money immediately.
Can I split my bonus money into multiple bets?
This is something which varies across bookies, but generally the answer is yes. Some betting sites provide plenty of flexibility in this regard; say for example you have $20 in betting bonus bets, you can use as much or as little of it as you want on one bet. If you want to place $20 in bonuses on something you can; if you want to place $10 on something you can; if you want to place $4.32 on something you can.
Other betting sites will be a little more rigid but still allow you to break the bonus bets up. For example, if you have $30 in bonus bets, some bookmakers might allow you to either keep it as one $30 bet, or split it into two $15 bets, three $10 bets, or maybe even six $5 bets.
Does a bonus bet expire?
This is another thing that is different with different bookmakers, so make sure you do your research to ensure your bonus bet does not go missing! Usually you’ll get a good few weeks or months to use your bonus bet, but often they do have an expiry date so it is pivotal to ensure you know when this is.
What are the best betting promotions in Australia?
Unfortunately, we aren’t legally allowed to discuss specific promotions, nor would there be all that much point considering how often they change. There have been plenty of good ones over the years though, with some really generous early payouts among the first that spring to mind.
Early payouts remain one of the better value betting promotions in Australia, particularly for those who utilise arbitrage betting and live betting features like cashout to ensure they have minimal chance of losing. Money back bonuses can also be very worthwhile, particularly at major race meets or sporting events, for which bookies generally up their game when it comes to promos and bonuses.
Do I have to do anything to activate bonus offers or promotions?
This depends on the bonus. For something like a money back if you finish 2nd or 3rd offer, you won’t need to do anything to receive it – simply place your win bet on a runner of your choosing, and if it finishes 2nd or 3rd you’ll get that bonus bet in your account.
For something like a price push, this will generally require activation by clicking on a button on your betslip – this varies across different bookies but is usually pretty easy to find.
At times, however, you might need to input a code to get access to something like a deposit match. You’ll generally be able to do this on the deposit page, or you might have to head to the ‘Promotions’ section of a bookie and follow the prompts to find where and how to activate such a promo.
How long does a bonus bet last?
I have found that how long a betting bonus lasts will ultimately vary from bookie to bookie. Based on my own research and experience though, typically bonus bets might expire after a weeks’ time, however, it can sometimes be even shorter, or even longer – ensure you check the specific details of this for each bonus bet offer you have, as it might not always be the same!
Is a bonus bet the same as a free bet?
Not exactly! In my experience a bonus bet requires you to bet with your own money first, while a free bet does not.
Can you split bonus bets?
Indeed you can! While it might not be possible with all bookmakers, I have found that with most of them you are able to split your bonus bet up into smaller denominations allowing you to get some extra bets on!
Why can't I use bonus bets on SportsBet?
Typically, if you are unable to use your bonus bet with SportsBet or any other bookmaker, this is likely due to there being specific terms and conditions that restrict the use of bonus bets on certain events or markets. I would recommend to always check the fine print of different betting bonuses before utilising them!
James is a sports writer, editor and published author from Melbourne, Australia, who has six years of experience in the sports industry and a lifetime of experience following it with a passion. He grew up on a steady diet of AFL, cricket and basketball, and after finishing his Masters’ degree in sports management, officially started turning that interest and experience into a career. Since then, he has covered all manner of sports, from AFL and cricket through to surfing and horse racing. He has also edited over 50 books, including one written by a former coach of the Perth Wildcats, and written his own book titled Sport’s Greatest Statistical Anomalies – you can probably guess what that one is about! Such passion for sports and the statistics that surround them means that, unsurprisingly, James has long been an ardent punter, taking a pleasure in analysing form and statistics that to most people is probably bizarre, bordering on unhealthy. But hey, he’s happy, and at least some of the time, so too are those following his tips!