Online betting in NSW is unique among the Australian states and the State Government has made it a challenge to track the foremost betting sites NSW that are best for NSW punters. However, New South Wales sport and racing fans can still sign up legally at a large number of online bookmakers, despite the NSW regulations changing the laws surrounding how NSW betting sites can operate in Australia’s most populous state.

More than anywhere else in the Aussie nation, New South Wales bookmakers for racing and sports betting in NSW are limited in the way (no bonuses/sign up bonuses) that they can show you their value. That’s why we at BettingTop10 have decided to navigate the change in legislation for you and show how the landscape has altered considerably and to assist you in securing the best odds for any event across the NSW betting sites.

Best Online Betting Sites for NSW punters:

Betting Site
Features
Brand Features
Review
Bet Now
1
PlayUp
5
Review
  • AUS Licensed
  • Best Handicap
  • AUS Licensed
  • Best Handicap
  • AUS Licensed
  • Best Handicap
2
WinnersBet
4.7
Review
  • AUS Licensed
  • Daily Promotions
  • AUS Licensed
  • Daily Promotions
  • AUS Licensed
  • Daily Promotions
3
Ladbrokes
4.7
Review
  • AUS Licensed
  • Bet with Mates
  • AUS Licensed
  • Bet with Mates
  • AUS Licensed
  • Bet with Mates
4
Unibet Australia
4.5
Review
  • AUS Licensed
  • Bet Share
  • AUS Licensed
  • Bet Share
  • AUS Licensed
  • Bet Share

Gambling and Online Betting Laws in NSW

In 2018, the State Government of New South Wales effectively banned the advertising of all betting inducements to NSW residents. The change in the Government’s legislation and State Laws means that from that point forward, NSW online bettors could no longer enjoy the following incentives and promotions offered ad hoc by licensed and regulated Australian online racing and sports betting sites:

  • Sign up or Welcome bonuses for New Account holders
  • Money back or Cash Back refunds
  • Referral bonuses for referring a work colleague or friend and;
  • Live (In-play) betting refunds.

The NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) did so by making an amendment to the overarching Racing Administration Regulation 2012, prohibiting the advertising of any form of inducement for online punters. Prior to that, a multitude of bonus bet offers were available to those online bettors residing in NSW.

Later in 2019, the Gambling Legislation Amendment (Online and Other Betting) Bill 2019 came into law in NSW. The new definition of “inducement” introduced by the Bill now means Bet Boost, Enhanced Odds or Double Your Winnings or the equivalent on betting sites NSW must no longer be advertised in NSW in addition to other promotions and offers (such as sign up offers, Bet Return, and other bonus bet specials) which were already prohibited on NSW betting sites for some time.

Changes to NSW bonus bet and promotions regulations

Summing it up, in online betting NSW, it is now unlawful to advertise any offer online or otherwise which;

  • Contains an inducement to any person physically located in NSW to participate in any gambling activity.
  • It is no longer adequate for such advertising of such inducements to contain an “Excludes NSW” type disclaimer.
  • NSW Liquor and Gaming are required to geo-block people located in NSW (according to their IP address) from viewing any online sports or racing betting advert which contains an inducement to have a punt.

What do the NSW laws mean for you?

What that means for online bettors in NSW is; promotions that were offered by most NSW betting sites, including welcome bonuses such as your first deposit being matched with free or bonus bets, or a multiple of your deposit, such as ‘deposit $150, get $300 in bonus bets’ are now off the books. You can now also forget promotions where a punt wagered on any Aussie horse race run be awarded a $50 bonus bet if the punter’s chosen ‘on-the-nose’ runner came in second or third.

New South Wales bookmakers can also no longer offer a bonus bet of up to $50 or $100 if a chosen AFL or NRL winner selection leads by a selected number points or more at any given time in a match but still loses the match in regulation time.

Online betting advertisements along with television, radio, newspaper ads that can be viewed by a person located in NSW are also no longer allowed.

These type of bonus bet promotions are popular amongst all Aussie punters, but with the NSW Government’s move, this kind of advertising ban could eventually apply across the entire Australian nation. In fact, believe it or not, already in NSW it is illegal for websites like ours to even display bonuses that punters from other Australian states can legally claim.

How can NSW punters extract value from their bookmaker?

With this sort of legislation already operating in New South Wales and perhaps eventually across the Australian nation, what can you do to maximise your opportunity for punting success?

Firstly, the good news:
New South Wales sport and racing fans can sign up legally at a large number of NSW betting sites, despite the NSW laws surrounding how betting sites can operate in the state.

Secondly, we here at BettingTop10 can assist you by keeping it simple and ‘old school’ for you.
At BettingTop10, when we research, test and analyse all the betting sites NSW in the state for you, examining across a stringent set of selection criteria before deciding on the best NSW betting sites.

Our exclusive and critical BettingTop10 criteria include, but aren’t solely confined to, the following online betting NSW features for your convenience:

  • Ease of placing bets and simply the Best Sports, Odds and Betting Markets
  • Compatibility with your mobile device (Android betting app, iOS/Apple app) or PC or laptop
  • Great customer service with long hours and various contact methods including; Live chat, phone, email or even ‘old school’ snail mail.
  • System Requirements (ease of app or site downloads)
  • Mobile User interface when/if required for your convenience.
  • New South Wales bookmakers consistently offering the best odds and additional services (‘Best of the Best’ betting, Live Streaming etc)
  • Ease of placing bets and accessing quality Betting Markets.
  • Overall mobile and PC User Experience.
  • Check out our BettingTop10 exclusive New South Wales bookmakers reviews explaining all the various different bet types offered by all the quality NSW betting sites.

Summing it Up

The NSW Government is clearly concerned by the way that betting sites operators have operated in the state in the past, and has implemented these strict laws to protect those who are currently experiencing, or at potentially at risk of experiencing, problem gambling behaviour.

What it means for the rest of us who do not have issues, and simply enjoy a sports or racing punt or two every weekend, is that it is ‘back to the future’ where expert tips, and selecting only the best odds through the highest quality NSW betting sites is the secret to success.

BettingTop10 Australia takes pleasure in helping to ease the way through the labyrinth of online sites available to deliver only the best choices where your online punting will not only will be smooth, secure and easy sailing but just as much, if not more fun and profitable than it was before the new laws came into place in NSW.

If you are seeking help, please click here  for NSW punters, or here to find your region.

You can also call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858.

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