# How does online sports betting work in Australia, and what do you need to start? > What you need to bet online in Australia: a licensed operator, age 18+, an identity check and an allowed payment method, plus what is banned. Source: https://bookiechecklist.com/how-online-sports-betting-works-australia/ Updated: 2026-11-13 To bet online in Australia you need an account with a bookmaker that holds a licence from a state or territory authority, you must be 18 or older, and you must pass an identity check. You then fund the account by a method the operator allows and bet before the event starts. Online in-play betting and credit card funding are banned. ## What you need to start 1. **A licensed operator.** Search the brand and its exact domain in the [ACMA register](https://www.acma.gov.au/check-if-gambling-operator-legal). 2. **Age 18 or older.** Gambling is unlawful under 18, per [Gambling Help Online](https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/support-yourself-or-others/understanding-gambling/gambling-under-18s?language_content_entity=en). 3. **Identity verification.** The national framework says winnings cannot be withdrawn before it is done. 4. **A way to pay.** Debit cards and PayID are not covered by the credit ban, and PayID is run by Australian Payments Plus. Which operator accepts which is not confirmed here. 5. **A bet placed before the event begins.** Details: [ID checks when you open an account](https://bookiechecklist.com/id-checks-when-you-open-a-betting-account/) and [PayID and betting accounts](https://bookiechecklist.com/payid-and-betting-accounts/). **Bottom line:** a licence, age 18+, an identity check and an allowed payment method. ## What is banned Online in-play betting on sport is banned. The only exception in the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 is a bet placed by voice over the phone. Since 11 June 2024, credit cards, credit-based wallets and crypto cannot be used for online or phone betting. A review of the credit card ban is open for consultation from 29 October to 27 November 2026. Pages: [online in-play betting ban](https://bookiechecklist.com/online-in-play-betting-ban/) and [credit card and crypto ban](https://bookiechecklist.com/credit-card-and-crypto-ban/). **Bottom line:** in-play online and credit card funding are not allowed. ## A worked example The numbers are assumed. A stake of A$25 at decimal odds of 2.20 returns A$55.00 if it wins, which is A$25.00 stake plus A$30.00 profit. If it loses, you lose the A$25.00. Illustrative example, not a price. Odds are explained in [how to read decimal odds](https://bookiechecklist.com/how-to-read-decimal-odds/). **Bottom line:** return is stake times odds; a loss costs the whole stake. ## What happens after you register Expect to verify your identity before you can withdraw. The national framework also expects the operator to offer you a deposit limit when you register. A limit you set can be lowered at once, but under the framework an increase cannot take effect for at least 7 days. You can also ask the operator to close your account. The framework text read for this page is the 2018 national policy statement; the later edition did not open. Read the operator's own page for current terms. **Bottom line:** limits and account closure are part of the national framework. ## Before you deposit - Read the operator's responsible-gambling page for a time-out, a deposit limit and BetStop. - Set a limit first: [set a deposit limit](https://bookiechecklist.com/set-a-deposit-limit/). - Know that BetStop covers licensed online and phone providers: [BetStop explained](https://bookiechecklist.com/betstop-explained/). **Bottom line:** set your limits before the first deposit. ## What has not been read yet The banking pages of at least three operators are needed to confirm which methods are named. Status: Not confirmed on 2026-11-13. See the [payment methods snapshot](https://bookiechecklist.com/payment-methods-snapshot/). Method: [how we check bookmakers](https://bookiechecklist.com/how-we-check-bookmakers/). **Bottom line:** operator payment lines are still to be read. ## Sources - [ACMA: about the Interactive Gambling Act](https://www.acma.gov.au/about-interactive-gambling-act) - [ACMA: credit ban](https://www.acma.gov.au/credit-ban) - [Australian Payments Plus: PayID](https://www.auspayplus.com.au/solutions/payid) - [Gambling Help Online](https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/) Checked 6 November 2026; this is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. **Bottom line:** every statement above links to a regulator or a framework. ## 18+ and getting help 18+ only. Gambling can be harmful. Need help? Call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 (free, 24/7) or visit [gamblinghelponline.org.au](https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/). To exclude yourself from licensed Australian online and phone wagering providers, register with BetStop at [betstop.gov.au](https://www.betstop.gov.au). We are not a bookmaker and do not take bets. ## FAQ **How old do you have to be to bet online in Australia?** You must be 18 or older. Gambling is unlawful under 18, and an operator must return the deposit and close the account if a customer is found to be under 18. **Can I bet on sport while it is being played?** Not online. Online in-play sports betting is banned; the exception is a bet placed by voice over the phone. **Can I fund a betting account with a credit card?** No. Since 11 June 2024 credit cards, credit-based wallets and crypto cannot be used for online or phone betting. **Do I have to prove who I am?** Yes. The national framework says winnings cannot be withdrawn until your identity is verified. **How do I check that a bookmaker is licensed?** Search the brand and its exact domain in the ACMA register, then match the licence holder to its ABN in ABN Lookup.