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I've spent years covering the Australian wagering market and testing sportsbooks as they've evolved through an ever-changing regulatory framework from the 2019 National Consum...
Betting Promotions in Australia – How do they Work?
Last updated 26/10/2026
The good old days of "deposit $10, get $50" welcome offers are long gone in Australia, but bookmakers still have no shortage of creative promotions to take advantage of. Once you’ve opened and verified a new account, you’ll be able to access price boosts, early payouts, customisable markets and losing bet refunds that can all enhance your experience.
This page explains the main types of promotions you'll find at licensed Australian bookmakers, and which operators offer which type.
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Table of contents
- 1.Types of Betting Promotions in Australia
- 2.Which Bookmaker Offers What
- 3.Responsible Gambling
Types of Betting Promotions in Australia
Price Boosts
A price boost lifts the odds on a selected market above the standard quote, usually on a handful of markets on major events from big Group 1 horse races to Friday night AFL. Both Bet365 and Unibet run price boosts on selected sports and racing markets every week and I’m in particular a big fan of when they offer $2 footy favourites for a team I’m already keen on backing.
Multi Boosts
A cheeky weekend multi never goes astray and a multi boost promotion enhances the payout on a same-game or customised multi bet once it’s in your betslip, rather than just boosting one single market. Same-game multis are especially popular and enjoyable in the AFL, NRL and NBA, where you can combine win markets with margins, totals and player statistics among others for one juicy payout. Same game multis involving player props are one of my favourite ways to follow a game of AFL or NRL – even though there’ll always be one player who underperforms and ruins it!
Racing Specials
Racing-specific features on the best Australian bookmakers often compare the price you lock in against another reference price, such as the top on-course fluctuation or highest price across the Aussie totes, and pay out whichever is better. Bet365 runs this as its ‘Top Fluc’ feature, whilst Unibet runs a comparable feature called ‘Best Tote’. Both are built for punters who bet tote and fixed-odds racing and want to get the best out of a rapidly moving market. There’s nothing better for me than taking $5.00 fixed for a horse and getting paid out $7.00 just because the price blew out on the track.
Early Payout
An early payout feature pays out your bet as a winner before the event finishes once a specific condition is met — for example, for a team that leads by 12+ points in the NRL, at three-quarter time in the AFL, or by 2+ goals in an EPL match. Bet365 offers this across select football and basketball markets. I love an early payout when my team is up 2-0 at half-time – who doesn’t?
Money Back Specials
A money-back special can sometimes refund your losing bet — usually but not always in free bets rather than cash — if a specific outcome occurs during an event. Common examples include your horse finishing fourth in a race or a ‘justice refund’ for your footy team losing in extraordinary circumstances. Range and terms vary by operator and by fixture, so check the Promotions tab for what’s currently running.
Which Bookmaker Offers What
Responsible Gambling
- BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register, lets you exclude yourself from every licensed Australian wagering operator — including Bet365 and Unibet — with only a few clicks, at betstop.gov.au.
- Licensed operators rotate one of seven mandatory responsible-gambling messages in their marketing, including “What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit.”
- Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24/7 on 1800 858 858 and at gamblinghelponline.org.au.
- Deposit limits, enforced breaks and self-exclusion tools are available directly in both Bet365 and Unibet’s account settings — which are well worth setting before you start using any ongoing promotion rather than after.
Reviewed by the Flashscore Editorial Team based on publicly available regulatory sources (ACMA) and operator promotion pages, current as of August 2026. Specific promotions change frequently — always confirm current terms directly with the operator before betting.
Flashscore may earn affiliate commission when readers register through links on this page. Commission does not affect what’s described above.
18+. Gamble responsibly.
Meet the Author
Australian Content Writer
Aaron Murphy has been with Flashscore since 2018, bringing extensive experience in Australian sports coverage and editorial content. As the founding editor of the Australian newsdesk, he has reported on-site at major events including the Australian Open, State of Origin, A-League, NBL and international cricket. He now focuses on creating informative sports betting guides and evergreen content for Flashscore readers.
FAQ
Why don’t Australian bookmakers offer deposit matches?
Australian law has banned public advertising of sign-up bonuses, free bets and deposit match offers since May 2019. Any offer aimed at inducing a member of the public to open a wagering account is illegal to advertise, regardless of how it’s worded. This applies to every operator licensed in Australia — it’s not a policy choice by Bet365 or Unibet specifically.
Are price boosts and odds boosts legal in Australia?
Yes, when they’re aimed at existing, logged-in account holders rather than the public. A price boost advertised to attract new customers would breach the inducement ban; the same boost offered to an existing account once logged in, is not.
Can I see a bookmaker's promotions before I sign up?
No. Because these offers are restricted to existing, verified customers, you generally won’t see specific promotion details until you’ve opened and verified an account. This is a deliberate compliance measure.
Do promotions work the same in every state?
Not always. Some operators’ promotional offers exclude specific states as per state legislation. Always check a promotion’s terms inside your account — eligibility can vary by state even within the same operator.
Will Australia ever allow sign-up bonuses again?
It’s almost impossible in the near term. If anything, the regulatory direction is tightening further: federal advertising reforms due to be enforced from 1 January 2027 will add more restrictions on gambling advertising generally, on top of the existing inducement ban.
Is it worth having an account with more than one bookmaker?
Since there’s no sign-up cost or ongoing fees, many punters hold accounts with more than one operator to compare which promotions and features are running at any given time as well as get the best available odds on the market for a particular bet.
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