Betting Markets
Whether you’re watching regular Aussie Rules matches or the epic annual clash that is the AFL Grand Final, this is a sport that offers up a tempting array of betting markets. Here are some you can find at the UK’s best bookies.
Match Betting
Frenetic and intensely physical, Australian Rules Football is as close to gladiatorial combat as team sports can get – but who will be the victors? You can have a go at predicting the winners with this always-popular betting market.
Over/Under
The points can really rack up in Aussie Rules footy, but will the teams manage to exceed a certain tally in the match in question? This is what you’ll be predicting with an over/under bet.
Line Betting
Otherwise known as a handicap bet, this is when a bookie will even things out between the favourite and their opponents by applying a points margin, or “line”. The favourite will be given a line with a minus figure, for example -36.5, which means you’ll bet on them to win the game by more than that number of points. Or, you can bet on their opponents, who’ll have a plus figure, for example, +36.5. This means they have to lose the game by fewer than that number of points.
Quarter Bets
Australian Rules Football matches are split into quarters, and you can bet on the outcomes of each individual quarter – such as what the score will be, what the winning margin will be, and who the last team to score in a quarter will be.
Other Props
As with other sports, you’ll have a tantalising menu of additional prop bets to test your luck on, including predicting which player will be the first to score, and what the winning margin in the first half might be.
In-play betting
Being able to place bets even after a match has started is one of the big plus points of online bookies. But live, or in-play, betting isn’t just for when you haven’t had time to wager before play commences. It also offers a serious perk, in that you’ll be able to capitalise on different betting markets as the odds lengthen and shorten depending on how the events of the match.
For example, putting an over/under bet on a favourite team to exceed a certain number of points might have unappealingly short odds before the game. But if the team underperforms in the first quarter, the odds may lengthen. If you place the same over/under bet at this point, and the team then starts to pick up the pace to eventually hit the target points tally, you’ll get a better return than if you’d bet at those original shorter odds.
Cash Out
It may sound a bit too good to be true, but many top UK bookmakers let punters bail out of a losing bet before the outcome is even determined. This is the magic of the cash out option. If you feel momentum has turned against you and your bet is doomed to not come good, you can cash out during a match, meaning you’ll get a return based on the current odds and your stake. It’s a way to have more control and cut your losses when betting on Australian Rules Football.
Accumulators
A neat way to boost potential returns is to bundle different bets together with an accumulator. With this “acca” way of wagering, separate selections are grouped on a single betting slip. If they all come good, the odds will be multiplied together to determine your profit – and that means a bigger payout. There is a snag, though. If just one selection fails, the whole acca is deemed a loss. But the silver lining here is that many top-rated UK betting sites offer acca insurance, meaning that if you do miss out by one unlucky wager, you’ll get your initial stake back as free bets.
Grab a Bankroll Boost
It’s pretty crowded out there in the world of online bookies, and that’s good news for punters because it means rival sites will roll out some very appealing welcome bonuses to grab your interest. Here are some to look out for.
Matched deposit bonuses
The UK’s best betting sites will often offer a percentage match of first deposit up to an upper limit. For example, if a site advertises a bonus of “100% up to £150” and you deposit £50 after signing up, you’ll have a total of £100 to bet with. Always check the terms for these bonuses, as there will probably be wagering requirements and time limits in place. There may also be a stipulation that the bonus money can only be used on bets with certain minimum odds.
Free bets
Which punter doesn’t love a free bet? As a reward for signing up and placing a qualifying bet, many UK bookies will give you a modest amount of free bets credits. For example, £10 in free bets if you make a qualifying bet for a tenner. Again, check those Ts and Cs so you know what’s what.
Bet With the Hottest New Promos
A good welcome bonus can tempt you to join a betting site, but the best bookies won’t stop there. You’ll also be able to enjoy on-going promotions, including:
- Money-back offers, where a losing stake will be returned to you in the form of free bets, up to a maximum limit
- Enhanced odds, where the bookmaker will boost the odds on certain popular betting markets to make them more lucrative for winning punters
Payment Methods
The UK’s top betting sites will make it a doddle to deposit or withdraw money. You’ll find a range of convenient banking options, including:
Bet From the Palm of Your Hand
There’s no need to be sat at a computer when you fancy a flutter. Thanks to the UK’s top mobile betting sites, you can put your money on Australian Rules Football wherever you are – as long as you have Internet access and a smartphone or tablet. There are a couple of options available for betting on the go.
Web apps
Virtually every bookmaker will have a mobile-optimised site, or web app, which you can access through your device’s browser. Just go onto the URL, sign in and bet. The main advantage here is you won’t need to download anything, which saves storage space on your phone or tablet.
Native apps
Many bookies have their own native apps, which you can download onto your device. These operate independently of the browser, meaning you can just tap the app and get betting whenever you feel like it. They’ll also keep you updated on the latest promos with push notifications.
Betting tips for Australian Rules Football
Doing a bit of homework on the AFL can let you make a more informed decision when it comes to betting on Australian Rules Football. The head to head statistics should be your first stop, research-wise. How have the two teams in the match performed against each other the last few times they’ve met?
It’s also important to consider where they’ve previously played against each other – how much has home advantage influenced each team? And has one team travelled a long distance to get to the game? If they’ve flown all the way across the vast land mass of Australia, they may be tired and at a disadvantage compared to the home team. Another factor to bear in mind is that the playing fields used in Aussie Rules differ in size, so some teams may have an affinity for certain venues over others. It almost goes without saying that you should also check if any star players have suffered injuries that could damage the team’s chances in the match.
Australian Rules Football tournaments
The Australian Football League season unfolds between March and September every year, culminating in the AFL Grand Final, which is one of the biggest sporting spectacles in the world. The AFL Women’s season is shorter, lasting from February to March – it has its own Grand Final to bet on.
Another tournament to look out for is the Australian Football International Cup, is the most significant Aussie Rules event on the international stage. Taking place every three years, it involves teams such as the Great Britain Bulldogs and the Irish Warriors.
Ready to bet on Australian Rules Football?
If all of this has got you hankering to bet on Aussie Rules, then you’re in luck. Our team has reviewed the UK’s best booking sites, so you can simply compare the bonus offers and sign up today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Every betting site on Compare.bet is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. That means you can be assured they use industry-standard data encryption to guarantee secure payments, keep your funds in an account separate from those of any other players or the company itself and carry out ‘Know Your Customer’ checks to ensure betting is fair and players are of age.
All of our recommended bookies allow you to add multiple bets to your betslip to form an accumulator. Most bookies won’t allow you to create an acca with betting markets from the same event, but most will allow you to create cross-sport accas.
The Internet is awash with sites offering hot tips on all sports. They can provide some inspiration, but always take them with a pinch of salt and remember there are no sure things in sports betting. Your best bet is doing your own research on recent form and team news to ensure you’re making informed decisions.
