Most Popular Bets in Australia — AFL, NRL, Cricket & Soccer (QUEENAU 2025 Guide)

Sports betting has always been a major part of Australian culture. From AFL footy in winter to cricket in summer, Aussies love backing their favourite teams, predicting outcomes, and engaging with the thrill of competitive sports. As online sportsbooks continue to evolve, Australian bettors are becoming more informed, more strategic, and more active across a diverse range of sports and bet types.

This QUEENAU 2025 guide explores the most popular bets in Australia, covering AFL, NRL, cricket, and soccer. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned punter looking to refine your strategy, this article breaks down the key markets Australians bet on and explains why they’ve become so dominant in today’s betting landscape.

Why Sports Betting Is Growing Rapidly in Australia

The Australian sports betting market has expanded significantly due to several factors:

1. Mobile-first betting

Most Australians now place bets directly from their phones, making wagering faster and more convenient than ever.

2. Live betting interest

In-play betting transforms sports watching into a more engaging, interactive experience.

3. Deep sporting culture

Australia has a national identity built around team loyalty, competitive spirit, and sports analysis.

4. A wide range of betting markets

Modern sportsbooks offer hundreds of markets per match across every major league.

5. Increased data literacy among bettors

Aussies are becoming more strategic, using stats, trends, and matchups to make informed betting decisions.

QUEENAU supports this with a streamlined sportsbook interface designed specifically for safe, fast, and transparent betting.

AFL Betting — Australia’s Most Loved Footy Markets

The AFL remains one of the biggest betting sports in Australia. With nine winter months filled with 18 teams across 23 rounds, AFL delivers massive wagering volume.

Below are the most popular AFL betting markets among Australian punters.

1. Head-to-Head (H2H)

This is the simplest and most widely used market—punters pick which team will win. Because AFL games are often unpredictable due to momentum swings, H2H betting provides big value opportunities.

Why Aussies love it:

• Simple for beginners
• Great value in upsets
• Ideal for multi-bets
• Perfect for live betting adjustments

2. Line/Spread Betting

The bookmaker sets a handicap (e.g., -12.5 or +12.5). Bettors predict whether a team will win by more or less than the line.

Why it’s popular:

• Levels the playing field between uneven teams
• Better odds than H2H
• Highly influenced by team form and weather

Line betting is widely considered the core strategic market for AFL punters.

3. Total Points (Over/Under)

Betting on whether the match total will exceed or fall under a set number.

What makes it appealing:

• No need to pick a winner
• Weather, injuries, and game style heavily influence outcomes
• Great for data-driven bettors

AFL totals markets are some of the most analysed in Australian sports betting.

4. Player Disposal Markets

Betting on whether a player will collect a set number of disposals (e.g., 20+, 25+, 30+).

Why it’s exploding in popularity:

• Strong correlation with team roles
• Easy to analyse using stats and trends
• Valuable in same-game multis

Midfielders dominate these markets, making them predictable for informed punters.

5. Goal Scorer Markets

Punters bet on whether specific players will score one or more goals.

Key reasons for popularity:

• Excellent for same-game multis
• Easy to research based on matchups
• Good value in half-forward or small forward roles

AFL offers more individual markets than any other major Australian sport, making it ideal for multi-building.

NRL Betting — High-Intensity Rugby League Action

The NRL remains one of Australia’s most-watched sports and a major market for sports betting lovers across NSW, QLD, and nationwide.

Here are the top NRL betting markets Aussies play.

1. Head-to-Head Betting

Just like AFL, predicting the match winner is the most widely used market.

Why it works so well:

• NRL games have closer margins than AFL
• Heavy favourites are common
• Upsets create huge odds

NRL H2H betting is known for reliability when favourites dominate.

2. Line/Handicap Betting

Because NRL matches typically have smaller winning margins, line betting is especially tactical.

Why Australians enjoy it:

• More predictable than AFL lines
• Defensive and attacking styles are easier to analyse
• Great for smart punters who follow form trends

3. Total Match Points

NRL totals markets are heavily influenced by playing conditions.

Why punters choose this market:

• Favourable in wet-weather matches (lower totals)
• Teams with strong attacking halves generate overs opportunities

This market is perfect for bettors who understand team scoring trends.

4. Try Scorer Markets

Aussies love backing players to score tries, especially in big rivalry matches.

Top try scorer markets include:

• Anytime try scorer
• First try scorer
• Last try scorer
• Multi try scorers

Why it’s popular:

• High entertainment value
• Excellent in same-game multis
• Player matchups provide strong research angles

Wingers and fullbacks often provide the best value.

5. Winning Margin Markets

Punters predict whether the margin will fall within a certain range (e.g., 1–12 or 13+).

Reasons for popularity:

• Great odds
• Consistent patterns in team performances
• Ideal for multi-bets

NRL margin markets are a favourite among experienced punters.

Cricket Betting — Australia’s Summer Favourite

Cricket is a betting powerhouse in Australia, with year-round markets covering:

• Big Bash League (BBL)
• ICC tournaments
• Test matches
• ODIs
• T20 leagues worldwide

Below are the most popular cricket betting markets among Aussie punters.

1. Match Winner

The classic pick: which team will win? Often influenced by:

• Pitch conditions
• Toss
• Team form
• Starting XI changes

Why it’s popular:

• Simple
• Great for live betting
• Weather creates value shifts

Cricket is one of the most tactical sports for H2H betting.

2. Top Batter / Top Bowler

Punters predict which player will score the most runs or take the most wickets.

Why Australians love it:

• Player form data is abundant
• Perfect for skilled bettors
• Valuable odds for star players

These prop bets reward research and match analysis.

3. Total Runs (Over/Under)

Betting on team totals, inning totals, or match totals.

Why it's huge:

• Easy to analyse using venue history
• Weather and pitch conditions are key
• Great for statistical punters

4. Player Performance Bets

These include:

• Boundaries
• 50+ or 100+ runs
• Wickets
• Dot ball counts
• Economy rate

Why they’re rising:

• Tap into the growing analytics culture
• Offer more engagement than basic bets

Cricket bettors love deep statistical markets.

5. Live Betting

Cricket is one of the best sports for in-play wagering due to its long duration and evolving momentum.

Live markets include:

• Next boundary
• Next wicket
• Overs runs
• Partnership totals

Live cricket betting continues to grow dramatically in Australia.

Soccer Betting — Global Market, Massive Local Interest

Soccer remains a top betting sport across Australia thanks to:

• English Premier League
• UEFA Champions League
• A-League
• La Liga
• Serie A
• World Cup events

Here are the most popular soccer betting markets.

1. Match Result (1X2)

Soccer’s signature market:

• 1 = Home win
• X = Draw
• 2 = Away win

Why Australians like it:

• Simple but strategic
• Useful for multi-bets
• Highly predictable with strong teams

2. Both Teams to Score (BTTS)

Punters bet on whether both teams will score at least once.

Key reasons for popularity:

• High strike rate for many leagues
• Great for same-game multis
• Ideal for offensive teams

3. Total Goals (Over/Under)

Most popular line: Over 2.5 goals.

Why Aussies choose this:

• No need to pick a winner
• Strong alignment with statistical modelling
• High entertainment value

4. Correct Score

A high-risk, high-reward market predicting the exact match result.

Why it’s loved:

• Huge odds
• Fun for regular bettors
• Popular in A-League and EPL matches

5. Player Goal Scorer Markets

These include:

• Anytime scorer
• First scorer
• Last scorer
• Multiple goals

Why it’s trending:

• Strong focus on individual stars
• Easy to research using form and fitness
• Excellent for multi-bets

Why Aussies Bet Differently Across These Sports

Australian bettors show unique patterns based on:

• Sport pace
• Match length
• Player familiarity
• Team loyalty
• Seasonal timing

Key insights:

• AFL bettors love multis and player disposals
• NRL bettors focus on try scorers and margins
• Cricket bettors rely heavily on stats
• Soccer bettors prefer totals and BTTS markets

QUEENAU’s sportsbook reflects these preferences by offering hundreds of specialised markets for each sport.

Why QUEENAU Is Trusted by Australian Sports Bettors

QUEENAU is built for Aussie punters who want a safe, modern, and strategic betting environment.

What QUEENAU Offers:

• Fast, secure deposits and withdrawals
• Live odds updates
• Deep market selection
• Same-game multis
• Mobile-first betting design
• Fair, transparent odds
• 24/7 Australian-friendly support
• Competitive promotions for sports bettors

With a focus on trust, speed, and user experience, QUEENAU makes sports betting easier and more rewarding for players nationwide.