New Launches & Brand Updates
March 2026 continues an active period for the Australian wagering market. betr Entertainment (formerly BlueBet, ASX: BBT) completed its rebrand in April 2025 and has been aggressively expanding its market share with media-integrated betting features and a $130m equity raise.
Dabble launched its UK operations via a Gambling Commission licence in April 2025 and continues to expand its social betting platform. The Tabcorp-backed operator (20% stake) remains the fastest-growing bookmaker in our rankings.
CrownBet is expected to revive in 2026, with Betfair owner Crown Resorts partnering with BetMakers to relaunch the brand. This could add another strong contender to the Australian market.
Regulatory Changes
The AUSTRAC investigation into bet365 Australia (commenced March 2024) remains ongoing. This AML investigation could have significant implications for one of the world's largest betting operators.
ACMA continues to enforce the Interactive Gambling Act, with Sportsbet's record $2.5m spam fine (2022) still the benchmark for enforcement action. The ABC investigation into Sportsbet's lobbying of ACMA (December 2025) has raised questions about the regulator's independence.
The BetStop National Self-Exclusion Register, launched in 2023, continues to mature. All licensed operators are required to integrate with BetStop.
Which Sites Improved
- Dabble: Continued feature expansion with social betting tools. UK market launch demonstrates ambition beyond Australia.
- Ladbrokes: App remains the highest-rated in Australia (4.6/5 on App Store). Ladbrokes Card offers instant ATM withdrawals, a genuine differentiator.
- betr: Post-rebrand momentum with significant investment and growing user base.
Which Sites Got Worse
- Sportsbet: Remains on our Not Recommended list. The ABC investigation into ACMA lobbying has further damaged trust.
- TAB: Continues to receive the worst user ratings of any major bookmaker. The 18-month pending bets bug remains emblematic of platform quality issues.
- PointsBet: The MIXI acquisition proposal and betr hostile bid create uncertainty. Trustpilot rating remains low at 1.5/5.
Market Trends
Social betting is the biggest trend of 2025-2026, led by Dabble. The ability to follow other punters, copy bets, and engage in community features is reshaping how Australians interact with bookmakers.
Same-day withdrawals are becoming table stakes. PayID-enabled withdrawals are now expected by users, and operators who cannot offer same-day payouts are at a competitive disadvantage.
Corporate consolidation continues. Entain (Ladbrokes/Neds), Flutter (Sportsbet), and the Tabcorp/Dabble relationship mean that a handful of large groups control the majority of the market.