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Australia · Prediction markets · Comparison

Betfair vs bet365: which is better for betting on events?

Betfair's exchange and bet365 compared for betting on elections and events in Australia: commission vs margin, election markets, payments, apps, support and records.

By SafeBet.ai Research Team Updated 4 min read 15 sources

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Betfair or bet365?

Checked

They tie at 8.5 in our ranking, but suit different punters. Choose Betfair if you want to trade outcomes as on a prediction market: back or lay against other punters, at prices they set, for a published commission on net winnings (6% on sport). Choose bet365 for the most detailed Australian election markets we found, withdrawals quoted at 1 to 4 hours and chat and phone support around the clock, at fixed odds with a margin we found no published figure for.

  1. 1 Betfair Closest to a prediction market 8.5 /10
  2. 2 bet365 Most detailed election markets 8.5 /10

Who should choose which

If you wantChooseWhy
How you bet Betfair On Betfair you back or lay outcomes at prices other punters set, and can ask for your own odds. At bet365 you take the bookmaker's fixed odds, and can't lay.
Price transparency Betfair Betfair publishes its commission: 6% of net winnings on sport since March 25, 2025, and nothing on a market you lose. bet365 builds its margin into the odds, and we found no published figure for it.
Australian election markets bet365 bet365's rules cover seat totals, two-party preferred vote share, seat handicaps settled on the AEC's Declaration of Poll, individual seats and a hung parliament. Betfair's hub has covered Victorian and NSW state elections, but the politics rules we could read are for the 2024 US election.
Withdrawals bet365 bet365 quotes 1 to 4 hours for bank transfer, debit card, PayPal and PayID, with no daily maximum. Betfair pays PayPal withdrawals within 24 hours and bank transfers in 1 to 3 working days.
Support bet365 bet365 answers by live chat and phone 24 hours a day. Betfair has a phone helpdesk and email, and we found no published hours for them.
Regulatory record Betfair Betfair was fined $24,174 twice in June 2024 for missing problem-gambling red flags. bet365 was fined $13,430 in April 2025, and AUSTRAC has published an enforceable undertaking under which bet365 is overhauling its anti-money-laundering systems.
Apps bet365 bet365 is rated 4.65 from 67,603 ratings on the Australian App Store and 4.6 on Google Play; Betfair 4.54 from 6,491 and 4.24 from 1,201.

Scores side by side

Our 0–10 ratings from the full reviews, on the criteria and weights of our ranking method. The higher score in each row is highlighted.

Criterion (weight) Betfairbet365
Licensing & safety (25%) 8.5 8.0
Event markets (25%) 9.5 9.0
Commission & pricing (15%) 9.0 6.0
Payments & payouts (10%) 7.0 9.0
App & experience (15%) 8.0 9.5
Support & responsible gambling (10%) 7.0 10.0
Overall 8.5/10 8.5/10

Betfair and bet365 at a glance

Rank #1

Betfair

Closest to a prediction market

8.5 /10

Australia's only licensed betting exchange: back or lay elections, awards and sport against other punters, at prices they set, for a published commission on your net winnings instead of a bookmaker's margin.

Type
Betting exchange: back or lay against other punters
Event markets
Elections and politics, awards, sport and racing
Commission or margin
Commission on net winnings: 6% on sport (politics rate not published)
  • The only licensed betting exchange in Australia: you bet against other punters, at prices they set
  • A published commission on net winnings instead of a built-in margin, and nothing to pay on a market you lose
  • Deep politics markets, from US election winners to state races and electoral college handicaps
Visit Betfair Betfair review 18+ · Advertising · On ACMA’s register · Operator: Betfair Pty Ltd
Rank #2

bet365

Most detailed election markets

8.5 /10

The most detailed rules for betting on Australian elections we found, from seat totals and two-party preferred vote share to a hung parliament, plus specials on Eurovision and the weather, with 24/7 chat and phone support.

Type
Bookmaker (fixed odds)
Event markets
Australian, UK and US elections; Eurovision, weather and TV specials
Commission or margin
Margin built into the odds (not published)
  • The most detailed Australian election rules we found, from seat totals to a hung parliament
  • Specials beyond politics: Eurovision, weather and reality TV
  • Chat and phone support 24 hours a day
Visit bet365 bet365 review 18+ · Advertising · On ACMA’s register · Operator: Hillside (Australia New Media) Pty Ltd

Key facts compared

Betfair vs bet365: key facts
#1 Betfair #2 bet365
SafeBet score 8.5/108.5/10
Best for Closest to a prediction marketMost detailed election markets
Licence Betfair Pty Ltd, NT betting exchange licenceHillside (Australia New Media) Pty Ltd, NT
Type Betting exchange: back or lay against other puntersBookmaker (fixed odds)
Event markets Elections and politics, awards, sport and racingAustralian, UK and US elections; Eurovision, weather and TV specials
Commission or margin Commission on net winnings: 6% on sport (politics rate not published)Margin built into the odds (not published)
Payments Debit card ($10), PayPal ($15), Osko/PayID ($30)Debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay ($5), PayID, PayPal; withdrawals 1–4 hours
Apps iOS 4.5 · Android 4.2iOS 4.7 · Android 4.6
Links Visit Review Visit Review

The key differences

Betfair and bet365 share first place in our ranking of the legal alternatives to prediction markets in Australia, both licensed by the Northern Territory, but they work differently. Betfair is an exchange: you bet against other punters. bet365 is a bookmaker: you bet against bet365.

Betfair bet365
Licence holder Betfair Pty Ltd (NT betting exchange licence) Hillside (Australia New Media) Pty Ltd (NT)
How you bet Back or lay against other punters Fixed odds from the bookmaker
Price of a bet 6% of net winnings on sport; politics rate not published Margin built into the odds; no published figure
Election markets US presidential markets from the winner to state races and the popular vote; Victorian and NSW elections covered on its hub Australian federal, state and territory: outright, seat totals, two-party preferred, seat handicap, seat winner, hung parliament; UK and US elections
Minimum deposit $10 by debit card $5 by debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
Withdrawals PayPal within 24 hours; bank transfer 1–3 working days 1–4 hours
Support Phone helpdesk and email Live chat and phone, 24/7
NT fines since 2024 $24,174 twice (June 2024) $13,430 (April 2025)
iOS app 4.54 (6,491 ratings) 4.65 (67,603 ratings)
Google Play 4.24 (1,201 ratings) 4.6 (266,626 ratings, a listing used in several countries)

What a bet costs

On Betfair, the commission is the price: a winning $100 back bet at 3.0 makes $188 after 6% commission instead of $200, the same as odds of 2.88 at a bookmaker, and you pay nothing on a market you lose. So for the same outcome, bet365’s odds are only better if they’re higher than Betfair’s price after commission. bet365 charges no commission, but its margin is in every price, and it doesn’t publish a figure for it that we found. Our Betfair commission calculator works out any bet.

Betfair also lets you lay, betting that something won’t happen, which can cost you several times what you stand to win: lay $10 at 5.0 and you lose $40 if the outcome happens. Election bets at bet365 are singles only.

Which should you choose?

  • Choose Betfair if you want the closest thing to a prediction market Australia allows: your own prices, the option to lay, and a published commission. Read our Betfair review.
  • Choose bet365 if you follow Australian elections closely and want seat and vote-share markets, fast withdrawals and help at any hour. Read our bet365 review.

Either way, set a deposit limit before your first bet. Free, confidential help is available from the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858, 24/7.

Pros and cons

Betfair

  • The only licensed betting exchange in Australia: you bet against other punters, at prices they set
  • A published commission on net winnings instead of a built-in margin, and nothing to pay on a market you lose
  • Deep politics markets, from US election winners to state races and electoral college handicaps
  • You can lay an outcome, betting that it won't happen, which a bookmaker doesn't offer
  • Free deposits and withdrawals
  • Commission rose to 6% on sport on March 25, 2025, and Betfair doesn't publish a separate rate for politics markets
  • Two NT fines in June 2024 for missing problem-gambling red flags
  • In-play sports bets are by phone only, with a $50 minimum
  • Osko/PayID deposits start at $30, and Australian cards can't be used for withdrawals
Read the Betfair review

bet365

  • The most detailed Australian election rules we found, from seat totals to a hung parliament
  • Specials beyond politics: Eurovision, weather and reality TV
  • Chat and phone support 24 hours a day
  • Withdrawals quoted at 1 to 4 hours, with no daily maximum
  • Apps rated 4.65 on iOS and 4.6 on Google Play
  • A bookmaker: you bet at its odds, with an unpublished margin, and can't lay an outcome
  • Election bets are singles only
  • An AUSTRAC enforceable undertaking on its anti-money-laundering systems
  • A $5 monthly fee on accounts left inactive for more than a year
Read the bet365 review

Betfair vs bet365: which is better for betting on events?: FAQ

Is Betfair or bet365 better for election betting?

They tie at 8.5 in our ranking. Betfair is better if you want to set your own price, lay an outcome or pay a published commission instead of a margin; bet365 is better for detailed Australian election markets, fast withdrawals and 24/7 support.

Which is cheaper, Betfair or bet365?

It depends on the prices on the day. Betfair takes 6% of your net winnings on sport, so a back bet at 3.0 pays like odds of 2.88 after commission; bet365's odds already include its margin. Compare a Betfair price after commission with bet365's odds: our Betfair commission calculator does it for you.

Can I lay a bet at bet365?

No. Laying, betting that something won't happen against another punter's back bet, is only possible on a betting exchange, and Betfair is the only licensed one in Australia.

Are Betfair and bet365 licensed in Australia?

Yes. Both are licensed by the Northern Territory, Betfair Pty Ltd as a betting exchange and Hillside (Australia New Media) Pty Ltd, which runs bet365, as a bookmaker, and both are on ACMA's register of licensed interactive gambling providers.

Compare the 5 best event betting sites in Australia Ranked on regulation, fees, features and payouts · Betfair, bet365, PointsBet and more See the ranking

Scores, offers and key facts come from our full reviews, which list their sources: Betfair and bet365.

Sources

We verify facts against primary sources (regulators, court records, operators’ own terms) wherever possible.

  1. Commission and charges — Betfair Australia , updated 2025-03-25; accessed 2026-10-23
  2. Betfair FAQ — Betfair Australia , updated 2023-03-02; accessed 2026-10-23
  3. Deposits and withdrawals — Betfair Australia , updated 2025-06-16; accessed 2026-10-23
  4. Help centre — Betfair Australia , updated 2025-01-15; accessed 2026-10-23
  5. Market rules information for settled US Presidential Election 2024 markets — Betfair Australia , 2024-08-02, updated 2025-03-26
  6. Investigation into Betfair Pty Ltd dealings with Mr A — NT Racing Commission , 2024-06-24
  7. Sports rules: Politics — bet365 , accessed 2026-10-23
  8. Deposit methods — bet365 , accessed 2026-10-23
  9. Withdrawal methods — bet365 , accessed 2026-10-23
  10. Contact us — bet365 , accessed 2026-10-23
  11. Mr G v Hillside (Australia New Media) Pty Ltd — NT Racing and Wagering Commission , 2025-04-09
  12. AUSTRAC media release: bet365 AML systems overhaul under an enforceable undertaking — AUSTRAC , Internet Archive capture of 2026-10-02; title only
  13. Check if a gambling operator is legal (register of licensed interactive gambling providers) — ACMA , last updated 2026-10-21; accessed 2026-10-25
  14. Betfair - Online Betting App (App Store listing) — Apple App Store (Australia) , accessed 2026-10-23
  15. bet365 Sports Betting (App Store listing) — Apple App Store (Australia) , accessed 2026-10-23