PointsBet review 2026

What is PointsBet?

PointsBet is an Australian online bookmaker run by PointsBet Australia Pty Limited. Besides sport and racing, it publishes rules for betting on elections, politics, and entertainment and novelty events. It ranks #3 in our ranking of the legal alternatives to prediction markets in Australia; for sport, see our PointsBet sports betting review.

A note on our sources: pointsbet.com.au was blocked to us from outside Australia, so this review relies on PointsBet’s help centre, which stayed readable, ACMA’s and the Northern Territory’s records and its app listings.

Is PointsBet licensed in Australia?

Yes. PointsBet Australia Pty Limited, ACN 606 814 920, is licensed by the Northern Territory Wagering Commission to accept bets by electronic transmission 24 hours a day, and pointsbet.com.au is on ACMA’s register of licensed interactive gambling providers.

Its record: on May 16, 2025 ACMA said PointsBet had paid a $500,800 spam penalty and entered enforceable undertakings after sending 508 marketing messages to self-excluded people in August and September 2023; ACMA found that no excluded customer was able to bet in that period. The Northern Territory fined it $22,137 on March 9, 2023 over its VIP dealings with one gambler, $13,345 on June 30, 2023 for a late response to its own red-flag report, and $23,936 on May 6, 2026, when it also found that PointsBet should return $73,691.17 to a customer. Check any site with our legality check.

Event markets

PointsBet’s betting rules have sections on elections, US politics, with rules written for the 2024 presidential election, UK and European politics, and entertainment and novelty markets. Next-leader markets, such as next party leader, next Prime Minister or next President, are offered on an all-in, run-or-not basis; PointsBet may settle election markets on projected results; and bets on an awards ceremony are void if it’s cancelled or not held in its scheduled year. Which events you can bet on depends on the regulators: the Northern Territory declares elections, awards and other events as betting events. We couldn’t see which politics markets are open now, because PointsBet’s site was blocked to us.

Pricing

PointsBet is a bookmaker: it sets fixed odds with a margin built in, and we found no published figure for its margins. Winnings are capped at $1,000,000 per bet, and the minimum stake is $1 online or $10 by phone. Online in-play bets on sport are banned in Australia; PointsBet takes them by phone on 1800 PB LIVE (1800 725 483).

Deposits and withdrawals

You can deposit from $5 by debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayID or PayTo; PointsBet says PayID and PayTo deposits arrive in about a minute, and it doesn’t take credit cards. Most withdrawals reach your bank within 30 minutes, though some take up to 24 hours; the minimum is $5, and the fastest need a bank on the New Payments Platform. PointsBet charges no fees on debit card deposits or withdrawals, but accounts inactive for more than 18 months pay $10 a month.

App and experience

The PointsBet app is rated 4.56 out of 5 from 14,650 ratings on the Australian App Store, but 3.3 from 2,358 on Google Play (October 23, 2026).

Safety, responsible gambling and support

You can set deposit and spend limits over 1, 7, 14 or 30 days, with a 7-day cooling-off period before an increase takes effect; take a break of 1 to 30 days; or self-exclude, which can’t be undone. Like every licensed provider, PointsBet must keep anyone registered with BetStop, the national self-exclusion register, from betting; it verifies your identity when you sign up and lets you download monthly activity statements. Support runs 24/7 by live chat and phone on 13 72 38, with email answered within 12 hours. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858, 24/7, and our guide to gambling help in Australia.

Who is PointsBet best for?

• Punters who want their winnings fast, usually within 30 minutes.
• Anyone who wants help at any hour.
• Not for punters who want to set their own price, or a well-rated Android app.

Our verdict

PointsBet pairs published election and novelty rules with the fastest withdrawals and round-the-clock support in our ranking, held back by its 2025 ACMA penalty and a weaker Android app. Compare it in our ranking, or see the best PointsBet alternatives.