Since its launch a little over two decades ago, PayPal has quickly grown into one of the most commonly-used online payments systems in the world.
In the Australian betting space, PayPal continues to grow in popularity with local punters as a convenient way to fund their betting accounts. As a result, an increasing number of bookmakers now offer PayPal as one of their banking methods.
In the paragraphs that follow, we give you the lowdown on some of the best PayPal betting sites available in Australia. We also provide some useful info on the PayPal process and plenty of other things that you need to know before using this payment method. Keep on reading to find out more!
Top 10 PayPal Betting Sites in Australia
Many Aussie bookmakers have chosen to include PayPal in their list of payment methods. Here are the top 10 Australian betting sites currently offering PayPal:
Bet365
Unibet
Ladbrokes
Neds
WinnersBet
TopSport
Bluebet
Bookmaker.com.au
Rob Waterhouse
Betfair
How PayPal Works
Officially founded in 1998, PayPal is an online payments processor that was developed to facilitate payments to e-commerce businesses.
Individuals who want to use this service will need to set up a PayPal e-wallet account. This account can then be funded in a variety of ways, including bank transfers and debit cards.
Should you choose the debit card option, you simply link your card to your PayPal account. This allows the processor to facilitate transactions directly to and from your bank account.
PayPal can be used to purchase almost anything online – clothing, shoes, books, tickets, you name it.
Today, many of Australia’s biggest bookmakers allow their patrons to fund their betting accounts using this method. This seems to coincide with the rising demand for e-wallet payment options across Australia, PayPal included.
Why You Should Consider Using PayPal
There are plenty of great reasons why you should be using PayPal to fund your wagering account, but we’ll look at the four most important ones:
Security: PayPal offers one of the most secure payments and withdrawal methods on earth. Every single transaction is secured on both the buyer’s side and the seller’s side using the best encryption technology. All transactions are monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and users’ personal information is safely stored in the company’s online vault system. Punters who make use of PayPal to transfer funds to their account never have to reveal their credit or debit card details to the betting site. What’s more, account statements from your bookmaker will only note your PayPal transactions and not your card or bank details.
Popularity: We don’t always put much stock in popularity but we’re prepared to make an exception here. We’ve already stated that PayPal is one of the world’s most commonly-used payment methods. Just how common, you may wonder? Well, PayPal currently boasts almost 400 million active users and almost 30 million active merchant accounts. In Australia alone, there are more than 7 million active users. If these many people trust PayPal to handle their transactions, it’s certainly worth trusting them to facilitate your betting deposits and withdrawals.
Simple Registration: Some may view the need to create a PayPal account as an unnecessary burden, but the reality is that the process is quite simple and can be completed in a matter of minutes. Individuals can create a new account from scratch, or they can use their existing Google account or Apple account details for a quick sign-up process. There is no need to add a brand new set of login details to your already-bulging list.
Instant Transactions: When it comes to banking methods, PayPal is a bettor’s dream. The payments processor provides for instant deposits into your betting account, while withdrawals happen almost as quickly. While other payment methods will require you to wait for days before you finally receive your money, PayPal makes that happen a whole lot quicker.
PayPal Betting Sites Pros and Cons
Pros:
Incredibly secure process
Widely used by Australian bookies
Instant, hassle-free deposits
Simple to use
Reputable industry name
Cons:
Requires an account to operate
May attract certain fees
How to Choose the Best PayPal Betting Site
With so many options at your disposal, it’s not always easy to decide on the best PayPal betting site. To make matters worse, choosing the best site often boils down to a matter of personal preference.
With all that said, there are several key factors that we’d like you to consider before making your final decision:
Sports and Racing Markets: Does the bookmaker provide a great selection of markets across different racing and sports codes?
Live or In-Play betting: Does the betting site offer live betting at all? Do they also provide any live-streamed events?
Customer Service: What do the bookmaker’s customer service channels look like? Are they available 24/7?
Safety: Is the bookie licensed and regulated in Australia? What are their protocols for protecting customer information?
Mobile Betting: Does the betting site have a dedicated mobile app? If not, is their website optimized for use on mobile devices?
Any PayPal betting site that also has a good combination of these factors will be a winner in our books!
Depositing at a PayPal Betting Site
Depositing at a PayPal betting site is super simple. It all starts with creating a PayPal account and funding that account.
Remember, if you link your bank card with your PayPal account, you will never need to physically transfer funds into your PayPal account. Once you’ve completed this, the rest of the process is quite easy:
Select a PayPal betting site from any of our recommended options;
Once you’ve made your selection, navigate to the bookmaker’s homepage and click the ‘Join” button;
Fill in all of your required personal details and confirm your account;
Now, go to the site’s banking or deposit page;
Select PayPal as your deposit method;
A new pop-up screen will open, prompting your to enter your PayPal login details;
Enter your details, select the amount you wish to deposit and confirm.
Confirm the deposit on the sports betting site.
Please note that irrespective of the payment method selected, every sports betting site will have certain terms and conditions that customers must adhere to. Remember to always read these before you sign up.
Withdrawing at a PayPal Betting Site
So, you’ve landed that winning bet and you’re ready to withdraw some of those funds. All you have to do is:
Log onto your betting site account.
Navigate to the ‘banking’ or ‘withdraw’ link on the site’s page;
Select the withdrawal amount and choose PayPal as your withdrawal method;
Confirm your selection.
Many Australian bookmakers require certain conditions to be met before a withdrawal can be processed. These conditions must be met irrespective of which payment method has been used.
However, once your withdrawal has been processed, PayPal ensures that your funds are received in no time.
PayPal Betting Sites Fees, Processing Times and Limits
One of PayPal’s standout features is its ability to process payments at lightning speed. Any deposits made at a PayPal betting site usually reflect in your account instantly, while withdrawn funds are known to reflect in your account within 24 hours.
This makes PayPal an ideal option for any punter who is eager to get their hands on their winnings.
It is, however, important to note that a betting site’s processing times may vary, depending on the bookmaker’s internal rules. Withdrawing times may also be hampered by a customer’s failure to meet certain requirements.
The minimum and maximum deposit amounts at PayPal betting sites are generally set by the bookmakers themselves, so these figures will vary depending on the site you choose.
Our research shows that the majority of sites that offer PayPal will require a minimum deposit of anywhere between $5 and $10, while maximum deposits can easily be north of $1000.
As a general rule, using your PayPal account to deposit or withdraw betting funds does not attract any transaction fees.
However, if you are making deposits using foreign currency, PayPal will charge a nominal fee to convert the currency on your behalf. Additionally, certain credit cards may incur a small fee.
Mobile Betting at PayPal Betting Sites
Most of our recommended PayPal betting sites offer their mobile betting apps which allow their customers to bet on the go. Most of the apps are brilliantly designed, wonderfully responsive and filled with all the functionality and betting markets of the actual desktop site.
PayPal is the perfect option for customers who enjoy betting on their smartphones. The company also has a mobile app that allows individuals to easily manage their accounts and top-up funds if necessary.
With PayPal as a payment option, punters can seamlessly manage their entire betting experience from their mobile device!
PayPal Betting Sites Customer Service
If a customer has any issues with their PayPal account, they need to take it up with PayPal directly, not the betting site. Thankfully, PayPal has made it easy to reach out through numerous customer service channels. Individuals can contact them in the following ways:
Contact: 1 800 073 263
Website: www.paypal.com
Are There Any Alternatives?
We hope that all of this information helps you to see why PayPal is a brilliant payment option to suit your betting needs. Even so, we recognise that there may be some who aren’t fully sold on the idea just yet.
If you do fall into this category, don’t worry too much. There are still several quality payment methods available to you. You may already be using some of these. Let’s take a look at a few of the popular alternatives:
POLi
It is safe to say that POLi is PayPal’s biggest rival when it comes to the Australian betting space. POLi is an extremely popular payment method used in Australia and within that market, may even have a name that rivals PayPal’s.
POLi is widely used by Aussie bookmakers, even more so than PayPal. The downside to using this payment method is that it only allows for deposits and not withdrawals. So you will likely have to request your winning funds via bank transfer, which can take a few days.
BPay
BPay is another hugely popular banking option for Australian betting, thanks to its years of experience and 100% secure payments.
Punters have immense trust in BPay, which is why so many bookmakers offer it as a payment method. However, BPay runs into the same challenges as POLi, as customers can only deposit funds. Withdrawals will once again need to take place by bank transfer.
PayID
PayID is one of the newer payment methods available to Australian bettors. Like PayPal, PayID is a payments processor, allowing customers to make deposits and withdrawals without the need to divulge banking or card details to a bookmaker.
All payments are 100% secure. The only drawback for PayID is its similarity to PayPal, as it also requires the setting up of an e-wallet account first. Whatever, you find at PayID, you’ve probably already seen with PayPal.
Verdict: PayPal Betting Sites
There is no doubt in our minds that PayPal is one of the best payment methods for betting sites across Australia and the rest of the world.
Making use of PayPal means that your payments are completely secure, your banking data remains private and, most importantly, your deposits and withdrawals are handled quickly.
PayPal has spent more than 20 years building up a reputation that individuals can trust, so you know that your funds are in safe hands at all times. Go and check out one of our recommended PayPal betting sites today.
PayPal Betting Sites FAQs
Which is the best PayPal betting site available?
It all depends on your personal preferences. Australian punters value different things when it comes to bookmakers, such as betting market range, customer service and payment methods. As a result, the “best” option will vary from customer to customer.
How long does PayPal take to process my withdrawals?
PayPal is famed for its lightning-quick processing of withdrawals. This means that bettors can expect to see withdrawals reflected in their accounts within 24 hours, barring any procedural issues.
Do I have to set up an account to use PayPal?
Yes, you do. PayPal requires that you create an account with them before using their facilities. You will also need to deposit funds into your PayPal account or link your bank card. Don’t worry, this process is much simpler than it sounds!
Are PayPal Betting sites legal in Australia?
Yes, they most certainly are. The sites that we have recommended are all properly licensed, compliant and legally allowed to operate under Australian law.
Do PayPal betting sites offer any special welcome bonuses?
No, they do not. No Australian bookmaker offers any type of welcome or sign-up bonus as this is prohibited under current Australian legislation. Should you come across an Australian bookmaker that does offer a welcome bonus, you may want to stay away.
Does PayPal charge any withdrawal fees on transactions?
For the most part, no. However, punters who use their credit cards to fund their PayPal e-wallets may incur a small transaction fee in certain cases. Also, if you deposit funds in foreign currency, PayPal will levy a currency conversion fee.
Do all Australian bookmakers accept PayPal?
The answer is no. A fair number of Aussie betting sites do not as yet accept PayPal. However, due to the rapid growth of the payment method, many more will likely adopt the e-wallet method in the coming months. Furthermore, many of the top bookies in Australia have already made PayPal available, so there is still plenty to choose from!