Australian fantasy sports betting guide

A new way for fans to interact with sports is sweeping Australia, bringing a new layer of immersion and excitement to the way people bet. Fantasy sports allow fans to build a team of real players from their favorite leagues. Putting together star players and new talent, fans can flaunt their sports instincts so that their own, hand-crafted teams compete against other teams in a fantasy betting competition.

There’s a multitude of ways to play Australian fantasy sports betting, and in this article, we’ll run through all the need-to-knows to get you up and running.

Understanding the basics of fantasy sports

The first step to winning at fantasy sports betting is to know how it works. Unlike regular sports betting where punters lay down money on the odds of a particular event or outcome in a game or season, fantasy sports betting involves building your own team of players and receiving points for the outcome of your team. You’re essentially betting on your own team-building abilities, drawing together talent from across teams in your league of choice.

To start their team, bettors select players to fit within an allocated budget. This means you can’t just grab all the top names – you’ll have to be strategic with your accumulation of known forces and those likely up-and-comers yet to make their names. 

Once you’ve put your team together, you have a choice of different types of fantasy betting as well as different leagues. Traditional fantasy sports betting leagues focus on one sporting league like the AFL or NRL and involve building a team that will last you the whole season. You’ll be able to mix and match your team as you go, with limited transfers, but like the real thing, it’ll be the points you accumulate based on your ongoing choices that define whether you win or lose the season.

There are also some newer daily fantasy sports betting leagues. The same points system applies, but instead of committing for a whole season, bettors put together the team of the day – who they think is performing best right now to determine the winner by points after a single round. Many independent betting sites prefer this model, but those strategic players will run a combination of a season-long bet and tournament-style rounds or daily shots at the win.

Selecting the right platform

Picking the right bookie for your fantasy sports betting is essential, especially when you’re settling in for the long haul with a seasonal team. You don’t want to run into issues mid-season, so research is a must and there are some key points that are essential to consider when getting started so that you pick the fantasy sports betting site that offers the best features for the way you bet. 

The first thing to consider is always the range of sports markets on offer, primarily whether they offer your fantasy sport league of choice but also the types of tournaments, competitions, auxiliary betting options and team-building functions they’ve packed into the site. If your way of betting isn’t supported, it’s time to move on to the next site.

Given the fact Australian betting sites can’t promote bonuses or free bets to new customers before they join, it is vital to consider a host of other factors instead.

Usability should also be a big consideration. This ranges from the quality of the user interface – is it streamlined and easy to navigate? – to extra bonuses like mobile support, the range of payment methods and deposit or withdrawal limits. Choose a platform that’ll make your life a breeze, favoring accessibility and convenience over any gimmicky features.

Finally, you want a site that’s reputable. Check and double-check that pesky small print, the user reviews and betting site ratings. Pick a regulated and licensed site that’s going to keep your data secure and offer you the fairest play.

Popular Australian fantasy sports betting game types

Traditional fantasy sports betting is straightforward, but there’s a number of different game types on offer in daily games. Every site will offer an exclusive tournament, but you can rely on a few familiar offerings rattling about wherever you settle down.

● Fixed prize contests involve a set entry fee, regardless of the number of contestants entering. The prize money is divvied up between multiple players depending on their total point score.

● 50/50 contests divide the scoreboard. Those players that finish in the upper half receive twice their stake back.

● Head-to-heads pit you against one other player, bringing it down to a real gritty finish where the player with the highest-scoring team wins.

● Custom contests mean anything goes. Operators let you craft a league to your own liking and invite friends to take part.

Fantasy sports betting strategy

While there’s no guaranteed way to win at fantasy sports betting, there are a few techniques and skills that you can learn to both increase your chances of winning and to manage your betting in the safest way. These rules work for any fantasy sport league, so they’re a great way to start building your strategy.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

While it’s easy to pick that star player and unload most of your budget to get them, this kind of single-focus team will easily crash and burn if your star player underperforms. Like any portfolio, you need to diversify your lineup. Hunt down overachievers and up-and-comers who are value for money.

Don’t follow the trend

When a player is on form in a fantasy sports league, everyone’s chasing them, and just like in real-life, that demand drives the price sky-high. Make a proper assessment if the cost is worth the result and if their form is likely to stay on track.

Beware injuries

It’s a fantasy sports betting nightmare when one member of your team fails to start. A great way to predict this and shift the deadweight is to keep an eye out for injuries in sports news, as well as any sanctions that’ll leave a player on the bench.

Tactics are key

It’s not enough to just consider your own team. The best fantasy sports bettors also analyse all aspects of the game: opponents on the day, opposing team’s tactics and nightmare matchups on the playing field.