With their origins dating way back to 1886, Ladbrokes could justifiably call themselves the oldest betting brand still in existence. That sort of history should go on to breed trust in its customers and to an extent that is true.
However, times are changing and even an operator as respected as Ladbrokes needs to change with them. They have adapted their business to provide services to those hard-to-reach areas such as Australia and that’s a positive point but what else can you enjoy here?
Bonuses
Your journey as a Ladbrokes’ customer starts off in a generous fashion with up to $100 AUD available as a matched bet bonus. To claim it, register your details and make an initial deposit before making a qualifying bet. Note that this part of the process must be carried out within 90 days and when your bet is settled, Ladbrokes will match your stake as a free bet token.
Please check all terms and conditions and note that there is a 3x rollover on this deal. Unfortunately it does exclude customers from Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia but that’s a pretty standard approach.
There are ongoing promotions but under the rules, you will need to sign up before you can see these. We can confirm that this is the best bookmaker in this respect so you should see some excellent added value right through your account’s lifespan.
Sporting Markets
While they are a traditional bookie in many ways, the list of available sporting markets at Ladbrokes underlines how comfortable they are in moving with the times. Here is that full list:
American Football, Aussie Rules, Baseball, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Darts, Gaelic Sports, Greyhound Racing, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, Golf, MMA, Motor Sport, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Snooker, Soccer, Surfing, Tennis, Volleyball.
While it may not be the biggest list around you have all of the sports that will appeal to Australian punters and there are some useful niches there too. Ladbrokes have also met the need for a growing set of eSports markets and there are politics and other novelty bets too.
Banking
Ladbrokes have a slightly wider ranging set of banking options than most Australian bookmakers and that’s another good reason to keep an account here. PayPal is one method and that’s seriously good news but you can also deposit to and withdraw from your account using Poli, Cash-in, Flexepin plus all of the major debit and credit cards.
Customer Services
If you need any help at any stage from Ladbrokes there are a number of ways in which you can access this. To begin with, the bookie has a ‘How To’ button near the top of the home page and this is a set of frequently asked questions which is laid out in a simple and easy to follow order.
Above that there is a contact button and clicking on this will lead to an online web form while you also have the option to contact a live chat operator if you prefer. With the exception of a dedicated telephone number, this therefore covers all of the support options you really need and help here has proved to be fast and effective.
History and Licence
As we mentioned, Ladbrokes can trace their origins all the way back to 1886 when the company was formed as commission agents for the horse racing industry. In time, they edged more towards the betting side of the sport and they developed through the years when the practise wasn’t exactly welcomed in the UK.
In 1961, physical betting shops were legalised and Ladbrokes became a familiar name on the British high street. After the internet revolution hit, that name ensured they had a loyal following but they have done much to embrace the digital age and continue to grow despite a whole host of new competitors.
For Australian purposes, the gambling license is held in the Northern Territory and full details of this are clearly shown on the website.
Conclusion
Ladbrokes have adapted well to provide services to a tricky Australian market. While they are very much a UK bookmaker, their .com.au site is very Aussie friendly and it’s easy to find all of our popular sports here.
The welcome bonus is a decent one at $100.00 if you live in a qualifying state plus there are some ongoing offers too and when you add in great odds in all of the markets, this is a logical place to hold an account.
Pros
- Welcome Bonus worth up to $100.00 as a matched bet
- Ongoing promos through your account
- All popular Australian sports covered
- Good choice of funding and you can play in $AUD
Cons
- Hard to find any negatives with Ladbrokes but the list of available sports could maybe be bigger