Best NRL Betting in New Zealand 2024

Whether all you want to do is back the Kiwis, or you're a dedicated fan of the Raiders, you can enjoy the best rugby league odds and payouts when you bet online. Making an NRL bet is quick and easy at top betting sites, giving you extra thrills and rewards while watching your favourite sport. Get into the scrum and start betting today!

We explain what you should know about NRL, as well as:

  • The most lucrative NRL bets you can make online
  • Expert tips and tricks to beat the NRL betting odds
  • All-important rules to master for effective betting
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The bigger the NRL game or tournament, the more betting options a bookie might add.

Getting Started with NRL Betting

Getting Started with NRL Betting

Basic Rules of NRL

When you bet on NRL games, it's best to have a general sense of the rules. This helps you know what you can bet on, and when best to make your winning NRL bet.

  • Each team has 13 players and 10 available substitutions.
  • A match lasts 80 minutes, divided into two 40-minute halves.
  • Four points awarded for tries, two for conversions, two for penalty kicks and one for drop goals.
  • A scrum is used to restart play after knock-ons or forward passes.

Common NRL Betting

The bigger the game or tournament, the more betting options a bookie might add, but these are the most popular wagers in NRL.

Handicap

A handicap is used to level the playing field. So, if Australia is the favorite in a game against Samoa, the handicap might be +5 to Samoa. This means that if you bet on Samoa +5 to win, and Australia wins by 4 points or less, then you win the bet in the handicap market.

Match Betting

The most straight-forward wager, you can bet on which team will win a match. There are often additional bets about highest scoring half, and even live bets if you’d prefer.

Outright Winner

The most popular wager in sports betting, this is a wager on which team will win a tournament or championship.

Rules of the Game

These are the basic AFL game rules which will put you in good stead for understanding the game and placing your bets.

  • The aim of the game is simply to score more goals than the other team.
  • The ball must be passed backwards when passed by hand.
  • Each team is given six tackles or chances to score.
  • After six tackles and no scores, the ball is handed over to the other team.
  • There are two game halves and if in any given half a tackle is made or the ball goes out to touch, it will end immediately..
  • Time can be extended, however, for penalty kicks or a kick at the goal.

Top NRL Betting Odds and Tips

Excited to start with NRL betting? Here are some tips and strategies to help you get started.

Get to know your team

Understanding your team's usual style of play can put you at an advantage when making live bets. If a team is known for its forward-oriented game or kicking strategies, then tries might be less frequent. This might mean you'll wager on the first scoring play rather than the first try.

Wager on each half

Does your team push hard in the first half then relax in the second half? This could give you great opportunities to make valuable bets on the half-time/full-time market.

Check the weather

Not only can weather impact the handicap market, but you might also see that it changes the way your team plays. Dry conditions tend to result in a more fast-paced game compared to wet conditions where mud can slow things down.

Use a betting calculator

Sometimes we get so caught up in what might happen that we forget to look at how viable a bet actually is. Some of the best betting sites have betting calculators which help you understand how much you stand to win or lose, and what the NRL odds are.

Have fun watching the game

Combining the thrill of watching NFL with the betting side of things really is the ideal recipe. Sit back, enjoy and, fingers crossed, you might get lucky!

How We Rate and Review Top NZ Casinos Online

As exciting as it is to place your first bet, it’s essential you carefully research the online casino to ensure it’s veritable, licensed, and offers fast payouts. That’s where our team of New Zealand gambling experts come in. They’ll take time to check over the essentials and provide a trustworthy review for you so you can make a secure choice.

Choosing an online betting site

Our team of experts will carry out intricate research and produce detailed, honest reviews, so you’ll know exactly what to expect before you place your first bet. Online casinos often include bookies, which means there are even more options for online betting.

To find the best betting sites, we check for the following elements and suggest you do the same.

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Licensing and Security

For your safety, it’s essential that you only gamble at betting sites that are fully licensed with regulatory bodies. They also need to use the latest encryption technology to keep your personal and financial data safe and secure.
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Software

Whether it’s with apps or browser-based betting, best betting sites need to give gamblers a stable, well-designed way to place bets on computers and mobile devices.
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Variety

The selection of available wagers must be broad, with all the best sports and bets that punters are looking for.
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Banking Methods

Online betting sites must offer fast deposit and withdrawal options using a variety of secure and popular banking methods.
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Customer Support

Customer service is vital for resolving any questions or concerns, which is why it should be easily available using a variety of communication channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You can make a wide range of NRL bets on the same site, including match bets, live bets and outright winner wagers.
  • Yes, it’s totally safe to make NRL bets at a reputable betting site. We advise that you go with one that we have recommended and reviewed on our site.
  • Most definitely! All of our recommended betting sites offer welcome bonuses, loyalty rewards and other enticing extras.
  • The odds will vary depending on numerous factors, such as how well a team is playing, who their opponents are, if there are any injuries on the squad and the weather conditions.
  • Of course! Most online betting sites have adapted their pages so they’re mobile-friendly, and if you’re lucky, many brands have specially customized mobile apps so you can play on the go!