There are some top tips and odds around for rugby league betting. Each top bookmaker offers Super League and NRL betting, with the best odds easy to find.

Here, we delve into how to bet on rugby league. We, here at LordOfOdds, also look into what the top competitions are, including both the National Rugby League and Super League, along with the different bet types you can get the best odds on with any major bookmaker.

Also, we look into the differences between Union and League, the history of rugby league itself and we also answer your most important questions about rugby league betting.

Top Rugby League Betting Sites

  1. bet365

    • BETMAX365: Exclusive code
    • Fair bonuses and promotions
    • 24/7 customer service
    Up to $100 in Bet Credits
    • Up to $100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Make a qualifying deposit (min $10), place bets to deposit value, once they are settled, matched amount in Bet Credits available to use. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.
  2. Betway

    • Lots of welcome offers
    • A plethora of markets & games
    • Competitve odds
    Get a Free Sports Bet up to $60
    • New Customers from New Zealand only. Min Deposit: 10 NZD. First deposit matched up to 60 NZD. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Credit Card and Debit Card deposits only. T&Cs Apply
  3. LeoVegas

    • Excellent welcome bonus
    • Great range of betting markets
    • 24/7 customer support
    Matched Free Bet up to $50
    • 18+. New customers only. Minimum deposit $20. Place a qualifying bet of $10 or more on odds of 1.8 and receive the free bet once the bet is settled. T&Cs apply.
  4. 10bet

    • Great mobile app
    • Interesting loyalty program
    • Strong welcome bonus
    Claim your up to €50 welcome bonus
    • 18+. The minimum qualifying deposit for this promotion is €15. To be eligible for this promotion, players must input PLAY50 in the ‘Bonus Code’ field when making a qualifying deposit into their Main Cash Account (Balance). Your qualifying deposit and bonus must be wagered five times on: (1) settled single sports bets with odds of at least 1.80; or (2) settled combo bets with odds of at least 1.40 per selection before you can withdraw your bonus and any winnings resulting from it. The wagering requirements must be met within 30 days of your first deposit.10bet’s General Terms and Conditions apply.
  5. Stake.com

    200% Deposit Bonus Offer
    • 18+. The bonus is exclusive to new customers and is given only once. Canvassing leads to disqualification and closure of the account. The minimum deposit is $100. The 200% bonus up to $1000 will be credited within 24 hours of depositing and reviewing the account. The wager attached to the bonus is 40x (deposit + bonus). All sportsbook games, and casino, can use up the bonus. The bonus works in tandem to the Stake.com general terms and conditions. Once the bonus is activated, the users can check the rollover competition in the corresponding tab of the VIP section.

*Please note that the bet365 bonus code BETMAX365 can be used during registration but does not change the offer in any way.

Content Index

Betting on Rugby League

Rugby league betting doesn’t have to be complicated. There are plenty of markets to choose from; it’s simply a case of finding the best odds.

The first thing to do is find the right sports betting site for you. We will have reviewed a top bookmaker available in New Zealand. Make sure you know what each bookmaker offers.

Get to know the teams too. There are many teams to bet on in the Super League, Challenge Cup, the Holden Cup and the World Club Challenge, while NRL betting is of course, well covered.

Also, remember to get some good betting tips. If you’re a pro, by all means, bet on your own tips. If not, getting strong betting tips will help you with your rugby league betting. There are various sports betting markets for various league cup games, including live bet options.

We’ll tell you what the best teams and tournaments are for each season, as well as what the most popular bet types are for rugby league.

The Top Rugby League Competitions

Each top bookmaker will offer rugby league betting odds on various state, league, cup and international competitions.

National Rugby League

The National Rugby League is known colloquially as the NRL. Formed in 1998, the NRL is the top competition in this sport for teams from Australia and New Zealand.

The National Rugby League appeared after the famed 90’s Super League war. It formed as a partnership between the ARL in Australia and the Super League.

NRL betting is hugely popular. Regular season matches take place from March to October in New Zealand and Australia. Each state has teams that are popular with punters. The deciding game, the NRL Grand Final, stands as one of the biggest events in Australia for example with NRL betting reaching a peak.

The top teams from the NRL play in the World Cup Challenge. They compete against teams from the Super League.

Super League

Popular with punters even in New Zealand is the Super League. It started in England, and it is now known as Super League Europe, with teams from further afield now having joined. Twelve teams play in this league, from England and France.

Teams in the Super League play 29 games each regular season from February to September. Among them is the famed Magic Weekend, in which players seek after rugby league betting odds most.

The top six teams play the Grand Final, determining the champions. Super League teams can also play National Rugby League teams in the World Club Challenge. This compliments NRL betting brilliantly with betting tips and the best odds on all teams.

World Cup

The Rugby League World Cup features teams from all nations taking part in this sport. All games are live, and live betting on the competition is as big as regular-season NRL betting.

Not many teams can get competitive at this level. Australia has won the World Cup eleven times, Great Britain three times and New Zealand once.

Others

Many other domestic regular-season games are live, and you can bet on them all. Also, your bookmaker should have the best odds in cup competitions. Some of these include:

  • Rugby League European Championship
  • RFL Championship
  • Challenge Cup
  • New South Wales Cup
  • Queensland Cup
  • National Zonal Competition
Top Rugby League Competitions

Rugby League Bet Types

Rugby league betting pretty much mirrors rugby union betting in terms of options. Make sure to get some top betting tips before delving into NRL betting with your bookmaker.

The most popular rugby league betting types include:

  • Match Result: This is a straight win bet; home, away or draw. This is the easiest bet to make.
  • Handicap Betting: Much like in spread betting, the handicap odds show which teams have better chances. This is the most popular Super League bet, live bet and the most common in NRL betting.
  • Half-Time Betting: Punters can get the best odds on the half-time score, who will be leading at half-time and whether one team will be ahead at half-time and full-time.
  • Match Specials: This includes betting on players. This is most common in live Super League and NRL betting. Bet on a player to score, get carded etc.
  • Margin Betting: Punters can bet on which teams will win and by what points margin.
  • Spot Betting: Each bookmaker may list this differently for Super League and NRL betting, whether regular season or cup finals. State who you want to bet on for the first try, last try, number of conversions and more.

These bet types and more are available with any good sports betting bookmaker. You can find the best odds on regular-season matches, with top sports betting tips available for all the top teams and live games.

The Differences Between Rugby League and Rugby Union

Rugby was once one sport, but these days the two codes of rugby union and rugby league are very different, which of course affects rugby league betting.

Number of Players

The first thing to remember about NRL betting or placing a Super League regular-season bet is the number of players in teams. While union teams feature 15 players, league teams have 13. When it comes to the state of play, in any live league game, there are ten substitutions, whereas there are only seven in union.

Scoring

In both union and rugby league betting, the best odds are available on tries, penalties and drop goals. A try is worth 5 points with a conversion adding two more in the union. On the other hand, in cup and regular season Super League and NRL games, a try is worth 4 points. Conversions remain at two.

Drop goals and penalties are both worth 3 points in rugby union. League teams score a single point for a drop goal and 2 points for a penalty. Remember this when getting NRL betting tips and placing a bet on live games.

Tackling

Rugby league teams must place the ball between their legs after being tackled. Then, they roll the ball back with their foot to a teammate. Teams can do this up to six times per period of possession. They must kick the ball away to the opposition if they have not scored a try.

When a union player is tackled, they must also release the ball, but by then, it is legal for any player to pick it up if they are on their feet and onside. Therefore, union players compete for the ball on the ground (rucks).

Tackling differences affect rugby league betting. The best odds for tackling can therefore differ by rugby code and bookmaker.

Rugby League’s History

Back in the late 1800s, the success of so-called working-class northern teams in England led to some paying their players who would otherwise be working on Saturdays. The Rugby Football Union reacted by enforcing the amateur principles of the sport and changing the state of play.

Northern teams could not afford to keep playing without compensation. This led to a major meeting in 1895 and saw the formation of the Northern Rugby Football Union. Within 15 years, some 200 teams had left to join the β€˜rugby league’.

Some rule changes followed, including the abolition of the line-out. Professionalism appeared in 1892, and in 1907 teams were reduced from 15 to 13. Similarly, things were changing in Australia state by state.

As the game grew, in 1954, more than 102,000 people attended the 1954 Challenge Cup Final replay in Bradford, the most for either rugby code.

Rugby league betting, especially regular-season NRL betting and Super League betting, is among the most popular in the gambling industry. Sports betting tips are on offer, especially for live NRL betting, with millions of punters taking up the best odds.

Rugby League Betting Guide Conclusion

Rugby league betting is now among the most popular in the sports betting world.

Both Super League and NRL betting tips are among the most sought after anywhere within sports betting. These betting tips are important and can serve us all to find the best odds for our bet.

Live games remain huge, including regular-season and end-of-season Super League and NRL matches.

Match betting, handicap betting and specials are all things you can get the best odds and place a bet on. Get to know the big teams to help your Super League and NRL betting, and you’ll see why this is one of the most exhilarating sports on which to bet.

Rugby League Betting Guide FAQ

We answer your key rugby league betting questions here.

πŸ‰ Can you bet on rugby league?

Yes, you can take odds, tips and bet live on various rugby league competitions. The best odds on NRL betting, Super League betting and other competitions are available.

πŸ”Ž Are rugby league and rugby union the same thing?

No, the two sports have different codes. Rugby union teams have 15 players, whereas league teams have 13. A union try is worth 5 points, while it’s 4 in rugby league. Conversions are worth 2 points in each code.

πŸ’» Where can you find the best rugby league betting odds?

Betting tips and odds are available for regular season and cup games at various betting sites. On top sites, you can find National Rugby League odds for New Zealand and Australia teams and Super League in England.

πŸ’΅ Where can I bet on the NRL?

Any good sportsbook or sports betting site should offer rugby league betting. Thus, check our reviews and then research the best odds and tips before placing a rugby league bet.