AUSTRALIAN DFS GUIDE - 2026
Best Daily Fantasy Sports Sites in Australia
Looking for somewhere to play Daily Fantasy Sports in Australia? The local DFS market has changed considerably over the past decade, with several operators entering and subsequently exiting the industry.
Today, Draftstars remains Australia's leading dedicated DFS platform. We take a closer look at where to play, how DFS works and the sites that helped shape the Australian market.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) allows sports fans to select a team of real-world athletes and compete against other players based on their performances in actual matches. Unlike traditional season-long fantasy competitions, DFS contests typically run across a single match, round or short series of games.
While the United States has several major DFS operators, the Australian market is considerably smaller. Draftstars is the primary platform for Australian players, offering contests across a variety of popular sports.
Best Australian Daily Fantasy Sports Site
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ACTIVE DFS PLATFORM |
Draftstars - Australia's Leading DFS Site
Draftstars is Australia's most established daily fantasy sports platform, offering salary-cap fantasy contests across major Australian and international sporting competitions.
Players build fantasy lineups from athletes competing in real-world events, with each player assigned a salary. The challenge is to assemble the strongest possible team without exceeding the contest's salary cap.
Draftstars offers different contest structures, including tournaments where players compete for a share of the prize pool. Available sports and contests vary throughout the year.
| Salary-Cap Contests |
Multiple Sports |
Fantasy Tournaments |
Why Play Draftstars?
One of Draftstars' biggest strengths is its coverage of Australian sports, particularly AFL and NRL. It also offers opportunities to compete in fantasy contests involving overseas competitions such as the NBA and NFL.
DFS appeals to sports fans who enjoy researching player statistics, assessing matchups and identifying athletes who may outperform their assigned salaries. It also provides a shorter alternative to managing a fantasy team across an entire season.
Before entering, players should review each contest's scoring system, roster requirements, entry fee and payout structure. Availability can vary between sports and events.
Our verdict: Draftstars is the clear starting point for Australian sports fans interested in traditional salary-cap DFS. With few direct competitors remaining, the main decision for players is which sports, contests and entry formats best suit their interests.
How Does Daily Fantasy Sports Work?
Although individual sports have different roster rules and scoring systems, most traditional DFS contests follow the same basic process.
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STEP 1
Choose a Contest
Select a sport and contest. Check the rules and entry conditions.
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STEP 2
Build Your Lineup
Select athletes while remaining within the salary cap.
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STEP 3
Follow the Results
Earn fantasy points based on real-world performances.
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Popular DFS Sports in Australia
The range of available contests changes throughout the sporting calendar, but several sports have traditionally been particularly popular among Australian DFS players.
| AFL |
Fantasy points for disposals, marks, tackles and goals. |
| NRL |
Fantasy points based on rugby league player performances. |
| NBA |
Points, rebounds, assists and other basketball statistics. |
| NFL |
Fantasy scoring for American football player performances. |
| Cricket |
Batting, bowling and fielding performances. |
For regular previews, player analysis and lineup suggestions, visit our Daily Fantasy Sports tips section.
DraftKings - A Former Australian DFS Operator
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CLOSED TO AUSTRALIANS |
DraftKings is one of the world's best-known daily fantasy sports brands and was previously available to Australian customers.
The US-based operator entered the Australian market in 2018, bringing its established fantasy sports platform to local players. Its arrival helped generate interest in DFS and introduced Australians to a broader range of fantasy contest formats.
However, DraftKings withdrew from the Australian market in November 2021, with Australian customers no longer able to enter its contests from 15 November that year.
DraftKings remains an important part of Australia's DFS history, but it is not currently an option for Australian residents looking to play real-money fantasy contests.
Read Historical DraftKings Review
Former Daily Fantasy Sports Sites in Australia
Australia once had a much more competitive daily fantasy sports industry. During the mid-to-late 2010s, several operators launched platforms hoping to capitalise on the popularity of fantasy sports and the emergence of short-format competitions.
While Draftstars has continued operating, a number of its former competitors have disappeared, changed business models or withdrawn from the Australian market.
| Former Site |
Background |
Status |
| Moneyball |
One of Australia's early DFS operators, offering salary-cap contests before shifting towards traditional sports betting. |
DFS ended 2020 |
| PlayON |
International DFS platform offering AFL, NRL and cricket contests. |
No longer active in Australian DFS |
| FanSports |
Australian fantasy sports platform offering AFL, NRL and golf contests. |
No longer operating |
| FantasyKing |
An early entrant into the Australian DFS industry. |
Former operator |
| DraftKings |
Major US DFS platform that entered Australia in 2018. |
Exited 2021 |
Other Fantasy Competition Platforms
Australia also had several platforms offering fantasy betting or tournament-style competitions rather than conventional salary-cap DFS. Although the formats were different, they appealed to a similar audience.
| Platform |
Competition Format |
Status |
| TopBetta |
Betting-based tournaments using simulated selections. |
Discontinued |
| SportChamps |
Sports tipping and betting-style tournaments. |
Paid tournaments ended 2024 |
| UPC Showdown |
Fantasy betting-style competitions. |
No longer operating |
Why did so many DFS sites disappear? Australia's DFS industry has faced the challenge of attracting enough players to sustain regular contests. Unlike traditional sports betting, fantasy tournaments rely on active player participation and sufficient entries to maintain appealing contest structures. Commercial pressures, competition and changes in business strategy have contributed to the contraction of the market.
Daily Fantasy Sports FAQ
What is the best daily fantasy sports site in Australia?
Draftstars is Australia's leading dedicated daily fantasy sports platform. It offers salary-cap contests across various sports, with available competitions changing throughout the year.
Can Australians play DraftKings?
No. DraftKings stopped accepting Australian customers for real-money DFS contests in November 2021.
Is daily fantasy sports legal in Australia?
Real-money DFS is subject to Australian gambling laws and applicable state and territory requirements. Players should use appropriately licensed operators and check availability in their jurisdiction.
What is the difference between DFS and season-long fantasy sports?
Traditional fantasy leagues run across an entire sporting season. Daily Fantasy Sports involves shorter competitions, often based on a single match or round of fixtures.
What is a salary cap in DFS?
A salary cap limits the combined cost of athletes selected in a fantasy lineup, requiring participants to balance expensive star players with lower-priced options.
Can you win money playing daily fantasy sports?
Some DFS contests offer cash prizes, while others are free to enter. Paid contests involve financial risk and there is no guarantee of winning.
Is DFS the same as sports betting?
Not exactly. Traditional sports betting generally involves wagering on match outcomes. DFS involves selecting athletes and competing against other entries based on fantasy points.
Daily Fantasy Sports Resources
AUSTRALIAN DFS RESOURCE
Daily Fantasy Rankings (DFR)
Daily Fantasy Rankings is a specialist Australian website dedicated to the daily fantasy sports community. Established in 2016, DFR has covered the development of Australian DFS through industry news, strategy articles, contest results and player rankings.
Its historical rankings database and articles provide a record of Australia's fantasy sports industry, including competitions from operators that are no longer active.
DFR also features fantasy sports guides, strategy content and statistical resources for players interested in understanding the DFS format.
Daily Fantasy Rankings and Before You Bet are operated under common ownership.
Visit Daily Fantasy Rankings
