Southern Cross Bet sports betting: what happened to the Australian brand?

Who operated Southern Cross Bet?

Racing NSW’s historical wagering-provider document names Mark Johnston Bookmaking Pty Ltd as trading as Southern Cross Bet. The entry carries an approval date of 1 July 2020. It establishes a relationship between the company and the brand at that time; it does not establish a current online wagering licence.

ABN Lookup also identifies Mark Johnston Bookmaking Pty Ltd and lists Southern Cross Bet as a business name. The company’s Australian Business Number is recorded as cancelled from 8 April 2025. An ABN record and a wagering licence serve different purposes, so the cancellation alone does not determine the status of any gambling authority.

The available evidence identifies Southern Cross Bet as a wagering brand. It does not establish Southern Cross Bet Sports as the name of a separate official product. References to sports betting below concern historical coverage associated with the brand, not a verified service available today.

Is Southern Cross Bet available in Australia now?

Research dated 5 November 2026 did not verify a current Australian online service or a working registration process for Southern Cross Bet. That is a limitation of the available evidence, rather than proof that every possible business activity has stopped.

On 22 April 2024, industry publication The Straight reported that the brand had announced the closure of its online operation earlier that month. Another directory, Before You Bet, gives March 2024 instead. The most reliable summary is therefore that the online operation was reported closed in 2024; published sources differ on the month.

The report concerns the online operation. It does not by itself resolve the status of the company, any on-course activity or every historical licence or approval. Similarly, an old review that still describes registration or markets in the present tense does not demonstrate that those features remain available.

Why do the official records appear to differ?

The 5 November 2026 research found several records that answer different questions. They should not be treated as interchangeable, even where they refer to the same brand.

The South Australian entry warrants follow-up with Consumer and Business Services and the relevant NSW authority. It does not independently establish a functioning website or app, a current registration process, or eligibility throughout Australia. Its reference should not be described as a verified NSW licence number.

Equally, not finding a name in the ACMA search does not prove that every historical or current authority has been cancelled. The research did not independently confirm a current Southern Cross Bet licence number, licensing authority, licence conditions or customer eligibility.

• Closure report: The Straight reported the online operation’s closure in 2024. That is evidence about the online business, not a determination of every licence.
• ACMA register search: Research searches found neither Southern Cross Bet nor Mark Johnston in the accessible register. ACMA advises consumers to avoid online wagering services not on its register.
• South Australian government listing: A page headed Current authorised interstate betting operators lists Southern Cross Bet, with NSW as its domicile and reference 54300193. The listing does not establish that an online service is open to customers.
• ABN Lookup: The historical company’s ABN is recorded as cancelled from 8 April 2025. That is not, by itself, a wagering-licence determination.

What sports and markets did it cover?

A historical third-party review described Southern Cross Bet sports markets including AFL, rugby league, cricket and tennis. Those examples indicate what an older reviewer said the brand covered; they are not a current fixture list. The research did not verify a contemporaneous operator market page or any current sports, odds or bet types.

A market is the particular outcome on which a wager is offered. For example, a match-winner market concerns which team wins a game. The example explains the term; it does not mean Southern Cross Bet currently offers such a market.

There is also evidence of historical racing activity. In an interview, owner Mark Johnston discussed an online platform offering country and picnic racing markets. Separately, Netball Australia lists Southern Cross Bet under an approved-operator agreement. A sports-body agreement shows a relationship with that body; it is not proof of a live netball market or a current online wagering licence.

How to check a licence and assess a site

If you encounter a site using the Southern Cross Bet name, do not rely on a familiar logo, a search result or a business-name record alone. Start with ACMA’s register of licensed interactive gambling providers and check whether the exact service can be matched to an entry.

A register entry is a starting point, not an endorsement or a guarantee. Check with the named state or territory authority if you need to establish whether an authority is current and covers the service and activity in question. ACMA advises consumers to avoid online wagering services that are not on its register.

Different records grant or document different things. A race-fields approval concerns permission relating to racing fields; it is not, on its own, proof of a current online wagering licence. A sports-body integrity agreement, such as the kind listed by Netball Australia, likewise does not establish current online availability.

For complaints, ACMA directs consumers with concerns about unlisted providers to ACMA and other complaints about licensed providers to the relevant licensing authority. If the correct authority is unclear, explain the historical brand and company details when seeking guidance rather than assuming an old approval identifies the current regulator.

• Name and entity: Search for both the trading name and the legal licence holder. Compare them carefully with the details shown by the service.
• Exact website: Compare the site address with the website identified in the register. A similar-looking address or page design is not sufficient verification.
• Regulator and scope: Identify the named licensing authority and check whether the authority and its scope are current.
• Terms and contacts: Look for current customer eligibility, withdrawal conditions and support details. Missing or inconsistent information is a reason to pause and seek clarification.

Apps, old accounts and lookalike pages

Historical reviews mentioned a Southern Cross Bet app, but research could not verify a current official publisher, Australian listing or working service. That does not mean an app never existed. It means an old review or a matching name on a download page is not enough to establish that an app is official today.

Before downloading software, paying money or entering personal details, check the claimed publisher and exact operator website against the ACMA register. An app-store-style page on an unrelated domain is not proof of a relationship with the historical bookmaker. Do not send identity documents to a contact whose connection to the licensed operator has not been verified.

If you have an unresolved balance or another issue with an old account, retain copies of account statements, transaction records and relevant correspondence. Record the dates and details of any attempts to resolve the issue, then seek guidance from the relevant regulator about where to direct the matter.

No current Southern Cross Bet support channel or balance-recovery process was independently confirmed in the research. An industry report suggesting a possible acquisition does not establish that accounts or balances transferred to another business. Recovery should not be assumed.

Australian betting rules and safer choices

These are general Australian safeguards, not confirmed features of Southern Cross Bet. Australian online gambling services are for people aged 18 or over. State and territory rules, eligibility requirements and individual operator terms can also differ.

ACMA says online in-play betting on sporting events is illegal. The rules distinguish online communication from telephone betting, so an old review’s broad claim about in-play betting should not be treated as guidance about what a website or app can lawfully offer.

Since 11 June 2024, credit cards, credit-linked funds including digital wallets, and digital currency cannot be used to fund covered Australian online and telephone wagering. Historical payment lists may therefore be misleading and do not establish what any current service accepts.

Choosing not to bet is an option. If you are considering another service, start with the ACMA register and independently check current eligibility, fees, withdrawal conditions and support. Do not assume that a different operator’s terms or protections apply to an old Southern Cross Bet account.

Gambling support and self-exclusion

Free, confidential help is available if gambling is causing concern for you or someone close to you. You do not need to establish the status of an old bookmaker before seeking support.

BetStop applies to Australian licensed online and phone wagering services. It does not by itself cover every form of in-person gambling, so someone seeking broader support may also want to discuss their circumstances with a gambling support service.

• National Gambling Helpline: Call 1800 858 858 for free, confidential support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Gambling Help Online: Visit gamblinghelponline.org.au for free support, including online chat.
• BetStop: Visit betstop.gov.au to explore self-exclusion from Australian licensed online and phone wagering for a period from three months up to a lifetime.

FAQ

Is Southern Cross Bet available in Australia?

Research dated 5 November 2026 did not verify a current Australian online service or registration process. The online operation was reported closed in 2024, although a South Australian government listing remains visible. That listing does not establish that customers can currently register or place bets.

Is Southern Cross Bet licensed?

Historical approval and government records exist, but the research did not confirm a current licence number or active online licence for the brand. Search ACMA’s register for the trading name and legal entity, and check the currency and scope of any entry with the named regulator.

Does Southern Cross Bet have an app?

Historical reviews mentioned an app, but its current official publisher, Australian availability and working status could not be verified. A matching name on a download page is not enough to establish that it is official.

What sports can customers bet on?

Current sports markets could not be verified. An older third-party review described several sports, including AFL and cricket, but its historical descriptions should not be treated as a current schedule or list of available odds.

What should I do about an old account or balance?

Keep account statements, transaction records and correspondence, then seek guidance from the relevant regulator. No current balance-recovery process was independently verified, and the available evidence does not establish that accounts or balances transferred to another operator.

Can I place an in-play sports bet through an Australian website or app?

ACMA says online in-play betting on sporting events is illegal. The rules distinguish online communication from telephone betting. This is general regulatory guidance, not evidence that Southern Cross Bet currently offers any particular feature.