Australia’s cheating and love rat hot spots, according to raunchy dating site Ashley Maddison

A regional city has earnt a naughty reputation for being named among the worst for cheaters in Australia for the second year in a row.

Ballarat and Melbourne in Victoria, and Albury just over the border, are cheating hot spots according to dating site Ashley Madison.

This regional city has once again been named the cheating capital of Victoria.

New data from dating site Ashley Madison ranks Ballarat seventh on its list of the top 20 cities in the country which are most likely to be hot spots for cheating.

This is the second straight year Ballarat has featured on this list, having been placed ninth in the country last year.

But just across the Victorian border, in Albury, there are even more love rats - with the country town named the third worst spot in Australia for cheating.

Ashley Madison is an online dating site marketed to people who are married or in relationships and has been condemned in the past for its role in fostering infidelity.

The Australian cheating cities and towns are based on Ashley Madison sign ups.

Beautiful Lake Wendouree in Ballarat. The regional town has another, not so pretty, claim to fame.

Ashley Madison spokeswoman Isabella Mise said some people were “starting to see non-monogamy as something to seriously consider rather than something taboo and unrealistic”.

Victoria features twice on Ashley Madison’s list of the worst centres and cities for love rats, with Melbourne taking out 20th place behind other capital cities of Canberra (second), Darwin (14th), Brisbane (16th), Hobart (17th) and Adelaide (18th).

“Whether they’re doing it with their partner or alone, out in the open or in secret, many Australians are putting monogamy behind them this summer and embracing the numerous possibilities that lie ahead,” Ms Mise said.

Mackay in Queensland has been ranked Australia’s least faithful town.

The full list:

1. Mackay, QLD

2. Canberra, ACT

3. Albury, NSW

4. Rockhampton, QLD

5. Cairns, QLD

6. Toowoomba, QLD

7. Ballarat, VIC

8. Townsville, QLD

9. Gold Coast, QLD

10. Sunshine Coast, QLD

11. Bunbury, WA

12. Bundaberg, QLD

13. Wollongong, NSW

14. Darwin, NT

15. Newcastle, NSW

16. Brisbane, QLD

17. Hobart, TAS

18. Adelaide, SA

19. Launceston, TAS

20. Melbourne, VIC