Written by
Chris Flavell
Last time updated
09/20/2023
As far as betting goes, horse racing is the key sport for Australian punters. Our horse racing analysts have checked out multiple options to come up with the best horse racing betting sites.
Among other important factors, we look for the quality of horse racing odds, live streaming and horse racing betting apps when compiling our list of the best. If you’re a racing fan then you should also enjoy reading this comprehensive guide to Australian horse racing betting.
For us, bet365 is the best betting site as far as horse racing goes, but it was a photo finish. BlueBet and Unibet are both very well regarded by the AussieBet team but thanks to the availability of live horse racing streaming, bet365 just about edges ahead of those two rivals. On top of that, the likes of Unibet and bet365 also offer many other benefits, such as betting with PayPal.
When it comes to fantasy horse racing betting, Draftstars is at the head of the field. You can see the final list of our top Australian horse racing betting sites above or read on to learn more.
Bet365 is one of the biggest and best-known bookies in the world. They are originally from the UK, but quickly spread all around the globe, including Australia. If you’re searching for a highly reliable horse racing bookmaker, this is the place for you.
They cover all the biggest Australian horse races, including The Melbourne Cup. You can also get oddss on the very best UK and European races and meetings, like the Epsom Derby, the Grand National and the Cheltenham Festival.
However, the thing that really helps bet365 to stand out from the crowd is the fact that members can access live racing streaming on desktop and mobile.
When we test the top Aussie horse racing bookies we always consider a number of important elements. These are areas that make one online betting site better than another when it comes to placing an online horse racing bet. Take a look at the list below to understand more about how we evaluate bookies when compiling our list of the best. We compare many different options, from top international betting sites to on-course bookmakers that are also online.
Licenses
The best horse racing bookies are all licensed by the Australian government. We only ever recommended betting sites that have current gambling licenses so you know they are properly regulated and trustworthy.
Great Horse Racing Odds
This is maybe a factor that is the most important to many punters. The best horse racing betting sites must have excellent value odds and markets for all the top meetings. We assess how odds compare as part of our review process.
Mobile Apps
All of our recommended bookies also have excellent betting apps. This means you can bet on all the latest horse racing meetings from wherever you are. It also means you can watch live streams on the go as well.
Payment Methods
It is important to us that online bookies in Australia have a good selection of payment methods. Being able to quickly and easily withdraw or deposit from a horse racing bookie will help set one site apart from its competitors.
How to Place an Online Horse Racing Bet
It can be quick and easy to bet on horse racing online with the best Australian bookies. We have put together a quick guideto help you place an online horse racing bet. As soon as you have registered with your chosen online betting site, it takes only a few minutes to wager on the horse you want.
1
Choose an Aussie betting site from our list of the best
2
Register your details to open an account
3
Add funds to your new account
4
Check out horse racing bonus offers
5
Search the horse racing section for the latest odds
6
Select your horse and enter your stake
Horse Racing Betting Odds
Anyone who regularly enjoys betting on horse races online knows just how vital it is to get the best odds for your wager. Signing up with one of the best betting sites in Australia will give you quick and easy access to all the latest markets.
Given the variety of prices available from different Australian bookies, finding the best odds can take a bit longer than for some other sports, especially given the number of races each day.
However, don’t even think about taking any shortcuts because if you don’t get the best possible odds when betting on horse racing online then you are hitting yourself directly in the pocket if your bet wins. If you are still in doubt about whether odds are all that important, the section below illustrates perfectly just how crucial they are.
Horse Racing Odds Comparison
The table below shows the Fixed Win odds for a recent race held at Moonee Valley. It nicely demonstrates just why shopping around is vital.
As you can see below, if you fancied Mojo Music to land the victory then you’d be better off backing that horse with bet365 or Palmerbet. A $10 wager with either of those would bring a potential return of $190 compared to just $160 with Unibet. Just by comparing prices you have boosted potential returns by $30 for the same bet.
Horse Racing Betting Sites Odds Comparison
Horse
Midnight Charm
2.60
2.60
2.70
Boss Lady Rocks
3.60
3.80
3.80
Red Hot Nicc
5.00
5.00
5.00
Red Card
5.50
5.50
5.50
Mojo Music
19.0
16.0
19.0
Joseylin
19.0
16.0
19.0
Aminatu
19.0
17.0
20.0
Mayan
41.0
26.0
41.0
Young Liam
41.0
31.0
51.0
Overround
125.09%
128.41%
121.46%
Another useful indicator as to the overall value offered by bookies is the overround, which is the margin bookies work into each market. For the above race at Moonee Valley, there was very little between the bookies in terms of the overround percentage with Palmerbet coming out on top on this occasion.
Horse Racing Betting Apps – bet365 Setting the Pace!
Modern-day punters are using their mobile devices more and more, especially to bet on horses online.
That is why we place such high importance on the quality of mobile betting apps. For us, the bet365 mobile app is great and you can access all the same fixed odds, futures and other types of markets that are available on desktop. You can also stream live horse racing action via mobile with bet365.
They have taken no shortcuts and we were happy to see native bet365 apps for both iOS and Android devices. The fact bet365 also have excellent live streaming also marries up well with their app offering so you can watch and bet on the go.
That said, Unibet and BlueBet also have excellent apps and they should also be considered. The standard of app is one of the factors we strongly consider when putting our recommended list together. Stroll through the options below to discover more about the top choices.
Like with all Australian betting sites, you will be eligible for betting bonus offersafter you have signed up with the bookie of your choice. Just because you can’t see the offers beforehand doesn’t mean they aren’t available. In fact, all of the bookies on our recommended list are known for having appealing welcome offers.
Aussie gambling restrictions mean that online betting sites are not able to promote free bets or bonuses to potential customers. It means you will have to choose your bookie based on other factors, such as their live stream offering or the quality of their betting app. Just make sure you head to the relevant section of the site as soon as you are registered to check out the bonuses. These can be great for betting on horses online.
Get Online Horse Racing Extras with bet365
While the bonus offers might not be on display, there are still a host of other promotions that could appeal to horse racing fans. In the past, we know bookies have offered extras that include things like a ‘protest promise’ where you get paid even if the stewards amend the final result after an enquiry. Also, look out for Tote offers such as getting paid out at the biggest price of the three national Totes. Make sure you check all our top bookie recommendations for such things before joining.
However, in our experience, bet365 is great for horse racing punters when it comes to these types of extras. Let us talk you through some of their best promotions.
bet365 Protest Promise
Where a result is amended after a stewards’ enquiry, bet365 will pay out on both the original past the post result and the final official result on all Win and Place bets. This offer applies to all Australasian Horse and Harness Racing.
bet365 Protest Promise
The bet365 Protest Promise also applies to all single race exotics, including the following bet types: Trifectas, Quinellas, Exactas, First 4, Forecasts and Tricasts. Final field deductions on winnings only When a deduction has been applied to any final field Fixed Odds Win, Place or Cover bet, bet365 will only apply the deduction to the winning portion and not the stake – unlike traditional deductions. For example, if your Horse wins at $2.00 and there is a 10-cent deduction applied, you would ordinarily be returned odds of $1.80 but with bet365, you will be returned $1.90.
365 Tote
Get the best win dividend from the three national Totes or the final official price on all Australian Horse Racing. Terms and Conditions apply. Here is how this promotion works:
Place a bet on any Australian horse race.
If you select Tote Win, bet365 will compare the final Official Price and the final declared Win dividends over the three national Totes – and pay you out at whichever is greatest. For example, if NSW TAB pays $10.00 on your selection, SuperTAB pays $9.00, UTAB pays $7.50 and the SOP pays $9.50, you will get paid at $10.00.
If you select Tote Place, you will be paid the middle of the three national Totes plus 5% of your winnings.
On all single race and multi-leg exotics you will be paid the middle of the three national Totes plus 5% of your winnings. Terms and Conditions apply
365 Top Tote +
This is the same as the 365 Tote promotion but includes your multi-leg exotics as well. Giving you great value on your Trifectas, Quinellas & Quaddies – get the BEST dividend from the three national Totes for all exotics with bet365.
bet365 Top Tote +
Place a bet on any selected 365 Top Tote + race. For all Tote Win, Tote Place or single race (Trifectas, Quinellas, Exactas & First 4) and multi-leg (Daily Doubles, Trebles & Quaddies) Exotics, bet365 will compare the final declared win or place dividends over the three national Totes – and pay you out at whichever is greatest. Additionally, if the final Official Price on your Tote Win bet is greater than the best of the three national Totes, bet365 will pay you out at the bigger price.
For example, if NSW TAB pays $9.50 on your selection, SuperTAB pays $9.00, UTAB pays $7.50 and the SOP pays $10.00, you will get paid at $10.00. For Exotic Betting, bet365 will pay out the best final declared dividend from the three Australian TABs (where available). 365 Top Tote + is available on selected meetings throughout the year only. Selected meetings only. T&Cs apply.
Each Way Extra
Choose your place terms for each-way bets on selected horse races. Terms and Conditions apply.
Each Way Extra gives you the option to increase or decrease the number of places in a race when you are betting each-way on selected Horse Racing.
bet365 Each Way Extra
When you use Each Way Extra you can add places to your each-way horse racing bets and take a reduced price or remove places and increase the odds on your selection. The number of Each Way Extra places offered on a race can be viewed on the Each Way Extra tab or on the bet slip.
Geo restrictions apply. You must have a funded account or have placed a bet in the last 24 hours to …Read more
Horse Racing Betting Tips
Another advantage of registering with one of the best Australian horse racing betting sites is that you can begin to take advantage of expert tips. Our horse racing betting writers will always look to offer their insight into the big meetings.
Our individual horse racing event pages all include value selections for you to consider. These also highlight the best odds on offer and are based on key horse form. However, those who are keen to spot their own selections should read the sections below on horse racing statistics and strategy.
Best Bookies for Horse Racing Stats
One thing that makes finding winners easier is checking out vital race statistics before the off. These key details are a great way of spotting where a bookie might have got their prices wrong for your selection.
The best horse racing betting sites also have great stats centres for you to dig into. Most bookies will have race information but this can range from just the basic details all the way to in-depth analysis, tips, and form lines. These can also be used for assessing greyhound racing and harness racing betting as well.
Picking a bookie with a better stats offering is usually a really good idea, especially if you will be regularly betting on a sport like horse racing. Let us tell you about our favourite options in Australia:
Unibet Stats Centre
Unibet is one of the best Aussie bookies when it comes to providing important statistics for online horse racing betting. racecards come with great detail about each individual runner as well as a useful overview of the whole contest and advice on potential winners.
Clicking on a horse brings up key details on past form. Previous results and performances on different surfaces are all covered. You can also see price fluctuations with the help of a clear graph. All the while the current price is available to be selected to get your bet on. You don’t need to navigate away from the statistics to wager.
Finally, one of the best options is the Unibet speed stats. Speed data and race times is collated to show you the horses that are the fastest according to the clock.
Another great choice for those who want more from their bookie is bet365. The stats on offer with this Aussie bookie are also very impressive, not to mention useful.
Again, a race overview and summary is offered at the bottom of the racecard with expert selections put forward. Clicking on individual horses offers the chance to see past results and, in some cases, watch the most recent runs.
There is also a written description of the previous outing and a spotlight on how the horse should perform in that particular contest.
Having such informative stats so close to hand when betting horses online can also be used when applying some of the punting advice and strategies we discuss in the very next section.
Geo restrictions apply. You must have a funded account or have placed a bet in the last 24 hours to …Read more
Horse Racing Betting Site Strategy
We have advice from some of the best racing tipsters around on how to improve your horse racing betting skills. From track and draw biases, to ground conditions and everything in between, our experts reveal some superb guidance that could improve your online horse racing bets. If you love betting on Australian horse racing but find winners tough to come by, this section might just offer some extra things to consider.
Track/Draw: As the old saying ‘horses for courses’ suggests, some horses are more effective on certain tracks. Another very influential factor in some courses for flat racing is the draw. If you fancy a horse to go well and he is well drawn and has previously placed or winning form at the track then a bet is definitely warranted.
The Going: Horses are very particular when it comes to going (ground conditions). Some horses are at their best when racing on quick ground while others much prefer when the rain is falling and the mud is flying. Look back at the previous form to see how a horse has performed on similar ground to the current conditions. Pedigree and breeding also give clues as to whether a horse is likely to handle certain ground conditions.
Trainer Form: Yards often go through spells in racing. Hot streaks and cold spells are both frequent so it is vital to check recent trainer form to see if their horses are firing. If the horse you fancy is from a yard that is struggling to send out winners, it might be worth changing your stake accordingly.
Some of these factors could also be used for greyhound betting as well. With most top bookies, horse racing and greyhound racing are usually available in the same place. If a bookie is good for horse racing they are usually good for greyhound racing as well. If you are interested in both then be sure to check out our greyhound racing betting page for a more detailed analysis.
Types of Horse Racing Bets
Horse racing betting online can seem complicated for those who are just starting out. There are plenty of meetings, lots of races and different bets you can make on each. Below we will talk you through some of the most popular online horse racing bets so you can get to grips with your top choices.
Futures Betting
Futures markets in horse racing can be risky but also come with potentially bigger returns for that reason. If you back a horse for The Melbourne Cup back in March or April then it is likely you’ll be offered much bigger odds. The reason for this is that you run the risk of the horse not running in the race. If the horse doesn’t make it to the start, you will lose your stake. On the plus side, it is possible to get huge odds on some horses and if they do line up at the start of the race you backed them for, chances are you’ll be on at a much bigger price if you backed them in the futures market.
This market is also known as ante-post betting, especially for races in the UK and Europe. Spotting a long-range opportunity can also be fun to do and means you can follow that particular horse’s journey throughout the season. For example, if your horse wins a key trial race you will notice its ante-post price will be shortened.
Futures betting on horse racing is ‘all-in’. This means you will lose your stake if your selection is a non-runner. You can get much bigger prices than before final declarations but there is the risk that you may not get a run for your money.
Each-Way Betting
While some punters swear blind by win-only bets, plenty of shrewd horse racing punters prefer to play each-way. Each-way betting is a wager on both the win and the place. It consists of two separate bets so a $10 e/w wager on a horse will set you back $20, $10 for the win and $10 for the place. To get the maximum possible return you need the horse to win. If your horse places (depending on the field size) you lose the win part of the bet but you’ll get paid on the place part.
If you can find horses with solid place prospects at big odds, each-way betting can be a very profitable way to bet on the horses. Another plus is that these kinds of wagers are available at all of the horse racing betting sites on our top list.
Exacta/Quinella/Trifecta
A very popular horse racing wager with many Aussies is an Exacta or Quinella bet. An Exacta is a bet on the first two finishers in a race in the correct order and it consists of just one bet. A Quinella also requires you to pick the first two horses home, except they can finish 1-2 in any order.
The Trifecta is another popular wager type and as the name suggests, you need to predict the 1-2-3 in the right order and you can also do ‘Boxed Trifectas’ that allow you to pick the first three in any order. Exactas, Quinellas and Trifectas are settled by whoever operates the main Tote in your region.
Exacta – First two in the correct order
Quinella – First two in any order
Trifecta – First three in the correct order
Winning Distance Betting
Another popular bet is to wager on how many lengths the winner will be clear of the field at the line. This is a good way to boost the odds of a favourite if you really believe the horse will be far too good for the rest. This works both ways, especially if you think the horse will win but there is a selection that might be able to get close. This market is priced up by the bookmaker and you will get odds for the winning margin to be under a length, more than a length, more than two lengths etc.
Tote Betting
There are multiple Tote options and most betting sites will let you choose which market you want to bet on. This form of betting sees you wagering into a cumulative pot along with other punters rather than simply taking the price a bookie is offering.
There are three major Australian Totes (TAB, NSWTAB, and UBET). These totes represent different regions of the country. TAB is associated with Victoria, NSWTAB is associated with New South Wales while UBET is associated with Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory.
Prices are usually not as competitive as the fixed odds offered by different betting sites but can be beneficial if you are backing a less-fancied outsider. Some bookies, like Unibet for example, allow you to bet on ‘Top Tote’ and ‘Mid Tote’ markets where your bet is settled at the top odds or average odds offered by all three Totes.
However, in general, you will most likely get better odds in the Fixed Odds markets formed by individual bookies and this is true for both win and place bets unless it is a very popular race or fancy a big priced selection that others don’t. That said, an exception to this trend could very well come from the growth of the Tote ‘World Pool’, which sees Aussie punters backing into a much larger pool that includes totes from across the globe, including the UK, Hong Kong, USA and France.
Tote World Pool Betting in Australia
A new development on the horse racing betting scene in recent years has been the introduction of the Tote World Pool. Don’t be surprised to see more and more bookies offering you the chance to bet into this particularly strong market through their websites in the coming years.
The World Pool is a collaboration between totes across the world and gives punters the opportunity to stake into a much larger single pool compared to sticking with their own national totes. The World Pool boasts stronger liquidity and, in turn, the potential for stronger dividends. It has become a regular occurrence for the World Pool to pay out better than SP on a lot of the races it covers, with bigger bets unable to shift the prices so dramatically.
Australia has been included in the World Pool market meaning punters here can join those from the UK, USA, France and Hong Kong in betting into it.
However, Tote World Pool betting is not something that our recommended horse racing bookies are offering at present. This could change and we will be sure to let you know when this begins to happen. For now, punters need to bet directly with the Tote when placing World Pool bets.
Fantasy Horse Racing Betting
Traditional online horse racing betting can be fun, but Draftstars have brought a totally new dimension to the sport. With Draftstars you can bet on daily fantasy horse racing games, competing against other punters rather than against the bookies. There are fantasy leagues for loads of meetings daily and the concept and scoring systems are easy to understand.
Free games and paid games are both available. Once you enter you’ll need to pick one horse from each race at the meeting. You receive points if your horse wins or places (bigger odds = more points) and the player with the highest score at the end of the last race wins.
Customized leagues can also be formed and you can use those to compete solely against your mates. You can find out more about fantasy horse racing betting with Draftstars if you check out our Draftstars review.
Draftstars is the number one choice for fantasy horse racing betting in Australia. They have a range of different prize pools to pick from and entry fees to suit everyone.
There is only one recommended option when it comes to live betting on horse racing in Australia and that is with Betfair. If in-play wagering on horse racing is a must for you then this is the place to go.
Betting regulations in Australia mean in-play bets have to be placed over the phone. This is why conventional bookies, including those at the top of our list, don’t display live horse racing odds.
Betfair is a betting exchange, meaning you bet against other punters. Because of this, it is possible to place live bets online without having to call through your wager.
It is worth noting that both bet365 and Unibet have a very impressive selection of other sports to bet in-play over the phone. If this situation for horse racing alters in the future you’ll hear about it at AussieBet.
We are very happy to report that all three of our top Australian betting sites have live horse racing streaming available. With BlueBet, Unibet and bet365 you can watch and bet on the action as long as you have a funded and active account.
If you sign up with bet365 and simply make a deposit, you will be able to stream top-class domestic and international horse racing action on both desktop and mobile platforms. Their coverage goes hand-in-hand with their excellent betting app too, so watching live racing on the go has never been easier.
BlueBet is a great addition to the list of betting sites to watch horse racing and allows you to access Racing.com streams from their site. This is particularly good if you are mainly looking to watch Australian horse racing action.
Bet365 streams thousands of events every year, bringing you top sporting action including games from Europe’s top domestic Soccer leagues and Grand Slam Tennis tournaments, as well as Horse Racing from selected Australian, UK and Irish tracks.
Only available to eligible customers. To watch live sport, UK and Irish racing covered by Racing TV or US racing covered by At The Races, all you need is a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. To watch any other racing, you must place a qualifying bet of at least $1.00 Win or $0.50 Each Way on your selection(s). This applies to singles and Multi bets. Minimum stakes apply to Tote and other pool betting.
Any fixture/event on bet365 which has the Play or Video icon next to it is scheduled to be shown via Live Streaming.
Live Streaming is only available to eligible customers, and availability may be determined by the status of your account. If you are unable to watch live sport with bet365 and you are unsure of why this is, please contact customer support.
Under Australian law, we are required to inform you that Live Streaming on bet365 is exempt from Parts 3 and 4 of the Broadcasting Services (Online Content Service Provider Rules) 2018.
New Horse Racing Betting Sites
It is always worthwhile to consider new betting sites when looking to wager on horse racing in Australia. The newest horse racing betting sites will look to attract new customers and can have appealing features and offers that older bookies haven’t embraced. New horse racing betting sites are often looking to push new promotions and technology as well, with their apps among the best.
Perhaps the biggest thing we have noticed with new betting sites is the way they are more and more likely to offer traditional horse racing and sports betting alongside other types of betting, such as fantasy sports and eSports. This is the case with PlayUp, which is why we think they are an excellent choice.
PlayUp is a great new bookie to consider for horse racing. They have excellent markets and competitive horse racing odds but also boast horse racing fantasy options through their partnership with Draftstars. This means you bet the best of both worlds with this top new bookie.
Melbourne Cup Betting
No race attracts the interest that the Melbourne Cup gets in Australia. It is named ‘The race that stops a nation‘ for a reason. The best horse racing betting sites are also the best for Melbourne Cup betting.
If a bookie makes it to the top of our list for general horse racing betting throughout the year, it makes sense that they also excel during this huge event as well.
The best bookies will have live streaming of this iconic race, offer betting bonuses for it, and also be on the mark when it comes to competitive odds, place terms and specials.
Other Major Races And Meetings
The domestic and international horse racing calendar is packed with big races and meetings throughout the year. Domestic races are mostly held under the patronage of Racing Australia Limited. The four races that probably matter most are The Melbourne Cup, The Caulfield Cup, The Cox Plate and The Golden Slipper. The VRC Oaks is another big domestic race that is worth a mention.
In Europe, it is the jumpers that dominate the winter/spring schedules with The Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown Festivals. During the summer the focus switches to the flat and meetings like Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and The Epsom Derby and Oaks meeting. You can see some of the key meetings and races from Australia and around the world below.
This is a list of online horse racing betting sites that don’t hit the heights of those on our top-rated list. They are licensed and regulated, but these betting site don’t match up well when it comes to betting on racing from Australia. You won’t find live streaming here or varied futures markets. If you notice these, we suggest picking from our tried and tested options at the top of the page.
BetDelux
No live streaming
Poor international futures
Less detailed markets
TopSport
No live streams
Fewer banking methods
Not many added markets
RealBookie
No racing live streaming
Lack of international futures
Less markets
Summary
There are plenty of great options when it comes to picking the best horse racing betting site in Australia. The bookies on our recommended list all stand out when it comes to the sport.
The very top sites will bring you a whole host of horse racing markets, competitive odds and great racing offers. Look out for live streaming and great betting apps as well. Any of our top selections should be seriously considered.
Bet365 is easily the best horse racing betting site in Australia. However, if you want to take a look at other options, click on the button bellow for the full list.
Which is the best horse racing betting site in Australia?
There are plenty of options when looking for the best horse racing betting site in Australia. We have rated and reviewed the options to help narrow your search. Check out our list of top racing betting sites and sign up. We have considered the number of markets, best odds, and special features.
What horse racing betting site has the best odds?
No single bookmaker has the best odds for every market they offer. Odds can vary from betting site to betting site, so it pays to shop around to find the best value for your bet. Comparing odds and backing with the bookie that offers the best price is a good way to boost your winnings.
Can I watch live Australian Horse Racing online?
Yes, all three of our top Aussie horse racing betting sites do have live Australian horse racing streaming available for their members. You can stream both domestic and international races with bet365, while you need to place a bet on a race to qualify for live streaming with Unibet, which also has live streaming of lots of other sports too.
Is betting on horse racing online legal in Australia?
Not only is betting on horse racing legal in Australia, it is one of the nation’s most popular pastimes. Bookies are perfectly entitled to legally offer online betting on horse racing, once they have a valid operating license issued by one of the Aussie authorities. If you want to know if the bookie you are considering signing up with has a valid license, you will find all the information you need in our bookie reviews.
Can you bet on the Tote World Pool with Australia betting sites?
The World Pool is a collaboration between totes around the globe that means punters can bet into a much bigger pot, offering stronger liquidity and dividends. Australia’s best betting sites aren’t currently offering Tote World Pool betting at this time but it is something that could be introduced soon.
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