This guide will highlight the best horse racing betting sites and betting exchanges in Australia for punters. We will discuss the key strengths and features of each site, helping you identify a bookie that suits your budget and requirements. You will also discover how to create an account, make a deposit and place your first bet, so keep reading for a detailed guide to Australian race betting sites.

Best Australian Horse Racing Betting Sites 2024

The best online horse racing betting operators are reliable, convenient and user-friendly. You simply need to pick up your mobile device or fire up your computer, and you can bet on hundreds of races within a matter of seconds. That ensures you will never miss the chance to bet on a race when inspiration strikes.

Our experts have conducted detailed reviews of every licensed online bookie in Australia. We signed up with each site, placed a range of online horse racing bets, tested out the features and requested withdrawals. That allowed us to identify a handful of elite horse racing betting sites Australia has to offer. Bookies.com breaks down all the betting sites worth your time:

Betfair Online Horse Betting Australia

Betfair is one of the biggest betting exchanges Australia has to offer. It allows you to bet against fellow punters, and it takes a small commission on winning bets to cover its costs and earn a margin. You have two options at Betfair: back or lay. If you back a horse, it means you believe it will win. If you lay a horse, you are essentially predicting that it will not win.

You will see a back price and a lay price. The back price is often more attractive than the fixed-odds on offer at traditional online racing betting sites. If you do not like either price, you can adjust the odds and submit your request to the exchange platform. Another customer may then decide to accept the bet. The Betfair betting exchange is available on horse racing, greyhound racing and harness racing markets, and there are no limits in terms of bet sizes.

Play Up Horse Racing Betting

This Sydney-based horse racing betting site has proved popular with punters. PlayUp offers a user-friendly racing section, divided into three clear sections – horses, harness and greyhounds. You can bet on Australian and international action, covering the UK, Ireland, France, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Japan and various other countries.

It is easy to switch from fixed win and fixed place betting to the Totes at Play Up betting site and it provides neat, accessible racecards. You can quickly compile exotic bets such as the quinella, exacta bet, trifecta and quaddie too, and it offers broad betting limits. It offers same day withdrawals from Monday to Friday too, along with 24/7 phone support, so it is an excellent all-round bookie for horse racing fans.

Unibet Horse Racing Betting

Unibet is one of the world’s largest online horse betting sites. A Swedish bookie named Anders Ström set up the business in a small London flat back in 1997, and it now has millions of customers around the world. It is one of the best horse racing betting sites in Australia, offering attractive fixed-odds, a user-friendly interface and great features.

This betting site offers detailed written previews of hundreds of races each week, and its form guides are extremely detailed. Live streaming is available, so you can watch the action live, and it offers a superb mobile app. There are lots of racing promotions and special offers for existing customers too with one of the best betting apps Australia has to offer.

Bet365 Horse Racing Bookmaker

bet365 betting site is the world’s most popular betting online bookmaker, with more than 90 million customers spread across the globe. It expanded into Australia in 2012, and it has built up a large player base here. The online horse betting site offers a world-class user experience, making it very quick and simple to find horse races, greyhound races and harness races.

Once again, it offers detailed form guides, which are displayed in a very intuitive and accessible format. You can choose from a wide array of markets, and the fixed prices are very competitive. bet365 offers live streaming too, along with attentive customer support, very quick payouts and huge betting limits. You can also build a stable of your favourite horses and receive updates whenever they run. Additional features include 365 Top Tote+ and Odds Drift Protector, so this is a great option for punters looking for horse racing betting tips and new horse racing betting sites.

What We Look For in Top Horse Racing Betting Sites 2024

We have assembled a team of horse racing experts to conduct in-depth reviews of every licensed, regulated online bookmaker in Australia. They sign up for accounts with the various horse racing bookies and place a series of bets. We can then compare the different Australian betting sites and rank them in descending order of the overall quality and value they offer punters. These are some of the key criteria we focus on when looking at new horse racing betting sites Australia:

Existing Customer Offers

Australia horse racing betting sites are not permitted to offer sign-up bonuses. However, existing customers can collect offers after they have signed up. They can include boosts, insurance offers, odds drift protection and much more. New online horse racing betting sites often provide exciting offers in a bid to make a name for themselves, which keeps established bookies on their toes. We assess the existing customer offers available at each site when conducting our reviews.

Attentive Customer Service

You should benefit from 24/7 customer service at the best online bookmakers. Horse racing punters should be able to access instant support via phone or live chat, and email support should be available too. The best horse racing betting sites also offer detailed online help centres. 

We test out the customer service at all new horse racing betting sites, and we make a note of the sites that offer quick, attentive support. The best bookies also employ polite, friendly, diligent customer service representatives, who can provide clear, accurate answers to any questions you might have.

A Range of Betting Markets

We also examine the breadth of horse racing betting options on offer at each site. You should find standard win and place markets – with fixed prices and Tote betting available – along with a wealth of exotics, including exactas bets, trifectas, quinellas, First Four bets, Daily Doubles, Quaddies, trebles and so on. 

They also offer long-term futures on a wide range of races. We award extra marks to horse racing betting sites that offer competitive odds and sites that cover a very broad array of races from around the world, including horse racing, harness racing and greyhounds. The best online horse racing betting sites also cater for other sports, with AFL betting and NRL betting particularly popular.

Fast Withdrawals

Our reviews also request payouts via a range of different methods at each site. They assess the ease of the withdrawal process and make a note of the payout speeds. The best online horse racing betting sites will process your withdrawal requests on the same day they arrive, so you do not need to wait long for your funds. They offer a wide range of methods, with broad withdrawal limits, and they do not charge any withdrawal fees.

Betting App for iOS and Android

The top horse racing bookmakers also offer user-friendly mobile apps for iOS and Android users. You can quickly download horse racing betting apps Australia via the App Store or Google Play, and they sit on your device’s home screen. That makes it very quick and simple for you to place bets in the palm of your hand. 

However, some betting apps are clunky, unreliable and prone to crashing, which makes them unsuitable for horse racing punters. We seek out sharp, ultra-reliable, user-friendly apps that load quickly, as that will ensure you never miss the chance to place a bet on a horse you like.

Easy to Use Site

It is also important to find horse racing bookmakers that offer an easy-to-use website. That includes the desktop site and a mobile-optimised site for iOS and Android users. Bookies like bet365 and Unibet really stand out, as they make it very simple for you to find races and place bets. They offer a wealth of information about each runner, but it is displayed in a neat, organised fashion, and it does not slow down the site. The betslips at sites like Bet365, Unibet and Play Up are very easy to use too, so they are perfect for beginners.

Live Streaming of Races

Live streaming is a useful feature, as it means you can place bets and watch the action in one place. bet365 specialises in live betting and live streaming, so it is a great option for punters seeking sharp, dependable streams of action from around the world each day. You can also live stream sporting events alongside horse races.

In-Running Horse Racing Betting

The best online bookmakers offer in running bets on select races. That is an exciting option, as it allows you to watch the opening stages of a race, gauge how each runner is shaping up and place your bets accordingly. However, you need to move quickly, as the odds change rapidly in real time as the race unfolds. Once again, it is vital to find a fast, user-friendly site that will not crash at inopportune moments, so we factor that into our reviews.

Cash Out

If you can bet in running on a race, you should also be able to cash out open bets before it finishes. You can also cash out some multis before certain legs take place. We assess the generosity of the early cash out offers at horse racing betting sites when conducting our reviews.

Horse Racing Bookmakers Australia

Fixed-odds betting has now outstripped Tote betting in Australia, as many punters like to know how much they stand to win before a race begins. Rival horse racing betting sites provide different odds on the same race, so it is important to shop around for the best prices. You can bet on the biggest racing anywhere around the world from the Cheltenham Festival to the Grand National, or you can wager on races closer to home like the Melbourne Cup.

Our horse racing best odds page allows you to quickly compare the prices on offer at all the top horse racing betting sites in Australia. You can then head to the site with the best odds on any horse you like, which will maximise your winnings on each successful bet. That will boost your chances of earning a profit in the long term.

Best Horse Racing Betting Apps

You have two clear options if you want to bet on horse racing via a mobile device: download a native mobile app or visit the bookmaker’s mobile site via your browser. Punters can unlock a few advantages by downloading the best Australian betting apps. It will sit on your device’s home screen, so it is easily accessible at all times, and some of the best apps offer instant login via facial recognition or touch ID.

Native apps are often more fully optimised for mobile play, so it may be quicker and easier to find races, browse the form and place bets. Features such as live streaming may work better via the app too. You can also receive push notifications if you like, which will alert you to the biggest races such as the Melbourne Cup or the Grand National in the UK.

Horse Racing Betting Apps for iOS

You can quickly download iOS horse racing betting apps via the App Store on your iPhone or iPad. Just search for the app you would like to download, tap the “GET” button and confirm the free download. You can also read user reviews to see what fellow punters think of the app to ensure you only download the best betting apps. 

Horse Racing Betting Apps for Android

Horse racing betting apps are also available to download through the Google Play store. The process is very simple. Just search for the Android betting apps, tap “Install” and confirm. You will then see it alongside the other sports betting apps on your home screen, so you can sign in and start betting on races in the palm of your hand.

All Horse Racing Betting Sites Payment Methods

The best horse racing betting sites offer instant deposits and rapid withdrawals. Horse racing apps do not charge any banking fees, and they offer wide deposit and withdrawal limits. These are some of the main payment methods available at the best horse racing bookmakers online

• 💰 Visa | You can fund your account via a Visa credit card or debit card. Some sites also offer direct withdrawals to the account linked to your Visa card. 
• 💰 Mastercard | Deposits are also available through Mastercard credit cards and debit cards at most horse racing betting sites. You can withdraw using Mastercard Send at some online bookmakers. bet365 offers a branded Mastercard, which allows you to make instant deposits and withdrawals.
• 💰 Apple Pay | You can use the Apple Pay service on your iPhone to fund an account with a horse racing betting site, but it may have lower limits than using your card directly.
• 💰 Google Pay | This option is often available to Android users at the best horse racing betting sites.
• 💰 PayPal | The world’s most popular e-wallet is available for deposits and withdrawals at most Australia horse racing betting sites. It is often the quickest withdrawal option at your disposal.
• 💰 POLi | This Melbourne-based online payments company makes it easy for you to fund your account via a direct bank transfer.
• 💰 Wire Transfer | This is often the best option for large payments. However, it can be slower than other methods.
• 💰 PaySafeCard | Some horse racing betting sites accept payments via a prepaid card from PaySafeCard. You can use cash to buy a PaySafeCard and then use it to fund your account.
• 💰 Flexepin | An alternative to PaySafeCard, allowing you to deposit funds via a prepaid cash voucher.
• 💰 PayID | A quick and easy digital payment option that allows you to fund your account using your phone number, email address or ABN/ACN.

How to Sign Up to Australian Horse Racing Betting Sites

It is easy to sign up for an account with one of the best Australian horse racing betting sites. Just click the link displayed next to any of the online bookmakers featured on this page, and it will take you through to the site. You can then open the registration form and fill in some basic contact details and personal information.

Most horse racing bookies will ask for your name, date of birth, email address, contact number and home address. You will also need to set up a password, and you may need to create a username too. When you have provided your details, you can accept the terms and conditions and submit the form.

You will then need to verify your name, date of birth and address. This is a legal requirement at licensed online betting sites, so it should provide punters with reassurance that they have selected a regulated, trustworthy bookmaker. Just upload scanned copies of documents that prove your identity and address, such as your passport and a recent household bill, in the secure portal provided. The best betting sites will approve your documents quickly, so you can then make a payment and start punting on your chosen horse racing betting app.

How to Place a Bet on Horse Racing

Just set up your account, make a deposit and head to the racing section of an online bookmaker to bet on horse racing. Select a race and then click on a horse you like the look of, and it will be added to the betslip. You can bet on the horse to win or place, or you can go each-way. Just enter your bet amount and confirm.

Alternatively, you can click on multiple horses to create an exotic bet, such as an exacta bet or a Daily Double. If your bet wins, you will be paid out after the race.