Best Horse Racing Betting Sites Australia 2024

Reviewing & Comparing The Best Horse Racing Betting Sites

We've tested and reviewed all the Australian horse racing betting sites you’ll come across on this page.

This involves depositing funds, placing bets, examine the customer service on offer and taking a close look at all the best features on offer.

On top of that, we ensure each bookie is licensed to offer its services in Australia, with the latest security features to keep your personal and financial information safe. With this in mind, here are our top picks for horse betting online in Australia.

1. Unibet

Unibet has been offering top odds and perks to Australian horse racing punters since it arrived on the Australian betting scene in 2012.

The bookie launched in Australia as a rebrand of Betchoice. Owned by the Kindred Group, Unibet has been a mainstay in online betting around the world for over 25 years.

Once you land on Unibet’s homepage, you’ll notice the sheer size of the horse racing section. It’s split into two sections - regular horse racing and harness racing.

There’s a 'Next To Go' column running down the left-hand side of the page showing the next 20 races.

You can toggle between Australian races and events from other countries, including the UK, Ireland, France and Chile.

The Racing Extra perk is a collection of benefits for racing punters, including extra place specials and enhanced prices across certain races.

One of the bookie’s most unique features is the 'Expert Edge' tool. This gives punters tips and guidance ahead of big race meetings.

We did notice that the Android app isn’t as easy to use as iOS version, but this wasn’t a major problem, as we could still place bets on Android within seconds.

2. bet365

bet365 is one of the most popular horse racing betting sites in the world due its competitive odds and promotions.

The bookie has cemented its place in the Australian market since its launch here back in 2012. It operates under a Northern Territory Government licence.

Bbet365 puts a huge focus on racing. This is reflected in the number of promotions it has for horse racing punters.

One of the most frequently spotted offers are bet boosts on specially selected races. This is when the bookie enhances the price of a certain horse.

The 'Odds Drift Protector' means you’ll always get the best value for your bet. If your horse's odds are higher at the start of a race than the price you took, you will be paid out at the higher price.

3. PlayUp

PlayUp is a ‘Proudly Australian’ betting site that hit the market in March 2023, when it launched a sportsbook, racebook and Daily Fantasy Sports platform in one.

The bookie, which is part of the PlayUp Limited group, is licensed by the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission, which guarantees fairness and protection of your details.

PlayUp goes big on horse racing and we noted during our tests that there are usually over 20 upcoming races available to toggle through when you land on the racing section.

There’s a handy tab enabling punters to quickly switch to the harness racing offering. You’ll also find ante-post odds on big upcoming races.

PlayUp has a dedicated customer support team on hand to help customers via email and live chat.

PlayUp is still finding its feet in the world of online betting, so it hasn’t got the same reputation as other bookies. However, this shouldn't be a worry for AU punters as it’s a completely safe and reliable site. 

4. Betfair

Betfair is one of the most trusted Australian horse racing betting sites. The bookie has provided competitive odds and bonus to Aussie punters since 2006.

It is owned by Flutter Entertainment - the name behind other well-known bookies in other jurisdictions, like Paddy Power in the UK and FanDuel in the US.

Betfair is the only licensed betting exchange in Australia. This gives punters the chance to act as a bookie and take bets on certain horses to win or lose.

With this type of betting, you’re up against other punters, not the bookie. This often means you can take odds that are much more competitive and appealing.

On top of this, Betfair has a regular racebook with fixed odds on all racing events. Here you’ll find promotions like odds boosts, extra places and money-back specials.

Betfair punters will have 24/7 customer support on hand to help with any questions that may arise. You can reach out via email, but our tests found that the live chat response times are quicker.

It’s worth noting that sometimes it can be hard to find another punter to take your bet on the exchange, but if that happens, you can just switch to the regular fixed-odds section.

5. Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes has come a long way since it first appeared at a UK racetrack in 1886.

It’s now a solid choice for Australian horse racing punters thanks to its daily offers and perks.

For those who like multi betting, Ladbrokes offers has refunds available if one leg of your multiple lets your bet down.

The 'Lucky Dip' feature offers enhanced prices on certain randomly selected bets. On top of this, there’s 24/7 customer support.

We did notice there were less futures racing betting markets than at some competitors.

How to Choose a Horse Racing Betting Site

There are some really important things to consider when choosing a horse racing betting site. Below we’ll run you through what you need to keep in mind.

Wide Range of Horse Racing Events to Bet on

Variety is the spice of life and the same holds true for betting. That’s why you should be sure to bet at horse racing betting sites have markets on races from around the world.

With more options available, you can choose from long-distance races, shorts sprints, jump racing and flat racing. You might also find you’ve a preference for certain surfaces.

Competitive Online Horse Racing Odds

Picking a winner is challenging enough, so if you do, it’s nice to know you placed your bet at decent odds.

We recommend you only use bookies that have competitive odds across all horse racing markets. This ensures you get more value for money if you do manage to back the winner.

Horse Racing Live Streams

Placing a bet on racing without being able to watch the race isn't much fun.

Australian horse racing betting sites allow you to watch big races while on the go.

Mobile & Betting App Options

Most online horse racing bets are placed on smartphones.

For this reason, it’s recommended that you only bet with bookies that have a fully functioning mobile version of their site, or better still, a downloadable betting app. This ensures you can bet on the move without stress.

Responsible Gambling Tools

Responsible gambling should always be a priority. You want to know that the betting site you are using has tools in place to help punters bet responsibly.

That’s why we always look out for tools like session limits, deposit limits and self-exclusion.

Australia’s Biggest Horse Racing Events

Once you’re set up with an online betting account, you’ll be able to bet on the biggest races in the Australian horse racing calendar. Some of the most popular are:

Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s biggest horse race and one of the most famous race in the world. The first ever meeting was in 1861, and the event is now known as 'the race that stops a nation'.

It takes place on the first Tuesday in November, at Flemington Racecourse, over a distance of 3,200m.

Caulfield Cup

Also held in Melbourne, the Caulfield Cup is a 2,400m race that takes place every October.

This handicap race, which was first run in 1879, has garnered a reputation as being a bit of a warm-up race for the Melbourne Cup.

WS Cox Plate

The first Cox Plate was run in 1922 in honour of William Samuel Cox. It takes place every October at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne.

The most successful horse in Cox Plate history is Winx, who won four titles from 2015-2018.

Horse Racing Betting Terms

Each-Way: This is a bet split into two parts. One part is for the horse to win, while the other is for it to place.

Furlong: A popular distance for measuring race tracks. A furlong is around 200 metres.

Quinella: Also known as a reverse forecast, this is where you pick the first two horses in a race.

Trifecta: A trifecta bet is when a punter picks the first three horses of the race. For the bet to win, they must finish in the exact order chosen.

Dead heat: This is when two or more horses finish the race at the exact same time. Different bookies will have different rules in place for dead heat finishes, so always check the small print.

The Final Word on Horse Racing Betting Sites

As you can see, there’s a lot of topics to cover when it comes to Australian horse racing betting sites.

That’s why we regularly update this page with the latest offers and information for punters.

Check back at any time to see our latest picks for the best horse racing betting sites in Australia, as we update the rankings with our latest findings from our testing and review process.