Best online bookmakers for horse racing

The best Australian online bookmakers for horse racing are all regulated and licensed to do business. These legal online bookmakers range from household names like Bet365 and Ladbrokes, to smaller competitors like Palmerbet and PlayUp. The top racing bookmakers in Australia also boast some of the best betting apps, great promotions offers and cater extensively to the AUD. The best online bookmakers in Australia are among the top sites in the world, with people here betting more per head than anywhere else on the planet. We believe the following Australian online bookmakers are the best for horse betting:

iOS App
Android App

Neds Code GETON

1
Neds
Take It To The Neds Level
Not available to residents of United States
Only orange bookie!

18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you prepared to lose today? Full terms.

18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms.

iOS App
Android App

Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING

3
Dabble
Say Hey to the social bet!
Not available to residents of United States
Have a Dabble with friends!

18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms.

Bet365 Signup Code GETON

4
Bet365
Never Ordinary
Not available to residents of United States
World Favourite!

18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms.

iOS App
Android App

18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms.

18+ Gamble responsibly. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place. Full terms.

7
Betfair Australia
On Your Side
Not available to residents of United States
Australia's only betting exchange

What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit. Full terms.

18+. Gamble Responsibly. Chances are you are about to lose. Full terms.

iOS App
Android App

18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you prepared to lose today? Full terms.

The above online betting sites are all regulated in either one or multiple Australian states, with most of them boasting the NT Government seal of approval. They all also cater to mobile punters to varying degrees, with most having both Android and iOS apps available.


Best Australian online bookmakers in 2024

The best online bookmaker might not be the same today, as it is tomorrow. What we mean by this is often one online betting site will have a promotion, or boosted odds surrounding a meeting, while another will have nothing. Your bankroll can really be boosted by shopping around at the different online bookmakers each betting session you have. Remember to gamble responsibly and keep your head and really think about the strategy you are using to pick your horses.

Neds

Neds.com.au

Neds.com.au is the new player on the bookmaker scene in Australia and has wasted no time in making a big splash with punters. The brainchild of former Ladbrokes CEO Dean Shannon, Neds boasts comprehensive markets in racing, greyhounds, harness and all of Australia’s most popular sports, both at home and abroad.

Neds runs daily bonuses on racing for specific meetings, almost every single day of the week and will be a big player when it comes to the Spring Racing Carnival. some of the best online bookmakers also boast betting referral codes.

Unibet

Unibet

Unibet is an underrated online bookmaker based out of Fanny Bay in the Northern Territory. Licensed by the NT Gambling Commission, Unibet has a great array of outstanding horse racing offerings. This includes betting markets on every Australian and New Zealand TAB meeting, plus all of the most important race meetings from around the world.

In terms of promotions, Unibet Australia definitely attempts to attract the horse racing dollar with weekly Racing Cash Boosts, where every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights punters receive a 25% cash boost (up to $50) on top of their winnings. Unibet also runs some one-off promotions surrounding the bigger meetings, or events, taking place in the Australian thoroughbred industry. Al-in-all Unibet is among the best online bookmakers in Australia.

Bet365

Bet365

One of the biggest gambling companies in the world, Bet365 is licensed to operate in Australia, and has a huge foothold down under. The company is known in Australia for its big budget advertising campaigns, and of course their outstanding sports and racing product.

Available on both Android and iOS, the Bet365 app is also available in Australia, although because of local laws, the online gambling component of both their website and apps is not available. Having said this if you are looking for an online bookmaker with a great reputation to bet on horses in both Australia and overseas this is for you. In-particular the online bookmaker’s strong affiliate in the UK, where it was founded, means they do overseas racing better than most.

Another huge positive of this company is they accept punters from many countries where it can be tricky to find racing markets.

Boombet.com.au

Boombet.com.au

Boombet, which was formerly known as SportsBetting.com.au, has relaunched under a new moniker and has made quite a splash in a short space of time. Boombet really does have a strong focus on horse racing and is definitely one of the more highly-regarded online bookmakers that are making a play for Australians money.

Boombet Australia has got a Northern Territory license and has had no major breaches of this in their lengthy history, while they also abide by all the other relevant laws down under.

The online bookmaker also features some great betting apps, with these available on both Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. While if you are on another device, their mobile website is also fully functional.

Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes

One of the most well-known betting brands in horse racing in Australia, Ladbrokes has an outstanding reputation among punters. Offering some great promotions on both weekday and weekend racing meetings, Ladbrokes sits comfortably among the top online bookmakers in Australia.

The fact the Ladbrokes has enhanced odds as part of its racing produce, plus one of the easiest, most dynamic, websites to use, makes them a no-brainer to have an account at. We have heard mixed reports in 2019 about whether they take on the big punters, but for most the betting limits should be enough.

Betfair

Betfair

Betfair Australia offers a betting exchange service, which is how it differentiates itself from the saturated sports betting industry. Basically instead of backing a horse to win or place, you can “lay” a horse which means you can take on somebody’s bet on the runner. This is a great way to bet if you think you have spotted out a favourite that is far too short.

While Betfair does not have as many bonus and promotional offers, the service they do provide is top notch, with the website being very functional and the customer service first-rate. Don’t fall into the trick of assuming a betting exchange is in the too hard basket, instead learn about it, because there is money to be made.

Dabble.com.au bookmaker

Dabble

Dabble.com.au is a relatively new sports betting and racing brand in Australia, that offers betting via their downloadable apps. Dabble is probably ahead of the curve in some respects, given they don’t have a desktop website, however it is slightly inconvenient and probably the only downfall of this online bookmaker.

Dabble classes itself as a social bookmaker, with it allowing you to share your bets, bet with your mates and even chat with punters wagering on the same events. You can also follow expert punters on their website. Another great feature of this horse racing bookmaker is that their odds are super competitive. Overall, while we will come back and visit this brand again soon, we think Dabble.com.au has some nice points of difference and are a good addition to the online bookie space down under.

Palmerbet

Palmerbet

The Palmer name is synonymous the New South Wales racing industry. Ted Palmer was a legend of the Sydney betting rings, and now his grandsons, Andrew and Grant, have brought the family business into the 21st century.

Palmerbet.com.au is one of precious few online bookmakers that are 100% Australian owned and operated. These guys are all about horse racing, but there is also a wide selection of betting options for greyhounds, trots, and all manner of local and international sport.

Palmerbet is renowned for its attractive, easy-to-use betting interface and first-class customer service. The NSW-based bookie is also an industry leader when it comes to horse racing promotions, as customers can enjoy a vast array of daily betting specials and exclusive bonus offers.

Playup

PlayUp

PlayUp originally launched as a fantasy betting operator. In 2019, it absorbed the TopBetta, MadBookie and ClassicBet brands and was transformed into one of Australia’s most exciting new online bookmakers.

What separates PlayUp.com.au from other online bookies is the fantasy betting element, which promotes a more social, laidback gambling experience. If you are all about traditional punting, however, you need not worry – this is a serious bookmaker that ticks all the boxes for Australian and international horse racing.

If you like modern, innovative betting sites that get the basics rights while offering something a little bit different from the competition, PlayUp is well worth a look. We are comfortable promoting Playup as one of the top horse betting bookmakers in 2024.

Picklebet

Picklebet

Picklebet has recently branched out into becoming a horse racing bookmaker, after originally starting off as an esports betting specialist. Now with racing odds and sports betting available, Picklebet appeals to a much more cross section of the Australian gambling landscape.

While not featuring as many bet types as other racing bookmakers in Australia, Picklebet’s odds are competitive and their reputation, in terms of things like paying out customers and customer service, are yet to be tarnished — which is a great sign. Picklebet betting also often runs promos surrounding horse racing and we have no hesitation adding them to our top bookmakers list.

You can also access this online bookie via their betting apps, which are available on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.


What online bookmaker has the best horse racing odds

The racing scene in Australia is big business, with it worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually. The money bet on horse racing is how it generates its profits and millions of Australians use online bookmakers to punt on the gallops. We often get poised the question: “what online bookmaker has the best odds?”. And like many things the answer to this question is hard to answer and changes from day to day, or even race to race.

Because each betting company sets their own markets for each race, there is often discrepancies in the odds. For instance, i’m writing this article on a Wednesday, and there is a meeting at Warwick Farm. In the fourth race, the favourite is paying $3.70 with one online bookmaker, which is the best price, while at five other bookmakers have varying prices, all the way down to $3.40. Then you also have to take into consideration that some online betting sites have services that boost your odds, on selected runners or several times a day.

Our best bit of advice when deciding which online bookmaker has the best horse racing odds is to hold multiple accounts and use odds comparison services, as part of your punting practice. By this we mean scour the live updating odds from multiple Australian betting sites prior to the jump of each race and making your bets at the one with the best price. It’s a no-brainer really.


New Australian bookmakers 2024

There has been a proliferation of new Australian bookmakers in recent times with this largely brought about because of the covid pandemic, which forced many rails bookies to launch websites. This essentially let them still make money, despite crowds being barred from the races in many Australian states and let them keep servicing their existing clientele.

While not all the new online bookmakers in Australia are massive, there is definitely more selection these days, than there has been in the past. For instance, several years ago this scribe dove deep into the new bookmakers available and we basically found the only new operators were Neds.com.au and Topbetta. This has now grown to include many different brands including:

NB: Horsebetting Australia is still in the process of vetting these new Australian online bookmakers, but in time we will have bookmaker reviews and further articles on each of these brands.


Deposit and withdrawal options at AU online bookmaker sites

Our recommended online bookmakers offer various ways of deposits and withdrawals. To make a deposit at any of our bookmakers, sign up and click on the “make a deposit” button.

Depositing can be done by various methods and each of our betting sites support the following options:


Mobile apps for betting on horses

All our online bookmakers offer multiple platforms to use for betting on horse racing. These include laptop, PC (personal computer), tablets and mobile phones (iPhone and iPad included).

All bookmakers in Australia have developed betting apps (applications) which make it easier to bet on the run. Punters have full access to either the main website or the app version, which allows users to gain access to all the information available to those using a computer.

There are even great promotions available to mobile and tablet users which include download and first bet bonuses.


What Australian bookies stream horse racing?

Many Australian bookies stream Victorian horse racing to users mobile phones, under a vision agreement with Racing Victoria. This means for free of charge you can watch any race on your handset. Several online bookmakers, such as Ladbrokes and the TAB, have got the Sky Racing stream available via their website and betting apps. This means you can watch all Australian races for free

The following bookies have live horse racing streaming available:

Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes

  • Racing available: Victorian horse racing
  • Other: Football, basketball
  • Stipulations: Must be logged into your Ladbrokes account.

Minimum bet limits for online bookmakers

In years gone by, corporate bookies had a reputation for turning away winners. Things started to change in 2014, when Racing NSW introduced rules that ensured punters could bet to win up to $2,000 on metro horse races and up to $1,000 on country races at any licensed betting operator. All of HB’s featured online bookmakers adhere to minimum bet limits in Australia, which now apply in five states and the ACT.

Never Ordinary

Never Ordinary

GETON is not a bonus code and does not grant access to additional offers. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. New customers only. #ad Full T's and C's.


Why betting with online bookmakers is better than the tote

Online bookmakers have revolutionised sports betting in Australia and horse racing has been no exception. For many years if you wanted to bet on the horses you would do it in the flesh at a TAB, but now it’s much more common place to wager with an online betting company.

Horse racing has become a very diverse industry with a wide range of online bookmakers offering markets and odds for racing all around the world. These betting sites, on top of their Australian horse racing, also have markets on most thoroughbred meetings from around the world.

Here at Horsebetting.com.au, we’re all about finding the best value with these bookmakers and ensuring your betting experience is a positive one. Our recommended bookmakers are all giants in the horse racing bookmaking industry as they not only provide the best odds available, but they are trusted and easy to use websites.

Depositing and withdrawing funds is a breeze with multiple options available to all AUD customers, for those with big spending limits and the average punter.

The best online bookmakers are always moving forward with brand new promotions, deals and website functions that make placing a bet on the horses all the more enjoyable. Remember, before signing up at an online bookmaker, do your research, read betting site reviews and find a bookie that suits you.


Online bookmaker codes

Many Australian online bookmakers have got codes that customers can enter in during the sign up process. These online bookmaker codes have got limited power in Australia in 2024, although this could change in the future. International readers will find bookmaker bonus codes and referral codes are a great way to boost your bankroll.

Check our bookmaker codes guides here:


Best International horse racing bookmakers

While Horsebetting.com.au is primarily servicing an Australian audience, we do have a significant readership overseas. In this section of our top racing bookmakers guide, we examine the best betting options for punters from various parts of the world.