Horse racing is one of the biggest sports in Australia and if it's a sport, Aussies will bet on it! This means that over the decades many betting sites for horse racing have popped up. There are homegrown horse racing betting sites and sites that operate on an international scale.
Horse Betting Sites Australia 2024
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites
#
Betting Site
Features
Bet Now
1
Mobile Best
PlayUp
4.9
Great Mobile Offering & Extensive Markets on Offer
AUS Licensed
2
3
Racing Pick
Bet365
4.0
Fixed Betting Odds, Fast And Secure Payment Methods
AUS Licensed
4
.png "Unibet-120x120 (2).png")
5
6
7
LAUNCHED in 2020
WinnersBet
3.3
Decent all-around racing offering & a solid platform experience
AUS Licensed
Our Recommended Betting Sites for Horse Racing
PlayUp
Known as one of the best horse betting sites in Australia for fixed racing odds. They have been around the block and back, so they know how to keep their punters happy. On top of this, they seem to put a lot of effort into ensuring their website is user-friendly, meaning it is fast and it only takes a couple of clicks to put your bet on.
Boombet
Just like PlayUp, Boombet is also known for offering some of the best fixed racing odds going around. Boombet is one of the newer bookies on the market here in Australia, but that hasn’t stopped them from becoming a household name. While they may be one of the small betting sites in Australia, they still offer live chat, solid weekly promotions and heaps of markets for racing.
Bet365
If you haven’t already heard about Bet365, you’ve probably been living under a round for a couple of decades! Their range of markets is huge, to say the least, they have everything from the tried and true horse racing to more out there markets on esports. Bet365 is regarded as one of the best esports betting sites. They also have heaps of racing futures markets and payment options for punters.
Unibet
Another international brand, Unibet has put in a lot of resources to ensure they are leading the way when it comes to betting sites for horse racing. Unibet is always thinking of the next best thing and adding cool new features to its website and app. Punters love using the well-designed website and they have one of the best betting apps as well.
Topsport
If you’re the kind of bettor who likes to bet big, you’ll love Topsport! The Australian-owned and operated bookie has a distinct focus on racing and they offer some really competitive odds for racing markets. Race betting sites like Topsport should be at the top of any list of bookies for horse racing bettors.
PalmerBet
PalmerBet has a huge range of racing and sports markets. They started out with a real focus on horse racing, so you know they do racing really well. Now, they have started to branch more into sport and they have quickly become one of the best NRL betting sites going around. They love providing value to punters with their huge range of weekly promotions.
WinnersBet
WinnersBet hasn’t been around for long, but they are certainly one of the best new horse betting sites in Australia. They provide racing coverage from right around the world and have an extremely fast-loading website. On top of this, they are one of the premier bookies in Australia when it comes to betting sites bonuses as they have a plethora of options for existing customers.
How to Bet on Horse Racing
It can be pretty fun to have a flutter on horse racing every now and again. The process of placing a bet on horse racing is actually pretty simple, especially since horse racing betting sites came onto the scene! So, if you’re looking to bet on horse racing, you only need to follow a few simple steps:
- First things first, choose which race and horse you want to bet on.
- Next, choose which bookie you want to bet with, you could go with a bookie you already have an account with or sign up for a new bookie.
- Decide the amount you wish to stake along with the bet type (we will go into all the most common bet types available in the section below).
- Place your bet into your bet slip and confirm all the details.
- If your bet is successful, you’ll see your winnings in your account fairly quickly. Congratulations!
Horse Racing Bet Types
If you’re going to bet on horse racing, it’s a good idea to understand all the common bet types. All the best horse racing betting sites will have a range of markets available for punters to choose from. It is always recommended that you stick with the bet types that fully understand, but you can always learn!
Keep reading to find out more information about all the common bet types for horse racing:
| Bet Type | Definition |
| Win | The most common of all the bet types, where you place a bet on the horse you think will win the race. |
| Place | This is where you place a bet on a horse you think will finish in the top three (as long as there are at least eight runners in the race). |
| Each-Way | If you want to hedge your bets a little bit, an each-way bet is on the cards. This is effectively where your stake is split in two and you place two separate bets. So, if you’re placing a $10 each-way bet, you’re placing $10 on the horse to win and $10 on the horse to place, which is $20 in total. |
| Quinella | This is where you bet on the horses you think will finish in the top two for the race, in any order. |
| Exacta | Just like the quinella, but you have to pick the top two finishers of the race, but in the correct order. |
| Trifecta | The trifecta is very similar to that of an exacta, but instead, you have to pick the top three finishers of the race, in the correct order. |
| First Four | The name probably gives it away, the first four is where you pick the top four finishers of the race, in the correct order. |
| Quaddie | The quaddie is where you pick the winner of four assigned races on the race card at the same track. |
Top Horse Racing Events in Australia
There are so many different horse racing events each year in Australia, the majority of them are classified as Group 1s, which is the highest grade in Australia. Some just have a stack of prize money on offer, which generates a lot of interest in the race.
All the best horse betting sites in Australia will provide heaps of markets for the top horse racing events. The most recognised horse racing events in Australia include:
- Melbourne Cup
- Cox Plate
- Caulfield Cup
- Victoria Derby
- The Everest
- The Golden Eagle
- Magic Millions 2YO Classic
- Golden Slipper
- All Star Mile
- Doncaster Mile
- Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Key Horse Racing Terms
There are A LOT of different horse racing terms and it can be quite overwhelming, especially for newbies. There are some common terms used at betting sites for horse racing that you should be aware of. Take a look at the terms below:
| Term | Definition |
| Blinkers | A device is placed on a runner’s head to limit their vision, which prevents the runner from swerving and hitting other horses. |
| Checked | If a horse gets checked, it means they have received some sort of interference. |
| Dead Heat | Two (or more) runners finish the race at exactly the same time. |
| First Up | A runner who is resuming from a spell (which is when a runner has a break from racing for a significant period). |
| Late Scratching | Where a runner is withdrawn from the race after 8am on the race day. |
| Maiden | A runner who is yet to win a race. |
| Scratched | A runner who is withdrawn from the race after the final field has been confirmed (but before 8am on the race day). |
| Track Conditions | This is the rating that is given to the track on race day. |
Features of Top Horse Racing Betting Sites
Not all horse racing betting sites are created equal, some stand out from the race. So, what makes those particular betting sites a cut above the rest? Well, there are some features that all the top betting sites have in common. We go through all the main features of the best online horse racing betting sites below.
Huge Range of Horse Racing Markets
A betting site cannot be considered the best if they don’t offer a huge range of horse racing markets. We went through all the common bet types above and the majority of the best bookies will offer those markets. On top of this, you’ll find some of the best horse betting sites in Australia will also offer futures markets and special markets for big racing events (like the Melbourne Cup).
Best Horse Racing Odds
It’s no secret that different betting sites will offer different odds for the exact same runner/ market. So, it’s a good idea to shop around as you could be leaving easy value on the table if not. We’ve found there are a couple of bookies that consistently offer higher odds when compared to others. Bookies like Bet365, PlayUp and Unibet are all good places to start.
Live Streaming of Horse Racing
More and more betting sites for horse racing are providing punters with the ability to watch the races live. Live streaming is especially important if you are on the go and can’t get to a TV to watch the race. It’s a good idea to check which races each bookie has the licence to live stream, so you don’t get disappointed last minute.
Live Betting for Horse Racing
Leading on from live streaming, there are a few betting sites in Australia that will also offer live betting for horse racing. Not all bookies offer live betting for horse racing, it’s more for sports, but we are seeing this feature become more popular. Things can change pretty quickly in horse racing, so you’ll need to have fast fingers to get your live bets sorted!
Horse Betting Sites Australia FAQs
When it comes to the best online horse betting sites, there is certainly a lot to cover! We’ve endeavoured to cover every aspect, but if you still have questions about this topic, our FAQs section should help you out. Check out all the common questions people have about the best horse racing websites in Australia below:
What is the best online horse betting site?
For horse racing betting, there isn’t just one “best” site. Some of the sites that we like for horse racing include; PlayUp, Bet365, Boombet and VicBet. We cover all these bookies and more by providing in-depth reviews of them, including our VicBet review.
Where can I bet on Australian horse racing?
There are so many different places where you can bet on horse racing in Australia. We have a full List of all betting sites that offer markets for horse racing and you should certainly check out if you’re in the market for a new bookie!
What is the most popular horse racing bet?
The most popular horse racing bet is the win bet. This is where you place a bet on the runner you think will win the race. Another common horse racing bet is the place bet, where you bet on the runner you think will run in the top three (as long as there are eight starters).
How to bet on horse racing online?
If you want to bet on horse racing online, the first thing you need to ensure is that you have a bookie account. Then make your way to the horse racing page and choose the race you’re looking to bet on. After that, choose the runner you want to bet on and your stake amount.
Can you bet on horses on your phone?
When it comes to horse racing betting sites, you can certainly bet on races on your phone. You can do this by using the mobile version of their website, or the bookie’s app. This means that even if you are out and about, you can still place your bets.
What types of bets are available for Australian horse racing?
There are plenty of different types of bets you can make on Australian horse racing. Some of the most common include win, place, each-way, quinella, exacta, trifecta, first four and a quaddie. It's a good idea to stick with the bet types you fully understand.
- Mybetting Australia
- Horse Racing Betting Sites