Horse racing betting sites are among the most well-established sportsbooks available in Australia. There are dozens of licensed bookmakers where you can place wagers on upcoming races, from the Melbourne Cup to the Grand National.
Here, our experts are taking a detailed look at online racing betting in Australia. We’ll cover the legal status of betting on horse racing down under, along with the most popular types of wagers available. Plus, our guide also features a shortlist of racing bookmakers you may wish to consider, including Picklebet, bet365, and Betr.com.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Horse Race Betting Sites in Australia?
Before we conclude our guide to Australian horse race wagering, here’s a summary look at the key pros and cons you should consider before participating in race betting down under.
Horse Race Betting Pros and Cons
Well-established race betting infrastructure
Dozens of top-rated horse race bookmakers
Legal in all Australian states
Heavily regulated with some restrictions
Is Horse Race Betting Legal in Australia?
Horse racing is among the oldest and most heavily regulated sports betting markets available at
bookmakers in Australia. Indeed, the emergence of track-side betting is directly linked to the origins of online sports betting down under, so, yes, it’s 100% legal to bet on horse racing in Australia.
Of course, there are some considerations before choosing to bet on horse racing in Oz. You
must
only ever register with a licensed sportsbook that is permitted to offer online horse race betting in your state/territory. You’ll also need to be over 18, and this may rise to 21 depending on the sportsbook you’re using.
Note, too, that full KYC (know your customer) verification checks are required when joining a new horse racing betting site in Australia. KYC verification checks usually involve uploading evidence of your ID, date of birth, and residential address, typically in the form of a passport or driver’s licence, along with a recent utility bill. You may also need to provide a recent selfie that matches the photograph found on your photo ID.
How Do You Bet on Horse Racing Online in Australia?
Betting on horse racing is among the world’s oldest forms of gambling. However, if you’ve only ever wagered down at the track, things might look a little unfamiliar when you decide to branch out and try online horse race betting as well.
So, with that in mind, we’ve put together a comprehensive step-by-step guide on the process of getting started at a new horse race betting site in Australia.
Step 1:
Choose your preferred sportsbook from the list of recommended retailers found in the banners around this page. All of these sites have been independently checked, reviewed, and verified to ensure that they’re licensed in Australia.
Step 2:
Visit the sportsbook you’ve selected and look over its offering, prioritising its T&Cs, privacy policy, and any other information that could impact your experience.
Step 3:
After completing these due diligence checks, it’s time to create your new sportsbook account. To do that, simply tap the “Sign Up” button or similar to launch the registration screen, where you’ll need to input details like your name, date of birth, address, and contact information.
Step 4:
When you’ve registered your new account details, you’ll then need to pass a series of new-member verification checks. This may involve verifying your email address and telephone number before completing KYC verification. This typically entails uploading evidence to confirm your ID, DOB, and address, usually in the form of a passport/driver’s licence, a recent utility bill, or bank statement.
Step 5:
Once your account is verified, you’re then ready to make your first deposit, which is required to place individual horse racing bets. You’ll usually need to deposit at least AU$10 to get started with a new sportsbook in Australia.
Step 6:
With funds added to your virtual bankroll, you’re ready to access horse race betting markets. Simply navigate to the equestrian betting category and browse the latest horse race betting odds before locking in your selected wagers.
The Different Ways to Bet on Horse Racing at Australian Betting Sites
While horse racing betting sites are heavily regulated in Australia, this doesn’t impact the flexibility of the different betting types they offer. There is a broad spread of different wagering formats for equestrian racing in Oz, as highlighted in our quick-reference guide below.
Betting type
Key details
Win
The simplest and most popular form of horse race betting in Australia is, of course, outright winner wagers. This is when you predict which horse will win a race, locking in your wager before the event gets underway.
Place
If you’d prefer to spread your bet and improve your odds of winning, a “place” bet could be a more comfortable starting point for beginner bettors. Here, your horse must place 1st, 2nd or 3rd in a race, which means lower risk and, consequently, lower reward.
Each-way
With an each-way horse race bet, this is basically a hybrid of both win and place wagers. One half of your wager is based on the winner, while the other is a place bet.
Show
With show wagers, any horse you bet on must place within the top three of a given event. While not as common as place and win bets, show wagers are often seen at bookmakers in Australia.
Exotic
With exotic horse race betting wagers, you can choose between four combination wagers, including:
A Shortlist of Horse Racing Betting Sites to Try in Australia
Australia has a rich history of horse race betting, and this is reflected in the wide array of online sportsbooks that prioritise equestrian events among their list of available sports markets. As such, you might find it difficult to select the right bookmaker for your needs, which is why our experts have weighed in with a shortlist of three sites you may wish to consider.
Having been licensed by the Northern Territory Racing Commission in March 2017, Picklebet has risen steadily to become one of Australia’s go-to sports betting retailers. The brand is revered for the strength of its sportsbook odds, which extend to horse racing, as well as for the strength of its mobile interface and complementary app.
Horse race betting at Picklebet gives members the chance to access a broad sweep of different markets, including all exotics and first four bets. You can access both domestic and international races, including tote parimutuel odds that fluctuate right up until the start of an event.
Bet365 – A Big-name Bookmaker with a Long History Down Under
Extensive range of sports and betting markets
Offers incredibly competitive odds
Dedicated bet365 mobile app available
Live streaming not available for all sports
bet365 received its sportsbook gaming licence way back in 2011, making it one of Australia’s best-established bookmakers. Of course, this is a heavyweight betting brand of the highest order, with bet365 currently available in dozens of countries worldwide. So, if trust and reputation are priorities for you, this could be a deciding factor.
As for bet365’s equestrian offering, members can expect competitive odds and a comprehensive variety of race betting markets. The brand is also revered for its innovative betting tools and pre-race analysis features, along with its celebrated “Bet Builder” platform.
Betr.com – A Strong Racing Focus
Licensed and legal in Australia
Fast, user-friendly mobile app
$5 minimum deposit for most methods
24/7 live chat and phone support
No live streaming available
Decimal odds format only
Betr.com has established itself as one of the leading names in horse race betting in Australia. The brand has a special focus on horse, harness, and greyhound racing, so if you enjoy trackside betting, Betr.com could be worth your time and attention.
Since Betr.com leans heavily on racing markets, you can expect super-competitive odds on your selected nags. It also offers a slew of attractive features like same-race multi bets, while its mobile app is reliable and streamlined, perfect for placing new wagers on the move.
Look Forward to a Comprehensive Race Betting Experience
Horse race wagering is well-established in Australia, with the country’s top-rated bookmakers prioritising racing events among their coverage of betting markets. If you’re interested in betting on international and domestic horse races, you may like to consider brands like Picklebet, bet365, and Betr.com, since our experts believe that these brands offer the most comprehensive experience for Australian bettors. Learn more about each of these brands in turn via the links on this page.
Recommended Betting Sites in 2026
Horse Racing Betting Sites FAQs
It’s 100% legal to bet on horse racing in Australia, so long as you do so at licensed bookmakers like Picklebet and bet365.
You will need to be 18 to bet on horse racing in Australia, with brands requiring members to submit evidence confirming their DOB as part of mandatory KYC verification checks.
The Melbourne Cup is, without question, the race that attracts the most betting custom.
