Melbourne Cup Betting: The Top Guide

The Melbourne Cup is the pinnacle of thoroughbred horse racing in the Australian continent. If you’re seeking to get in on the spoils, our Melbourne Cup betting guide is packed full of information to advance your knowledge of this event. Read through each section for a comprehensive overview of the race.

Written by: Luke Andrews

Updated on: 17.01.2024

The Best Melbourne Cup Betting Sites

• 🥇 Ladbrokes ✪ Top Melbourne Cup Betting Site
• 🥈 BetVictor ✪ Great Melbourne Cup Odds
• 🥉 Coral ✪ Secure Melbourne Cup Bookie
• ✪ Grosvenor ✪ Top for New Players
• ✪ 888sport ✪ Widest Melbourne Cup Market Selection

As you can see, these are the operators that make betting on Melbourne Cup a top experience. They have been tried and tested by our team and are the ones that clearly come out on top in comparison to the others. Below, you can see the categories in which they did well.

As you may notice, there are many categories that define betting on Melbourne Cup, so depending on what you want you may choose a certain bookie. In the sections below, we will highlight how our team judged each of the criteria.

How we Chose the Best Bookmakers for the Melbourne Cup

When we choose the sites to recommend to our readership, we take a distinctive look at each member of the list in close detail – we have a betting sites rating criteria to achieve this. Once this has been achieved the process generally relies on our personal experiences with the sportsbook, the feedback we receive from our readers and the objective quality of the unique features available at each sportsbook.

 Our top bookmakers meet the following criteria:

• 1. Excellent level of payouts and generous return potential.
• 2. Best range of horse racing promotions exclusive for the Melbourne Cup.
• 3. Thorough range of live streaming for the entirety of the race.
• 4. Check out all the specific markets related to this race.

We narrowed down our analysis into four primary categories. With each of the sections in the above navigation element, you’ll be able to quickly identify where to place your bets based of personal preferences. To see each criteria in more detail, follow the links to the appropriate paragraph.

Melbourne Cup Odds

Who offers the best odds for horse racing betting is one of the main things we take into consideration when reviewing a site. The Melbourne Cup odds 2024 are offered by many bookies. When betting on the Melbourne Cup it is good to look at all operators and compare the odds they put on offer. In the table below, you can find the current odds of the Melbourne Cup of the ante-post markets.

The Melbourne Cup odds will fluctuate around the days leading up to the race, so it is a good idea to come and check back and see how the prices look closer to the event. What is sure, is that there is some good value to be found.

The Importance of Payouts

Payouts have been an important aspect of betting since the beginning of bookmaking. Odds are set by the bookies and choosing the right place to bet can make a significant difference in your returns over a long period of time. If you’re looking for a betting site to give you the best payout possible, you’ll have to remain agile. Being flexible in your approach to betting will always enable you to pick the best market price.

Best Melbourne Cup Betting Offers

One thing that punters are always drawn to is an attractive welcome offer. Exclusive Melbourne Cup betting offers are not overly common, but they do exist. The good news is that you’ll be able to deploy any regular sportsbook welcome bonus on many different markets available at this event.

Live Betting and Streaming

The option of live streaming is available at several sportsbooks in our top 5 entries. With this added functionality you’ll be able to bet, browse markets of future races, and watch the races you’ve got bets on all from the sportsbook dashboard. This incredibly popular feature requires users to make a small deposit and bet on the races, once this has been done, the streams will become live and available for you to bet on.

Number of Markets Available

The number of betting markets is not such a pressing issue at horse racing sportsbooks, due to the limited nature of the betting. The biggest presence that any punter can make on number of markets available is limited usually to winners and multiples bets. There are of course many methods one can take to extend the odds levels of a high-profile race, customising the criteria to give the greatest chance at success.

The Type of Melbourne Cup Markets

In this section we will now go into detail on the type of markets and bets you can place on the race. This can range from the simpler ‘straight bets’, to the ‘exotic bets’ that require more knowledge and luck! Below, you will find a description of some of the betting markets for this race, if you want a general overview of the sport, check out or dedicated horse racing page. Otherwise, keep on reading!

Straight Bets

When working out which markets you’d like to gamble on, it’s a good idea to have a thorough representation of the full options in your head before proceeding. Horse racing can usually be defined into two separate camps, the straight bets make up the simple win bets and each-ways that customers love to deploy as an insurance mechanism against their horse getting pipped at the post.

The Win Bet

The horse who wins the race takes all the glory. Punters betting on this market will be used to making bets of long odds, and you can take a favorite to win in a large field of horses for approximately 5/1 on average. With these kinds of odds you need to behave yourself and not go to excessive on the stake as the likeliness of you losing is particularly high. A great deal of expertise and a dash of luck is required when making this bet.

The Place Bet

Placing horses correctly on your bet slip is no easy task. In fact it is a terribly difficult thing to do. Very much the same statistical principles as the win bet, the place bet you are calling a single horse to finish in a specific place. With this action you’ll receive a massive payment if your bet returns true and you win. But in the rare occasion that you don’t succeed with the bet and need to find and alternative more conservative strategy, look below at our description of the each-way bet.

The Each-Way Bet

The each-way bet at any horse race, including Melbourne, is a split between a win and places bet. Depending on the race in question will depend on how many horses qualify in the winning places, the larger the field the more places this will be. In the Grand National for example the top 6 horses will qualify for the each way rewards. Your stake is the same for both the win and places portions of the each-way bet. If your horse wins, both these bets will win – if he finishes in the winning places only, then your each-way bet will win and you’ll be paid at ¼ of the odds for him winning.

Exotic bets on the Melbourne Cup

The name really does suggest these bets are somehow inaccessible and undertaken by mavericks of the horse racing betting world. Whilst that is somewhat true, they are easy to understand and can be incredibly rewarding if implemented well. Below you’ll find primary examples of each of the exotic markets available at Melbourne Cup betting sites.

The Tricast Bet

The tricast bet is the most popular type of bet in this category. It allows punters the exclusive opportunity to bet on a very long-range outcome, one that will see huge returns if it lands. These bets cannot be made lightly, and you’ll need to successfully predict the horses placing in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, to land it. No easy task by any means. It’s one that really separates the wheat from the chaff, and if it comes in you’ll be laughing all the way to the bank. It’s a great little bet and one that gets the heart pounding.

The Forecast Bet

If you thought the tricast bet was tricky, then you should have a closer look at the forecast bet. This bet is very much similar in concept to the aforementioned, but you’ll only need to land the first 2 horses for the bet to win. Those are decent odds by anybody’s standards, and the signature to success is taking two horses you think are capable of winning the race outright. This is easier to think about, as often there are two clear favourites in the field. However, keep in mind you still need to get the exact finishing order correct too!

Superfecta bet

The Superfecta bet really is one of the most ambitious bets you can make in horse racing. The massive combination requires you to pick the horses that will finish in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th! The odds for such a bet, as you can imagine, are astronomical. You will need to make plenty of these bets with various combinations if you want to give yourself a realistic chance of landing one. It is notoriously difficult to be successful, and if you do win one of these, you should expect that you will make the evening news with tales of your success!

All you Need to Know about the Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup info
Nome:	The Melbourne Cup
Headquarters:	Melbourne, Victoria
Year of foundation:	1861
Sponsor:	Lexus
Website:	www.flemington.com.au
Race Type:	Grade I Stakes Race
Surface:	Turf
Prize Money:	$5.6 million

The Melbourne Cup is a traditional thoroughbred race taking place in Australia on the 1st Tuesday of each November. The race has become the elite cup for horse racing on the continent, with it being billed as the richest two-mile handicap event in horse racing, with many considering it one of the richest races on the general racing circuit. But with the race going for nearly 2 centuries, there are many that consider it a pinnacle event in the annual racing calendar.

The total prize money for this event is around $8,000,000 – and corporate boxes in the grand stand go from $20,000 – numbers that truly demonstrate the authority this event has. If you’re looking for a surefire way to enjoy horse racing in the Southern hemisphere then the Melbourne Cup is the perfect event for you. In the sun baked city of Melbourne, you can truly enjoy the horses at the height of summer.

In the Australian racing scene, there is nothing better than this. It’s the pinnacle that every jockey and trainer wants to reach. Due to its popularity it has also begun to see interest worldwide and many now watch or bet on the race from afar. There is nothing better than seeing the best Australian’s do their thing, and that is why the punters love it.

All the info on the Horses of the Melbourne Cup

The race is the true home of thoroughbred horses in Australia, but the immediate impact is a diverse range of horses and jockeys from all over the world. Although the race is primarily run by Australian runners and horses, many great incumbents from the international scene join in for the festivities of this event.

Legends of the Past

This is a race that harbors a lot of legendary talent from all corners of the horse racing world. From top-class jockeys to the highest quality thoroughbred horses, the Melbourne Cup is home to elite level horse racing. Past legends of the Melbourne include the likes of 4-time winning jockey: Bobby Lewis and 12-time winning trainer: Bart Cummings. With these legends at the helm the sport grew and the Melbourne Cup became the fantastic event that it is to this day.

Melbourne Cup Records

It’s always interesting to keep an eye on the records that come with each famous horse race. Some of the greatest participants of thoroughbred horse racing have been in the last few years, but below we have delved a bit deeper and offer you some interesting records held by competitors of this contest.

History of the Melbourne Cup and Betting

This is a race that is packed full of historical moments, the tale of Australian racing is truly embedded into the fabric of this event. The sport of horse racing is definitely one that is made better by this annual spectatle, see some of the key milestones below.

Discover the Best Bookies for the Melbourne Cup

Melbourne Cup and Bookmakers Sponsorship

The Melbourne Cup is an annual event that captures the attention of the entire sporting world. Punters from across the world flock to see the horses race across the turf, and witness some of the best jockeys and trainers flaunt their expertise. Sponsorship plays a heavy part in horse racing, and the Melbourne Cup has built partnerships with several successful brands to further their ambitions of becoming the biggest event in the horse racing calendar. The likes of Lexus and Emirates currently sit at the top of sponsorship for this event. Partnership deals also extend to Melbourne Cup bookmakers such as Ladbrokes, with the firm playing an important role at the track on race day.

Which Bookies You Should Avoid?

There are of course a few obvious answers to this question. The sport of horse racing is one that has been corruptible for some time, many of the participants compete on a fair basis, but many do not. If you want to advance to greatness in the sport of horse racing, then do so by playing the markets correctly and at fully licensed and regulated betting sites only. By doing this you can be sure that you’re going to have a pleasurable gaming experience.

Facts and Anecdotes about Betting on Melbourne Cup

As we are drawing this review to a conclusion it is about time that we took a closer look into this events best moments from the previous decade. Whether you’re more interested in discovering the best places for this course or want more info on the luxury packages you can book with these guys, you’ll find some details of that in the boxes below.

Nowhere in the world have I encountered a festival of people that has such a magnificent appeal to the whole nation. The Melbourne Cup astonishes me.

Mark Twain

TO THE TOP BOOKIES LIST

FAQ

Now we have finished with our look at the Melbourne Cup, we have covered everything that is of importance. If you still have some questions, please read the FAQ below or feel free to send us an email at info@bestbettingsites.com.

1️⃣ What are the best Melbourne Cup betting sites?

There are many places that facilitate betting on the Melbourne cup. The top five Melbourne Cup betting sites were chosen by our experts, and all offer something unique to each punter.

2️⃣ Can I find dedicated promotions for the Melbourne Cup race?

There are many promotions available on the Melbourne Cup, but the important consideration to remember is all bookie welcome offers are applicable to these races.

3️⃣ Can I bet on the Melbourne Cup from the UK?

Betting on the Melbourne Cup is possible from the UK. You'll just have to account for the time difference with this race taking place in a different part of the world.

4️⃣ What are the Melbourne Cup 2024 betting odds?

We have listed the Melbourne Cup odds higher up on this page. They change frequently, especially in the build-up to the event, so it is best to check back beforehand when you are ready to place a bet.