Current Minimum Bet Limits State by State! (as of 18/07/19)

With recent changes in minimum bet laws we thought we’d give you a state-by-state break down to make it easier for punters out there to know their rights.

WHAT ARE MBL’s?

MBL’s were brought in at a state level to allow punters to be able to place bets, why would they do that you ask?

Well our lovely friends the corporate bookmakers took most of the money from on track bookies with their online influx, buyouts & mergers. On course bookmakers used to let you on consistently for $20,000 and often much more, as the corporates started to take over the market they started to pick and choose which punters they wanted and who was allowed to bet with them, obviously if you consistently win you are a liability to their profit and so you were banned, account closed. Realising State Governments were missing out on revenue and with a fair push from industry participants they created Minimum Bet Limits. Now you can’t be banned just restricted.

Restricted punters you ask?
Yes, believe it or not the corporate bookmakers love accepting bets from losing punters. But, if you’re a winner and regularly take money from them their pesky algorithms will soon pick up that you’re a liability and you’ll receive an email saying you’re no longer eligible for promotions. Upon receiving this email you’ll notice when trying to place bets outside of the MBL’s you can no longer bet more than a few dollars at a time. So, when your mate that’s always telling you about his big wins drops another “I picked up a $2,000 trifecta story,” first ask how many restricted accounts he has. If he looks at you a little funny, you’ll know he might be a donator.

As the states make taxes off wagering operators it is in their interests to allow punters to bet decent amounts. This raises the point of responsible gambling, because if bookies are going to allow someone to lose vast sums of money betting then it’s absolutely right they should also let punters win a decent amount of money. So, is it morally wrong to have one without the other?

Just one more time for those who find it hard to grasp, the below numbers are the amount you can win per bet i.e. if a horse is $3 and the limit is $2,000 you can place a $1,000 fixed odds bet on that horse to win $2000.

The laws are as follows:

“Approved Australian off-course wagering operators are required to lay the odds displayed for fixed odds bets after 9:00am on race-day for thoroughbred day meetings or 2:00pm on race-day for thoroughbred night meetings to the limits below” (9am onwards for all meetings in QLD and the ACT)

VICTORIA:
THOROUGHBREDS:
Metropolitan: $2,000 win bet, $800 place bet
Pro/Country: $1000 win bet, $400 place bet
https://www.racingvictoria.com.au/wagering/minimum-bet-policy-faq

HARNESS:
Metropolitan: $1,000 win bet
Non Metro: $500 win bet
Operators must publish fixed odds on Victorian harness racing fields no later than one 1 hour prior to each race.
https://www.harness.org.au/media-room/news-article/?news_id=35054

GREYHOUNDS:
Metropolitan: $750 win bet
Non Metro: $500 win bet
Bet can only be placed within two hours of the first race of the meeting and up until start time of the race.
http://www.grv.org.au/wagering/

NEW SOUTH WALES:
THOROUGHBREDS:
Metropolitan: $2,000 win bet, $800 place bet
Pro/Country: $1000 win bet, $400 place bet
https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf

HARNESS & GREYHOUNDS:
Nil

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
THOROUGHBREDS:
Metropolitan: $2,000 win bet, $800 place bet
Pro/Country: $1000 win bet, $400 place bet
https://www.racing.com/news/2018-07-03/sa-introduces-minimum-bet-limit

HARNESS & GREYHOUNDS:
Nil

QUEENSLAND:
THOROUGHBREDS:
Metropolitan: $2,000 win bet, $800 place bet
Pro/Country: $1000 win bet, $400 place bet
https://www.racingqueensland.com.au/Corporate/Wagering-Licencing/minimum-bet-limits

HARNESS:
$500 win bet
https://www.racingqueensland.com.au/getmedia/a67542ee-aa17-4a46-b7a0-b76982f1e565/General-Conditions-effective-1-July-2019.pdf.aspxx

GREYHOUNDS:
$500 win bet
https://www.racingqueensland.com.au/getmedia/a67542ee-aa17-4a46-b7a0-b76982f1e565/General-Conditions-effective-1-July-2019.pdf.aspxx

TASMAINIA:
THOROUGHBREDS: $1,000 win bet
https://tasracing.com.au/minimum-bet-limit-introduced-tasmanian-thoroughbred-racing

HARNESS & GREYHOUNDS:
Nil

ACT:
THOROUGHBREDS: $1,000 Win bet, $400 place bet
Black Opal Stakes Race Meeting: $2,000 win bet, $800 place bet
https://rfl.thoroughbredpark.com.au/_pdf/2017_Frequently_Asked_Questions.pdf

HARNESS & GREYHOUNDS:
Nil

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:
THOROUGHBRED, HARNESS & GREYHOUNDS:
Nil

As you can see Victoria and Queensland are clearly leading the way with all 3 codes covered.

Educate your friends on the issue and contact your state racing body to push for a 3 code system in each state!

If you feel that a bookie is acting outside of these rules contact your state regulatory body.

Leave a comment