Current Minimum Bet Limits State by State! (as of 06/07/20)

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: For Victorian Thoroughbred events, the following minimum bet levels will be applicable for wagers made via account, after 9.00am AEST or AEDT (whichever is applicable) on race-day for day meetings or 2.00pm AEST or AEDT (whichever is applicable) on race-day for night meetings.
Metropolitan: $2,000, (*Place component $800)
Prov/Country: $1000 win bet, (*Place component $400)

HARNESS: For Victorian Harness events, the following minimum bet levels will be applicable for wagers made via account, from within an hour prior to the scheduled start time of the opening race of the meeting.
Metropolitan, win only: $1,000
Non Metro, win only: $500

GREYHOUNDS: For Victorian Greyhound events, the following minimum bet levels will be applicable for wagers made via account, from within two hours prior to the scheduled start time of the opening race of the meeting.
Metropolitan, win only: $750
Non Metro, win only: $500

NEW SOUTH WALES
THOROUGHBREDS:
For NSW Thoroughbred events, the following minimum bet levels will be applicable for wagers made via account, after 9.00am AEST or AEDT (whichever is applicable) on race-day for day meetings or 2.00pm AEST or AEDT (whichever is applicable) on race-day for night meetings.
Metropolitan: $2,000, (*Place component $800)
Prov/Country: $1000, (*Place component $400)

GREYHOUNDS: For New South Wales Greyhound events, the following minimum bet levels will be applicable for wagers made via account, from within two hours prior to the scheduled start time of the opening race of the meeting.
Metropolitan NSW Greyhound races – Group 1 Final Field Races and Million Dollar Chase Final: $2,000 (*Place component $1,000)
Metropolitan NSW Greyhound races – All other races: $750 (*Place component $375)

HARNESS: For NSW Harness events, the following minimum bet levels will be applicable for wagers made via account, after 10.00am AEST or AEDT (whichever is applicable) on race-day.
Metropolitan NSW Harness races, win only: $1,000
Non-Metropolitan NSW Harness races, win only: $500
All NSW Harness races at that Platinum Race Meeting, win only: $2,000

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
THOROUGHBREDS:
For South Australian Thoroughbred events, the following minimum bet levels will be applicable for wagers made via account, after 9.00am ACST on race-day for day meetings or 2.00pm ACST on race-day for night meetings.
Metropolitan: $2,000, (*Place component $800)
Prov/Country: $1000, (*Place component $400)

HARNESS & GREYHOUNDS:
Nil

QUEENSLAND
THOROUGHBREDS:
For Queensland Thoroughbred events, the following minimum bet level will be applicable for wagers made via account, after 9.00am AEST on race-day
Metropolitan: $2,000, (*Place component $800)
Prov/Country: $1000, (*Place component $400)

HARNESS: For Queensland Harness events, the following minimum bet level will be applicable for wagers made via account, from within an hour prior to the scheduled start time of the opening race of the meeting.
Any Queensland Harness Race, win only: $500

GREYHOUNDS: For Queensland Greyhound events, the following minimum bet level will be applicable for wagers made via account, from within an hour prior to the scheduled start time of the opening race of the meeting.
Any Queensland Greyhound Race, win only: $500

TASMAINIA
THOROUGHBREDS: For Tasmanian Thoroughbred events, the following minimum bet level will be applicable for wagers made via account, after 9.00am AEST or AEDT (whichever is applicable) on race-day for day meetings or 2.00pm AEST or AEDT (whichever is applicable) on race-day for meetings commencing after 5.00pm AEST or AEDT (whichever is applicable)
All Races $1,000, (*Place component $400)

HARNESS & GREYHOUNDS:
Nil

ACT
THOROUGHBREDS:
For Thoroughbred events conducted in Canberra, the following minimum bet levels will be applicable for wagers made via account, after 9.00am AEST or AEDT (whichever is applicable) on race-day.
All Races: $1,000, (*Place component $400)
Black Opal Stakes Race Meeting: $2,000, (*Place component $800)

HARNESS & GREYHOUNDS:
Nil

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:
THOROUGHBRED, HARNESS & GREYHOUNDS:
Nil

As you can see Victoria Queensland and NSW 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.

Information on MBL’s are taken from https://help.tabtouch.com.au/knowledge-base/mbl-minimum-bet-limit/