Best racing betting sites in New Zealand — compared
Every book below accepts New Zealand punters, quotes odds in decimal format and has been checked against our 25-point review process. For NZ domestic racing, Trackside remains the benchmark for tote depth; the offshore books below lead on international fixed-odds racing. Sign-up offers are the headline welcome bonuses at the time of writing — always confirm current terms. 18+, T&Cs apply, minimum-odds and rollover conditions vary.
| # | Bookmaker | Sign-up offer | Racing coverage | NZD | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  22bet | 100% up to NZ$230 | Wide international fixed odds | Yes (native) | 4.6 ★★★★★ | Visit |
| 2 |  Rabona | 100% up to NZ$150 (1x rollover) | Horse & greyhound fixed odds | Yes | 4.4 ★★★★☆ | Visit |
| 3 |  Billybets | 100% up to ~NZ$180 | Solid racing fixed odds | Yes | 4.2 ★★★★☆ | Visit |
| 4 |  Goldenbet | 100% up to ~NZ$900 | Strong + streaming | Listed | 4.2 ★★★★☆ | Visit |
Advertiser disclosure: Coast Cake Supplies may earn a commission when you sign up through links on this page. This never affects our ratings or rankings — see our review methodology and affiliate disclosure.
Horse and greyhound racing in New Zealand
New Zealand racing runs across three codes, all covered by Trackside and, for major overseas meetings, the offshore books:
- Thoroughbred (gallops) — flat and jumps racing at tracks like Ellerslie, Riccarton and Trentham, building to the New Zealand Cup and the summer carnival.
- Harness (trots) — standardbred pacing and trotting, with the New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington a highlight of the calendar.
- Greyhound racing — night meetings across the country, with quick fields that suit exotic betting.
Beyond New Zealand, punters follow Australian racing heavily — the Melbourne Cup, the Everest and the big Sydney and Melbourne carnivals — plus UK, Irish, Hong Kong and Japanese meetings, all available at the offshore books with fixed odds.
Fixed odds vs tote betting
The single most important concept in racing betting is the difference between the two pricing systems:
- Fixed odds — the price is locked in the moment you place your bet. You know your exact return regardless of how the market moves before the jump. All the offshore books above are fixed-odds only.
- Tote (parimutuel) — every stake goes into a shared pool, and the final dividend is set only after the race, once the pool is divided among the winning bets. Trackside is the home of tote betting in New Zealand, and it is the only way to play the big multi-race pools.
Racing bet types explained
- Win — the simplest bet: your horse or dog must finish first.
- Place — your selection must finish in the placings (usually first, second or third, depending on field size), at shorter odds than a win bet.
- Each-way — two bets in one: half your stake to win, half to place. If it wins, both parts pay; if it only places, the place part pays at a fraction of the win odds.
- Win and place / eachway multis — combine selections across races for bigger returns.
Exotics: from quinella to Pick 6
Exotic bets ask you to predict more than one runner or more than one race, and they pay accordingly:
- Quinella — the first two past the post in any order.
- Exacta — the first two in the exact order.
- Trifecta — the first three in the exact order.
- First Four — the first four in the exact order, a big-paying, hard-to-land bet.
- Daily Double / Pick 6 — winners across multiple nominated races; the multi-race tote pools that can carry huge dividends and jackpots on Trackside.
Exotics reward form study and staking strategy. Boxing a trifecta (covering every order of your chosen runners) costs more but improves your chance of collecting.
Trackside (TAB NZ) vs offshore books
Trackside, run by TAB NZ, is the only domestically licensed racing operator and the clear home of New Zealand racing: every local meeting, the deepest tote pools, all three codes and the multi-race exotics. It also funds the New Zealand racing industry directly. Its trade-off is fixed-odds prices that can be tighter than the sharpest offshore books on major overseas races. The offshore books above add international fixed-odds racing and sometimes sharper prices on Australian and UK meetings, plus live streaming in some cases. The practical answer for most Kiwi punters is to use both: Trackside for NZ racing and tote pools, an offshore book for international fixed-odds fixtures.
How to bet on the races: a step-by-step
- 1. Open an account — register at a book that accepts NZ punters, verify your identity (18+) and set a deposit limit.
- 2. Deposit in NZD — use Visa/Mastercard debit, bank transfer, PayTo/Online EFTPOS or an e-wallet. Some NZ cards block gambling transactions post-2025, so crypto is a common workaround.
- 3. Find the meeting — navigate to Racing, then the code (gallops, harness, greyhounds) and the race.
- 4. Choose fixed or tote — take a fixed price for certainty, or the tote for exotics and outsider value.
- 5. Pick your bet — start with win or each-way before moving to exotics.
- 6. Place the bet — add it to your slip, enter your stake in NZD and confirm.
Play it safe
You must be 18 or over to bet in New Zealand. Betting should be entertainment, not a way to make money. Set a deposit limit before you play, never chase losses, and take breaks. If gambling stops being fun, free confidential help is available 24/7 from the Gambling Helpline NZ on 0800 654 655, the Problem Gambling Foundation (0800 664 262) and Safer Gambling Aotearoa. Read our full responsible gambling guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I bet on horse racing in New Zealand?
Trackside (TAB NZ) is the home of NZ thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing, with local fixtures and tote betting. Among offshore books, 22bet, Rabona and Goldenbet carry international racing with fixed odds. There is no offence for a player who uses an offshore site.
What is the difference between fixed odds and tote betting?
With fixed odds, the price is locked when you bet, so your return is known. With tote (parimutuel) betting, all stakes go into a pool and the dividend is set after the race. Trackside offers both; most offshore books offer fixed odds only.
What is an each-way bet in racing?
It is two bets in one: half your stake on the horse to win, half on it to place. If it wins, both parts pay; if it only places, the place part pays at a fraction of the win odds. It is a popular way to back an outsider with a safety net.
What are exotic bets in horse racing?
Exotics are multi-horse bets. A quinella needs the first two in any order; an exacta needs them in order; a trifecta needs the first three in order; a first four needs the top four. Multi-race exotics like the Pick 6 need winners across several races.
Is Trackside better than offshore books for NZ racing?
For NZ domestic racing, yes — Trackside has the deepest local coverage, tote pools and every meeting. Offshore books add international fixed-odds racing and often sharper prices on major overseas meetings. Many punters use both.
Are racing betting winnings taxed in New Zealand?
No, not as a recreational punter — gambling winnings are a tax-free windfall in New Zealand, so you keep 100% of what you win. Only people who bet as a business, or a professional syndicate operating for profit, may have their winnings treated as taxable income by Inland Revenue.
Coast Cake Supplies is an independent guide. We do not operate any gambling service and take no bets. Operators listed are licensed offshore and accept New Zealand players. 18+. Gamble responsibly.