Updated: October 31st, 2022
How to Bet on the Melbourne Cup Online
To bet on the Melbourne Cup online simply choose an online betting site from the list below. Then create your free account, make a deposit, and choose one or multiple horses to bet on. Finally, confirm your bet.
You must be an Australian resident and at least 18 years old to bet on the Melbourne Cup online.
Choose a Betting Site
Our experts recommend the following Melbourne Cup betting sites - especially if you are new to betting:
- Neds.com.au - High odds across the board & a full Melbourne Cup guide
- PlayUp.com.au - The best 'Win' odds & easy to use apps/website
- Bet365.com.au - High 'Place' odds & many different payment options
Choosing a Melbourne Cup betting site doesn't have to be hard.
Most betting sites in Australia are pretty similar but some have slightly better odds, are a little easier to use, and have additional Melbourne Cup guides, predictions, and statistics.
Create a Betting Account
To sign up with a betting site for the Melbourne Cup you'll need to select one of the green 'Visit' buttons below.
The signup process at Australian betting sites is about as streamlined as it gets.
It takes a maximum of 5 minutes to create an account and start betting - even faster if you're a speed typer!
You'll also have to enter some basic personal information and confirm that you are an Australian resident and over 18.
Creating a betting account is free and requires no obligation to wager any money.
Make a Deposit
To make a deposit simply log in to your betting account, go to the 'payments' section and select 'deposit', then choose a payment option and enter your payment information.
Before you can place your bet on the Melbourne Cup you'll have to make a deposit.
This process works just like buying something online and most betting sites have a range of payment options including PayPal, Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, BPAY, POLi and more. If you're betting on cup day, be sure to choose an instant deposit method.
All of the Australian betting sites that we recommend hold gambling licences and all online betting payments are secured by the latest SSL encryption technology.
Find a Bet
To find a bet to place on the Melbourne Cup you'll need to go to the 'racing' section of your betting website and then select 'Melbourne Cup'. You'll then see the odds for each horse to 'Win' (come first) and to 'Place' (come 1st, 2nd or 3rd).
This is when the fun begins! There are a variety of different ways to bet on the Melbourne Cup from simple Win or Place bets to fancier 'Exotic' bets like each way bets, quinellas, trifectas, and first-fours.
You can choose your bet by selecting the odds displayed for a horse and you can combine bets into multiples or exotics by selecting a few different horses/odds.
Remember that the higher the odds are, the less likely the bookmaker thinks that horse's chances are - but high odds also mean more winnings if you are correct!
Place Your Bet
To place your bet you'll first need to enter your 'Bet Stake'. Your bet stake is how much money you want to wager on the horse that you have selected.
After choosing the horse(s) that you want to bet on and selecting the odds displayed on your chosen betting site your bet slip will open automatically.
After entering your bet stake, place your bet by simply selecting the 'Place Bet' option.
You'll also see your 'Estimated Winnings' amount after entering your bet stake so you know how much you'll win should your horse win or place.
Now just sit back, relax and watch the race!
Below, our experts have listed their 10 best Melbourne Cup betting sites and explained how to place various different Melbourne Cup bets ('Win', 'Place', and different types of 'Exotics').
Place a Bet on the Melbourne Online with:
Stats, Multis, Exotics, Best Tote Odds
Highest 'Win' Fixed Odds
Highest 'Place' & 'Underdog' Odds
Easy to Use & High Fixed Odds
Speedmaps, Race Predictions & Exotics
Special Bet Types & Competitive Odds
Top Fluc Odds & Best Customer Support
Simple Bookie, New in 2022
Not sure where to bet on the Melbourne Cup? We have a separate article that reviews Australia's 20+ best Melbourne Cup bookies. Or go here for our beginner's guide to Melbourne Cup betting.
How to Place Melbourne Cup Bets Online
To see all of the different types of bets that you place on the Melbourne Cup you will need to navigate to the 'Racing' section of your chosen bookmaker and then select 'Melbourne Cup'.
There are many different bets that you can place bets on the Melbourne Cup from classic 'Win' and 'Place' bets to more complicated 'Each Way' bets, 'Quaddies', 'Same Race Multis' or even 'Mystery Bets'.
Learn more about what these different Melbourne Cup bet types are, and how to place them, by using the links below to jump to a section:
Ways to Place a Bet on the Melbourne Cup
- Win - A bet on one horse to finish first
- Place - A bet on one horse to finish first, second or third
- Each Way - Two bets on one horse to both win and place
- Quinella - A bet on two or more horses to finish first and second, in any order
- Exacta - A bet on two or more horses to finish first and second, in the correct order
- Trifecta - A bet on three or more horses to finish first, second and third, in the correct order
- First 4 - A bet on four or more horses to finish first, second, third and fourth, in the correct order
- Quaddie/Quadrella - A bet on four or more horses to finish first, in four different nominated races
- Treble - A bet on three or more horses to finish first, in three different nominated races
- Double - A bet on two or more horses to finish first, in two different nominated races
- Same Race Multi - A bet on two or more horses to finish in the top 1, 2, 3 or 4 positions
- Special Bets - May include mystery bets, favourite vs field, or odd vs even bets
How to Place Melbourne Cup 'Win' Bets Online
A 'Win' bet is a bet on which horse will win the race.
To place a Melbourne Cup 'Win' bet, simply pick the horse that you think will win and then select if you want the Fixed Odds price, Best Tote price, Top Fluctuation price, or the Starting Price. Then enter your bet stake and confirm the bet.
Your winnings = Bet stake x 'Win' odds
We recommend PlayUp for 'Win' Bets
Highest Fixed 'Win' Odds
Also offers Best Tote + Starting Price & Top Fluctuation 'Win' Odds

To bet on a 'Win' or 'Place' at the Melbourne Cup simply select the Win/Place tab and then select the Win or Place odds that you want for the horse(s) that you want. You can filter by different odds types by using the tabs above the horses. In this example, I am betting on both the Fixed 'Win' and the Fixed 'Place' odds for horse number 1.
How to Place Melbourne Cup 'Place' Bets Online
A 'Place' bet is a bet on a horse to come first, second or third.
To place a Melbourne Cup 'Place' bet, simply pick the horse that you think will place and then select if you want the Fixed Odds price or the Middle Tote price. Then enter your bet stake and confirm the bet.
Your winnings = Bet stake x 'Place' odds
We recommend Bet365 for 'Place' Bets
Highest Fixed 'Place' Odds
Also offers Middle Tote 'Place' Odds
How to Place Melbourne Cup 'Each Way' Bets Online
An 'Each Way' bet is actually two bets of equal amounts on a horse to both Win and Place.
To place a Melbourne Cup 'Each Way' bet, simply pick the horse that you think will win or place and then select if you want the Fixed Odds prices or the Tote prices.
After selecting either Win or Place for that horse, select the 'Each Way' box in your betslip. Then enter your bet stake (for each leg of your bet) and confirm the bet.
If your horse finishes first, your winnings = Bet stake x 'Win' odds + Bet stake x 'Place' odds
If your horse finishes second or third, your winnings = Bet stake x 'Place' odds

To place an 'Each Way' bet at the Melbourne Cup simply choose the 'Win' or 'Place' odds for the horse you want to bet on an then in your bet slip tick the 'Each Way' box. The amount you enter in the 'Bet Stake' section will doubled eg. $10 will be placed on the Win and $10 on the Place.
We recommend Unibet for 'Each Way' Bets
Highest Fixed 'Win' & 'Place' Odds for Certain Horses
Also offers Best Tote + Starting Price 'Win' Odds, and Middle Tote 'Place' Odds
How to Place Melbourne Cup 'Quinella' Bets Online
A 'Quinella' is a bet on two or more horses to come 1st and 2nd in any order.
To place a Melbourne Cup Quinella simply select the 'Quinella' tab and then select at least two horses.
In your bet slip, enter how much money you want to stake on all legs of your Quinella, which Tote pool you would like your Quinella payout to be based on and then confirm your bet.
The odds that you get will be determined after the race by dividing the Tote's pool of money evenly among all the bettors who correctly picked the winning horses.
The payout that you receive is based on your bet stake, the final odds of the winning Quinella and the number of legs in your Quinella.
Your winnings = Your Bet Stake / The Number of Quinella Legs x The Quinella Odds (determined after the race)

To place a 'Quinella' bet at the Melbourne Cup simply choose the 'Quinella' tab, then select two or more horses that you want to bet on, your total bet stake, and the Tote pool you want your bet to be placed in. Then confirm your bet. Remember, the more selections that you make, the more chances you have to win, but the lower your final payout will be.
Adding more than two horses to your Melbourne Cup Quinella
You can choose two or more horses when you place a Quinella. Each horse that you add will give you an extra chance to win but will add extra legs to your Quinella and therefore decrease the amount of money staked on each leg of your Quinella, reducing your winnings.
When you add horses to your Quinella remember that at least one of your selections must finish first, and a different selection must finish second for your bet to win.
We recommend Neds for 'Quinella' Bets
Easy to Use, Offers Quinella Odds from All 3 Totes
How to Place Melbourne Cup 'Exacta' Bets Online
An 'Exacta' is a bet on two or more horses to come 1st and 2nd in the correct order. It works just like a Quinella except that you also have to select the exact finishing position for each horse that you bet on.
To place a Melbourne Cup Exacta simply select the 'Exacta' tab and then select as many horses as you would like, and which positions you think they will finish (1st and/or second).
In your bet slip, enter how much money you want to stake on all legs of your Exacta, which Tote pool you would like your Exacta payout to be based on and then confirm your bet.
The odds that you get will be determined after the race by dividing the Tote's pool of money evenly among all the bettors who correctly picked the winning horses.
The payout that you receive is based on your bet stake, the final odds of the winning Exacta and the number of legs in your Exacta.
Your winnings = Your Bet Stake / The Number of Exacta Legs x The Exacta Odds (determined after the race)

To place an 'Exacta' bet at the Melbourne Cup simply choose the 'Exacta' tab, then select two or more horses that you want to bet on, where you think they will finish, your total bet stake, and the Tote pool you want your bet to be placed in. Then confirm your bet. Remember, the more selections that you make, the more chances you have to win, but the lower your final payout will be.
We recommend Neds for 'Exacta' Bets
Easy to Use, Offers Exacta Odds from All 3 Totes
How to Place Melbourne Cup 'Trifecta' Bets Online
A 'Trifecta' is a bet on three or more horses to come 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order. A Trifecta is just like an Exacta but you also have to pick the 3rd place horse.
To place a Melbourne Cup Trifecta simply select the 'Trifecta' tab and then select as many horses as you would like, and which positions (1st, 2nd and 3rd) you think they will finish.
In your bet slip, enter how much money you want to stake on all legs of your Trifecta, which Tote pool you would like your Trifecta payout to be based on and then confirm your bet.
The odds that you get will be determined after the race by dividing the Tote's pool of money evenly among all the bettors who correctly picked the winning horses.
The payout that you receive is based on your bet stake, the final odds of the winning Trifecta and the number of legs in your Trifecta.
Your winnings = Your Bet Stake / The Number of Trifecta Legs x The Trifecta Odds (determined after the race)

To place a 'Trifecta' bet at the Melbourne Cup simply choose the 'trifecta' tab, then select three or more horses that you want to bet on and where you think they will finish. Next, enter your total bet stake, and the Tote pool you want your bet to be placed in. Then confirm your bet. Remember, the more selections that you make, the more chances you have to win, but the lower your final payout will be.
Adding more than three horses to your Melbourne Cup Trifecta
You can choose three or more horses when you place a Trifecta.
When you add horses to your Trifecta remember that at least one of your first place selections must finish first, a different second-place selection must finish second and a different third place selection must finish third for your bet to win.
We recommend Neds for 'Trifecta' Bets
Easy to Use, Offers Trifecta Odds from All 3 Totes
How to Place Melbourne Cup First 4 Bets
A 'First 4' is a bet on four or more horses to come 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the correct order. Once again, First 4 bets are just like Trifecta bets except you have to also pick the fourth place horse.
To place a Melbourne Cup First 4 bet simply select the 'First 4' tab and then select as many horses as you would like, and which positions (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th) you think they will finish.
In your bet slip, enter how much money you want to stake on all legs of your First 4 bet and which Tote pool you would like your First 4 payout to be based on and then confirm your bet.
The odds that you get will be determined after the race by dividing the Tote's pool of money evenly among all the bettors who correctly picked the winning horses.
The payout that you receive is based on your bet stake, the final odds of the winning First 4 and the number of legs in your First 4.
Your winnings = Your Bet Stake / The Number of Trifecta Legs x The Trifecta Odds (determined after the race)
We recommend Neds for 'First 4' Bets
Easy to Use, Offers First 4 Odds from All 3 Totes
How to Place Melbourne Cup 'Quaddie' Bets Online
A 'Quaddie' or Quadrella is a bet on which four horses will win four nominated races. Clearly then, the Melbourne Cup Quaddie is a bet on which horse will win the Melbourne Cup, along with 3 other nominated races from the day.
To place a Melbourne Cup Quaddie simply select the 'Quaddie' tab. Then, for each of the four nominated Quadrella races, pick one or more horses that you think will win each race.
Finally, in your bet slip, select which Tote pool you want your bet to be placed in, then enter your total bet stake and confirm your bet.
The odds that you get will be determined after the race by dividing the Tote's pool of money evenly among all the bettors who correctly picked the winning horses.
The payout that you receive is based on your bet stake, the final odds of the winning Quadrella and the number of legs in your Quadrella.
Your winnings = Your Bet Stake / The Number of Quadrella Legs x The Quadrella Odds (determined after the race)

To place a Melbourne Cup Quaddie you will need to select at least one horse that you think will each of the four nominated races on the day (one of which will be the Melbourne Cup winner).
How to Place Melbourne Cup 'Treble' Bets Online
A 'Treble' is a bet on which three horses will win three nominated races. As with the Quaddie, the Melbourne Cup Treble is a bet on which horse will win the Melbourne Cup, along with 2 other nominated races from the day.
To place a Melbourne Cup Treble simply select the 'Treble' tab. Then, for each of the three nominated Treble races, pick one or more horses that you think will win each race.
Finally, in your bet slip, select which Tote pool you want your bet to be placed in, then enter your total bet stake and confirm your bet.
Your odds and payout will be calculated in the same fashion as a Quaddie.
How to Place Melbourne Cup 'Double' Bets Online
A 'Double' is a bet on which two horses will win two nominated races. Generally, you have a 'Daily Double' which is the featured 'Double' of a given race day, as well as the 'Running Double' which refers to selecting the winners of any given two successive races.
The Melbourne Cup Double refers to a bet where you pick both the winner of the Melbourne Cup and a successive race.
To place a Melbourne Cup Double simply select the 'Double' tab. Then, for the two nominated Double races, pick one or more horses that you think will win each race.
Finally, in your bet slip, select which Tote pool you want your bet to be placed in, then enter your total bet stake and confirm your bet.
Your odds and payout will be calculated in the same fashion as a Quaddie.
We recommend Palmerbet for Quaddie Bets
Offers Melbourne Cup Quaddies, Trebles and Doubles with Expert Tips, Comments and Predictions for all Races
How to Place Melbourne Cup 'Same Race Multi' Bets Online
A 'Same Race Multi' is a single bet on one race, made up of several smaller bets from that same race. Each of these smaller bets must be successful for the overall bet to be a winner. Like exotics and quaddies, Same Race Multis can have quite large payouts because the odds for each leg of the bet are multiplied to calculate the total payout.
A Melbourne Cup Same Race Multi is just multiple smaller bets on the Melbourne Cup, combined into a larger overall bet.
To place a Melbourne Cup Same Race Multi simply select the 'Same Race Multi' tab. Then, select at least two horses, and where you think they will finish (Win, Top 2, Top 3, or Top 4).
Finally, in your bet slip, enter your bet stake and confirm your bet.
Same Race Multi prices come from fixed odds set by that bookmaker.
Your winnings = Bet stake x Same Race Multi odds

To place a Melbourne Cup Same Race Multi simply select the 'Same Race Multi' tab, then select at least two horses, and where you think they will finish. You can add multiple horses at every position (eg. more than one winner) and then you will create extra legs to your Same Race Multi (as you do with an exotic). In this case, your final payout will be divided by the number of winning legs that you have.
We recommend Neds for Same Race Multi Bets
Same Race, Blended and Split Melbourne Cup Multis
How to Place Melbourne Cup 'Special' Bets Online
There are a number of special bets available at different bookmakers for the Melbourne Cup. These may include:
- Favourite vs Field (bet on either the favourite or all of the other horses to win the race)
- Odds vs Evens (bet on the odd-numbered horses to win or the even-numbered horses)
- Head 2 Head (bet on a specific horse to beat another specific horse)
- Mystery Bet (bet on one or more horses at random)
To place a special bet on the Melbourne Cup, find the tab or section of the betting site that offers the special bets you want to make. Select what you want to bet on, enter your bet stake, and then confirm your bet!
Your winnings = Bet stake x Special Bet odds

Special bets are generally found at the bottom of a given racing field in a designated section. Some, like mystery bets, are quite gimmicky and designed for new punters whereas others, like favourite vs field, can be interesting if you think the favourite's price is too high.
We recommend Neds for Same Race Multi Bets
Mystery Bets, Fav vs Field, Odds vs Evens, H2H & more special betting options
FAQs about How to Bet on the Melbourne Cup
How do you bet on the Melbourne Cup online?
The easiest way to bet on the Melbourne Cup online is with an Australian betting website.
First, you need to create a betting account. Then, make a deposit. After, find a horse or several horses to bet on. Then, enter your 'bet stake' and finally, confirm your bet.
How to Bet on Melbourne Cup Online 2022
- Choose a betting site from the list above
- Create a free online betting account
- Deposit money to your account with your card, PayPal etc.
- Find a horse to bet on from the "Racing" menu
- Enter your bet stake and place your bet
How do you place a Melbourne Cup Trifecta?
A Trifecta is a bet on three or more horses to come 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the correct order.
Before placing a Trifecta you will need to navigate to the Melbourne Cup section of your chosen bookmaker.
To place a Melbourne Cup Trifecta, you will need to select the 'Trifecta' tab. Then select as many horses as you would like to bet on, and in which positions (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) you think they will finish.
You can select multiple horses at each position to increase your chances of winning. However, the more horses that you add the more expensive your Melbourne Cup trifecta will be.
In your bet slip, enter how much money you want to stake on all legs of your Trifecta, which Tote pool you would like your Trifecta payout to be based on, and then confirm your bet.
How do you place a Melbourne Cup Each Way?
An 'Each Way' bet is actually two bets of equal amounts on a horse to both Win and Place.
To place a Melbourne Cup Each Way bet, simply pick the horse that you think will win or place and then select if you want the Fixed Odds prices or the Tote prices.
After selecting either Win or Place for that horse, select the 'Each Way' box in your betslip. Then enter your bet stake (for each leg of your bet) and confirm the bet.
How do you place a bet on the Melbourne Cup online?
To place a bet on the Melbourne Cup online using a betting website:
- Create or log in to your online betting account
- Check your balance and make a deposit if necessary
- Navigate to the "Racing" section of the site
- Find the "Melbourne Cup" and select it
- Choose a horse and bet type (Win, Place etc.)
- Select the odds for your horse and bet type
- Enter your bet stake and confirm your bet
Can you bet on the Melbourne Cup online?
Yes! You can bet on the Melbourne Cup online with any of Australia's 10 Best Melbourne Cup betting sites (as long as you are an Australian resident and over 18 years old).
Can I bet on the Melbourne Cup online?
Yes! As long as you are registered as living in Australia and at least 18 years old, you can bet on the Melbourne Cup online.
Betting sites start offering odds for next year's Melbourne Cup right after the race so you can really bet on the Melbourne Cup 24/7, 365 days a year in Australia.
Find out more on our Melbourne Cup Betting Guide.
What are the different Melbourne Cup Bet types?
There are many different ways to bet on the Melbourne Cup. Some methods have a better chance of winning but a lower payout whereas others are riskier but can pay out big.
Most Common Melbourne Cup Bet Types
- Win - You pick one (or more) horse to finish 1st
- Place - You pick one (or more) horse to finish 1st, 2nd, or 3rd
- Each Way - You pick one (or more) horse to Win & Place
- Quinella - You pick two (or more) horses to finish 1st & 2nd (in any order)
- Exacta - You pick two horses (or more) to finish 1st & 2nd (in the correct order)
- Trifecta - You pick three horses (or more) to finish 1st, 2nd, & 3rd (in the correct order)
- First 4 - You pick four horses (or more) to finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th (in the correct order)
- Quaddie - You pick the winner of four nominated races, one of which is the Melbourne Cup
- Treble - You pick the winner of three nominated races, one of which is the Melbourne Cup
- Double - You pick the winner of two nominated races, one of which is the Melbourne Cup
- Multi - You combine single bets for multiple horses into one larger bet
How do you bet on the Melbourne Cup safely?
If you use any of the Australian betting sites listed on this website you will be safe. All of the betting sites that we review and recommend are licensed by the Australian government and legal to use by anybody over 18. All of the betting sites that we review also protect user information and payments with the latest SSL encryption technology.
Where should you bet on the Melbourne Cup?
We recommend using Neds, Bet365, or PlayUp for betting on the Melbourne Cup.
We like these betting sites because they are easy to use, have the best odds and they also have other features like plenty of payment options, previews and guides and even live streaming.
Read more about where to bet on the Melbourne Cup.
What are the best ways to bet on the Melbourne Cup?
The best and easiest ways to bet on the Melbourne Cup depend on what you're trying to achieve and how experienced/well informed you are.
The best ways to bet on the Melbourne Cup include:
- Fixed odds Win/Place - Good when you find value, easy for beginners to understand
- Best/SP Win - Best for betting on underdogs and betting right before the race
- Exotics (Exacta, Trifecta, First 4) - Hard to win but cost is low and returns can be huge
- Boxed Exotics - More costly but it increases your chances of winning big
- Multis - Combine favourites & underdogs for an increased payout