Betstar Overview
Betstar was originally the product of one of Australia's most prominent booking families - the Eskanders - who launched the site in 2007. It has since been bought by the same company that runs Ladbrokes, Neds, and bookmaker.com.au. This isn't a bad thing though. The result is that Betstar boasts competitive odds, a huge range of betting options, and tons of features like Cash Out, Same Game/Race Multis, and Past the Post & Protest Payouts. On top of this, Betstar's site is modern, easy-to-use, and great for both casual and more experienced punters.
Betstar Pros & Cons
- Past the Post Payout
- Lots of payment options
- Many racing & sports markets
- No 'search' function
- Very similar to Bookmaker
Promotions | 0/10 | |
Betting variety | 10/10 | |
Mobile experience | 7/10 | |
Payment options | 9/10 | |
Racing | 8/10 | |
Support | 8/10 | |
Summary | 9/10 |
Website | ladbrokes.com.au |
Game Types | Sportsbook |
Deposit methods | Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, POLi, EFT/Bank Transfer, Flexepin, Cash In, BPAY, Pay ID, Betstar Card |
Withdrawal methods | PayPal, EFT/Bank Transfer, Betstar Card |
Odds provider | Entain/Ladbrokes |
Betting functions | Live Betting, Cash Out, Multi Betting |
Apps | iOS (App Store), Android (Betstar website) |
Support | Email, Phone, Post |
Owner | Entain plc |
Founded Year | 2007 |
Headquarter | Melbourne & Darwin |
Betstar Review
Licensed by the NT Racing Commission since 2007, Betstar is one of Australia's oldest and most storied betting sites. In the early days Betstar had a clear racing focus and while this legacy still remains the Betstar of today is a great choice for both horse and sports-minded punters.
Since Betstar's acquisition by Entain (the company that owns Ladbrokes and Neds) the site has received a huge boost in terms of its competitiveness and quality. Today you'll find all Australian races with Best Tote, exotics, mystery bets, and special bets common plus Pick Your Own Odds and Margins available for select races.
The number of sports betting and live betting markets has also exploded and today you'll be able to bet on everything from the AFL and NRL to tennis, soccer, cricket, darts, surfing, and even events like the Bachelor or US election. Betstar also boasts a wide variety of payment options.
We recommend only choosing Betstar if you don't already have a Neds/Ladbrokes account because the sites are so similar and we think that Betstar also gets a little less love than Neds and Ladbrokes - for example, the app could use a re-design. Still, Betstar is easy to use, protects its players with industry-standard encryption technology, and is a quality bookie overall.
Why we like Betstar ✅
- Betstar has features like Past the Post and Protest Payouts & Same Game/Race Multis
- Betstar offers plenty of payment options including PayPal, POLi, Pay ID & a Betstar Card
- Betstar has competitive odds for all Aussie races, most international races & many sports
Why we don't like Betstar ❌
- Despite Betstar's fast & functional design, we'd love a search bar
- Betstar's odds and markets are identical to Neds', Ladbrokes', and Bookmaker's
Betstar Rating: 8/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What makes Betstar shine?
Betstar is a classic Australian bookmaker on steroids. I don't mean that they cheat by injecting themselves with hormones but instead I mean that on the surface Betstar's design, functionality, and even the name appear to be pretty run-of-the-mill but when you take a closer look you see that Betstar offers a hell of a lot of features and betting options.
When it comes to racing, Betstar has markets for all Australian races across all three codes for the next week or so plus futures markets for some of the biggest events of the country's racing calendar.
For each race, you'll find win/place bets, exotics, mystery bets, and special bets, same race multis, protest payouts and fixed, tote, and starting price odds (Best Tote + SP on all Australian thoroughbred races).
As you would expect, some of these options are only available for the biggest races but expect the most racing options on Betstar.
For sports betting, Betstar is equally jacked up with hundreds of different betting options for the biggest AFL, NRL, EPL, NBA, and NFL matches as well as odds on basically every sport you can think of.
Betstar's sports odds are competitive and with features like Cash Out, Multis, and Same Game Multis there's plenty to suit every Aussie punter.
Overall, Betstar is easy to use (although we'd like to see a search function), has heaps of payment options, and has reasonable customer support (although no live chat as far as we know).
So, should you bet with BetStar? Yeah, why not? You won't find many betting sites that are better and more reputable and I'm a big believer in creating a few different betting site accounts and then shopping around for the best odds, features, and design to suit your preferences.
What you'll find in this Betstar Betting Review
Betstar Australia FAQ
There are a number of reasons why our experts reckon Betstar is a good betting site including:
- Betstar has many different betting options - all Aussie races, many international races & pretty much every sport or novelty event you can think of.
- Betstar's odds are competitive - depending on the market, Betstar has slightly higher, average, or slightly lower odds than all other Aussie bookies.
- Betstar has heaps of features - Same Game/Race Multis, Cash Out, Live Betting, a Protest Payout, Pick Your Own Odds/Margin to name a few.
- Betstar offers a range of payment options - With PayPal, POLi, BPAY, PayID, card, bank transfer, Flexepin, cash, and even a Betstar Card you're spoilt.
- Betstar is easy to use - Sure there's no 'search' function but the site is laid out well, it loads quickly and it's easy to sign up, deposit, and place bets.
- Betstar is an old, trustworthy brand - Betstar has been active since 2007, is owned by Entain plc, and uses industry-standard encryption technology.
Despite all of this, Betstar is pretty comparable to Neds and Ladbrokes because they are all owned by the same company (Entain plc). We reckon those two sites are a bit better and you can read our reviews for them by selecting the red links.
Betstar has both an Apple and Android betting app.
The Betstar iOS app can be downloaded for free from the Australian App Store by searching for 'Betstar' and selecting the download button.
The Betstar Android app can be downloaded for free as well but it is not on the Google Play Store yet. You'll find a download link at the bottom of the Betstar homepage.
Before you download the Betstar app we recommend creating a Betstar account on the website because it's harder to do from the Betstar app. After signing up you can download the Betstar app and then just log in like normal.
Last time we checked, Betstar offered the following deposit and withdrawal options to Aussie punters.
Betstar deposit options:
- Visa (Instant)
- Mastercard (Instant)
- POLi (Instant)
- Flexepin (Instant)
- Cash In (Instant)
- Pay ID (Instant)
- PayPal (Instant)
- Betstar Card (Instant)
- BPAY (1-3 business days)
- EFT/Bank Transfer (1-3 business days)
Betstar withdrawal options:
- PayPal (Instant)
- Betstar Card (Instant)
- EFT/Bank Transfer (1-3 business days)
The Betstar withdrawal time depends on the withdrawal method that you choose.
The fastest way to withdraw from Betstar is with the Betstar Card, this is instant. PayPal withdrawals from Betstar are also processed instantly but it may take a couple of hours for the money to actually reach your account.
Betstar bank transfer/EFT withdrawals are the slowest option you have and they can take anywhere from 1 to 3 business days but usually get quicker the more bank withdrawals that you make.
The best and fastest way to get in contact with Betstar Australia is by phone but you can also email them or (if you are from the 1900s) send a letter.
Betstar Phone Numbers
Australia Support: 1300 238 782
Australia Live Betting: 1300 238 722
New Zealand Support: +61 7 3184 9333
New Zealand Live Betting: +61 8 7918 7300
Betstar Email
support@betstar.com.au
Betstar Address
PO Box 3321,
Newstead, QLD, 4006
Unfortunately, strict Australian betting regulations prevent us from advertising any sign up bonuses, promotions, or other types of betting offers that Betstar may or may not offer.
The only way to see if you have a Betstar bonus is to log in to your Betstar account (or create an account and then log in).
Alan Eksander is the son of veteran Aussie bookmaker Michael Eksander. After over 40 years of combined on-track bookmaking experience, the two joined forces to found Betstar in 2007.
In 2014, Betstar was acquired by Ladbrokes and is now owned by the multi-national betting conglomerate Entain plc which also owns Ladbrokes, Neds, and bookmaker.com.au.
Betstar App
The Betstar app is not the best but not the worst app in Australia.
We may be a little harsh in this judgement because the Betstar app has tons of features, high odds and a huge number of betting options but we just think that navigation and usability could be improved.
When it comes to racing, you'll get access to every Australian meet, hundreds of international races as well as full form statistics, price flucs, exotics and regular racing markets. Also expect Best Tote + SP, Top Fluc, Best of the Best odds for the biggest Australian races.
You can also bet on a range of different sports from AFL to Handball. The most popular markets and events are also eligible for Cash Out and Same Game Multis on Betstar.
Live betting is particularly easy on the Betstar app with hundreds of options and constantly updated odds. Even though Australian betting regulations mean that you can only bet live on the phone, Betstar makes this process easy.
Betstar App Pros ✅
- Free for Android and Apple
- Fast to load
- Hundreds of sports & races
- Same Game/Race Multis
- Cash Out
- Instant deposits
- Fast withdrawals
- Exclusive in-app features
Betstar App Cons ❌
- Android app not on the Play Store
- Navigation could be improved
- Some buttons are quite small
- Some sections of the app take up a lot of space
How to download the Betstar App in Australia
The Betstar App is available on the App Store for Apple devices but is not yet on the Google Play store for Android. You can still get the Betstar app on Android but the download process is a little more complicated.
We recommend signing up with Betstar before you download either betting app because this process is much simpler on the desktop or mobile website than it is on the Betstar app.
Betstar Android App
The Betstar Android app is not on the Google Play Store in Australia. To download it you will need to:
- Select the 'Visit' button
- Sign up with Betstar
- Open your Android device
- Go to the Betstar website
- Scroll to the bottom
- Select 'Download for Android'
- Select 'Android'
- Follow the on-screen instruction
Betstar Apple App
The Betstar Apple app is on the App Store in Australia. To download it you will need to:
- Select the 'Visit' button
- Sign up with Betstar
- Open your Apple device
- Go to the App Store
- Search 'Betstar'
- Select 'Download'
Betstar Betting - Horse Racing
In the early days, Betstar was predominantly just a horse racing bookmaker and even though this is no longer the case the racing section of the website remains very strong.
Betstar offers Best Tote + SP, Best of the Best, Top Fluc, Exotics, Same Race Multis, Favourite vs Field, Mystery Bets and Suggested Runners for all Australian thoroughbred races
Along with this, Betstar offers markets for all Australian harness and greyhound races as well as hundreds of international races across all three codes from a wide variety of countries including New Zealand, France, the USA, the UK, Japan, India, Chile, and much more.
Betstar is also working on developing a racing Blackbook to keep track of your favourite runners/jockeys. Depending on the time of the year, Betstar also has Jockey Challenges too.
Betstar offers great racing odds for many Australian races including Best of the Best, Best Tote + SP and Top Fluc odds
Another impressive thing about Betstar is its futures markets for the biggest races of the year. Betstar offers odds months and even years in advance for the biggest (and some not so big) events in all three codes.
Betstar also has a Protest Payout which will pay both the 2nd and 1st place runner as the winner if there is an upheld protest and a Past the Post Payout which means you'll get paid quickly for all Australian races.
If we could improve Betstar's racing options we'd like even more Same Race Multi options as well as a Speedmap feature and perhaps some more expert picks.
Betstar Betting - Sports
Betstar has the exact same odds and markets as the popular Australian betting sites Neds and Ladbrokes because they are all owned by the same company.
You'll find around 200 different bet types for sports like AFL on Betstar. Your options decrease depnding on how big the sport/league is but you can still expect more betting options than many other betting sites in Australia
In terms of odds, Betstar is competitive but not amazing. Something you'll find the best odds on Betstar and sometimes you won't, it all depends on the exact thing that you want to bet on - however, you'll never find terrible odds.
Betstar has Same Game Multi and Cash Out options for the biggest sports betting leagues like the AFL, EPL and NRL
As well as all the most common sports betting markets like Match Result, Margins, Lines, Totals, Player and Team Specials, Betstar offers Same Game Multis, Quick Multis, and various different multi types depending on how many legs you select.
Betstar Multis can be placed from your betslip after selecting your single bets.
Betstar has particularly competitive line odds (as you may be able to see from the image above) - 2.00 on both sides of an AFL match.
Betstar Payments
Despite no longer being one of the biggest corporate bookmakers in Australia, Betstar punches above its weight - particularly when it comes to depositing and withdrawing.
Betstar's payments process is fast and secure and there are a range of instant deposit (and even instant withdrawal) options available for Aussie punters (see below).
Also be aware that while Betstar says that some payment options - like Bank Transfer - may take up to three days this is rarely the case (they're more likely to take one, max two days).
All Betstar payment and accounts are secured using the latest 2048-bit encryption technology and Betstar is one of the oldest and most reputable bookmakers in Australia
Betstar Deposits
- Visa (Instant)
- Mastercard (Instant)
- POLi (Instant)
- Flexepin (Instant)
- Cash In (Instant)
- Pay ID (Instant)
- PayPal (Instant)
- Betstar Card (Instant)
- BPAY (1-3 business days)
- EFT/Bank Transfer (1-3 business days)
The minimum Betstar deposit is $10 for most payment methods and the minimum bet amount is $0.50 for internet bets, $5.00 for telephone bets, and $10.00 for live telephone bets.
Betstar Withdrawals
- Betstar Card (Instant)
- PayPal (Instant)
- EFT/Bank Transfer (1-3 business days)
Betstar withdrawal times to your Betstar Card are truly instant whereas Betstar PayPal withdrawals are processed instantly but can take a few hours or days to get to you.
Betstar Verification
You can deposit and bet on Betstar after signing up but before withdrawing you will need to make sure your account has been verified.
This process is normally automatic but Betstar may need your help to complete the verification process. In this situation, they will send you an email detailing what you need to do.
You will need to verify your Betstar account within 14 days otherwise your account will be suspended until verification is complete.
Verification normally means checking that your details are correct and/or sending in a photo/copy of a photo ID and/or a proof of address.
Betstar Contact
Betstar's customer support options leave a little to be desired and even though we got an email saying that live chat was available, we couldn't find the option anywhere on Betstar.
Otherwise, the Betstar support team is friendly and knowledgeable so we don't mind the lack of live chat too much. We do however recommend phoning Betstar for more urgent inquiries as email replies can take some time.
How to Contact Betstar Customer Service
Betstar Phone Numbers
- Australia Support: 1300 238 782
- Australia Live Betting: 1300 238 722
- New Zealand Support: +61 7 3184 9333
- New Zealand Live Betting: +61 8 7918 7300
Betstar Email Address
- support@betstar.com.au
Betstar Postal Address
PO Box 3321,
Newstead, QLD, 4006
Betstar Features
Betstar has a range of features that can make your betting experience better, more profitable, and easier but don't expect as many features from Betstar as you'll get on some of Australia's best betting sites.
For more information about some of the best racing and sports features of the Betstar betting site continue reading.
Betstar Australia Racing Features
- Betstar Same Race Multis
Betstar offers Same Race Multi options for Australian throroughbred races and some greyhound meets. Overall, Same Race Multis aren't as widely available on Betstar as other betting sites but this feature but it's still appreciated.
Same Race Multis let you combine up to 4 single bets into one larger bet from the same race. For example, you can bet on which runners will come first, top 2, top 3, or top 4.
Same Race Multis can have very big payouts but they are also risky because all of your selections must occur for your bet to win.
- Betstar Bet Types
Betstar offers win/place odds for all Australian and international races.
For domestic races, you'll also find a host of other bet types from exotics like trifectas, first fours, quinellas, exactas and quaddies to mystery bets and special bet types like favourite vs field.
As above, you can also place Same Race and Multiple Race Multis on Betstar.
- Betstar Racing Form, Flucs & Stats
For most domestic races and some international meets, you'll find that Betstar offers plenty of extra information to help you make more informed bets.
This information includes price fluctuations, runner comments, track and weather information, and abbreviated and full form guides.
- Betstar Jockey Challenges
For selected Australian meets, Betstar offers Aussie punters the ability to bet on jockeys through their Jockey Challenges.
Basically, you select a jockey or multiple jockeys based on which ones you think will perform the best over the day and if your rider scores the most points (based on where they finish), then you will win.
- Betstar Protest & Past the Post Payout
Betstar has a Protest Payout for all Australian thoroughbred races meaning that you will get paid out as the winner if your horse wins but is later relegated or if your horse places but is later promoted.
Betstar's Past the Post Payout means that Betstar pays out your dividends on all Australian races right after interim dividends are available - so you don't have to wait to get your money.
Betstar Australia Sports Betting Features
- Betstar Same Game Multis
Betstar offers Same Game Multis for a range of sports. This includes popular leagues like the AFL, NRL, and EPL but also smaller sports like table tennis and hockey.
Not all bet types can be combined into a Same Game Multi but keep an eye out for the stacked paper icon to see which bet types and events are eligible.
- Betstar Cash Out
Betstar has a Cash Out option for punters who want to secure their winnings early.
Betstar cash out is not available for every bet type or league but most popular sports and leagues are eligible.
Be aware that when you cash out of a bet you will also accept a reduced price.
- Betstar Odds
Betstar's odds are competitive across the board. Sometimes the odds are the best on the market, other times they're slightly below average but you'll never find unacceptably high odds.
Betstar has especially good line odds for leagues like the AFL where it's common to see 2.00 odds on both sides of the margin.
- Betstar Markets
Betstar has betting options for around 30 different sports (depending on the season).
This includes all the major Australian and international leagues like the AFL, NRL, EPL, NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and more as well as markets for a range of other sports events like cricket matches, golf tours, tennis opens, bull riding events and even surfing meets.
Betstar also has a range of futures markets for the most popular US, European, and Australian professional sports leagues.
- Betstar Live Betting
Betstar has a solid but not amazing selection of live betting markets.
Expect esports, tennis, soccer, darts, badminton, and pretty much every other sport that you can think of to be available on Betstar
Don't expect too many betting markets for each sport though. You'll also find no live play-by-play graphics or live streaming options on Betstar but you will get these on betting sites like Bet365 and Unibet in Australia.
- Betstar Card
Betstar has a Mastercard that any punter can apply for after creating their account.
The Betstar Card can be used for instant deposits and withdrawals and can also be used at ATMs as well as physical and online stores.
How to use Betstar's Betting Site
You can still use Betstar's betting site even if you don't have an account but where is the fun in that?
Here's how to sign up and bet with Betstar Australia:
- Select a 'Visit' button
- On Betstar, select 'Join Now'
- Enter your ID information
- Deposit some money
- Find a race or sport
- Select your bet type
- Set your bet stake
- Place your bet!
Overall, Betstar has a familiar, simple, and fast betting site and app.
The Betstar betting site is organised into separate sections - Home, Racing, Sports, Live Betting, Promotions and How To.
The homepage contains an overview of the next sports and races to start, the current live betting markets, Betstar's featured races, and also advertises some of the main features of Betstar like the Betstar Card, app, and their racing Protest Payout.
You can use the menu on the left or at the top of the screen to navigate to the sport or racing code or specific event you want to bet on. Unfortunately, there are no options to 'search' for your sport.
From there, the structure of the site is pretty straightforward.
For each racing market you'll see fixed, starting price, top fluc, and tote odds plus tabs for each exotic type and, depending on the race, Same Race Multi options, form guides, special bet types, weather information, etc.
When you enter a sports betting market, you'll need to scroll to see all the eligible bet types and you can use the tab at the top to switch between single bets or Same Game Multi bets (if Same Game Multis are available).
Bets eligible for cash out will only be seen after you have placed your bet and regular Multis can be placed by adding multiple selections to your bet slip and then combining them.
In short, Betstar has a pretty typical betting site that mirrors bookies like Neds and Ladbrokes. You may need to do a little scrolling and clicking to find your specific bet but a few minutes navigating through the site should be enough for even the most technologically inept punters to feel comfortable.
Look for the icon that looks like two pieces of paper on top of each other - that means that your Betstar match or bet type is eligible for Same Game Multis
Betstar Sign Up Bonus
Is there a Betstar sign up bonus or isn't there? That's the question that many people want to know but unfortunately, it is also a question that we cannot answer.
Australian betting regulations prevent people like us from advertising sign up bonuses and other promotions to players who do not already have betting accounts
The same goes for Betstar. They cannot tell you whether or not they have any promotions or bonuses until you have created a Betstar account and logged in.