RealBookie Overview
RealBookie is brought to us by Mark Sampieri and Chris Lester - two veterans of the Victorian bookmaking scene. This Aussie-owned operation is on a mission to challenge the corporate giants and does this by providing attentive, helpful customer support, 5,000 plus weekly racing markets, and other features like live streaming and same game multis. While you can expect fewer sports betting options and payment methods from RealBookie, you can count on at least a couple of horses and teams to have the best odds in every market.
So, should you sign up with RealBookie?
Yes, if you're sick of corporate bookmakers and want to support a small local betting site then you'll find great prices on RealBookie but you will have to forgo many of the smaller prop, special and alternative markets found on other bookmakers.
RealBookie Pros & Cons
- Often has best prices
- Responsive, helpful support
- Streaming, SGM, BoB odds
- Card, POLi & Bank only
- Often only offers 'main' markets
Deposit Match & Promos | 1 | |
Betting variety | 3.5 | |
Mobile experience | 4 | |
Payment options | 3 | |
Racing | 4 | |
Support | 4.5 | |
Summary | 3.3 |
Website | realbookie.com.au |
Game Types | Sportsbook |
Deposit methods | Visa, Master Card, Credit Card, POLi, EFT/Bank Transfer, Bookies Cash Card |
Withdrawal methods | Card, Bank Transfer, Bookies Cash Card |
Odds provider | RealBookie, BetMakers |
Betting functions | Cash Out, Multi Betting, Live Streaming |
Apps | iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play) |
Support | Live Chat, Email |
Owner | RealBookie |
Founded Year | 2020 |
Headquarter | Melbourne |
Bonus Code | LEADSTAR |
RealBookie Review
RealBookie founder Mark Sampieri (whose father Graeme is a Melbourne bookmaking legend) began his on-course bookmaking journey in 2003 and is now joined by Chris Lester (who has been bookmaking since 2013). Both of these respected Victorian Bookmakers have joined forces to bring us RealBookie.
As the name suggests, RealBookie's mission is to help real Aussie punters to take on the bookies. Of course, as bookies themselves, for RealBookie this means giving punters a fair shot at beating them.
As a result of this philosophy, RealBookie offers some of the best fixed odds for both sports and racing including $1.90 to $2.00 lines and a couple of the highest-priced runners in most racing fields.
More things that set RealBookie apart from other online betting sites include the 5 daily price bumps for racing, the free live streaming of select local races, the weekly racing tips delivered to your inbox, as well as the Same Game Multi builder which is available for the AFL, NRL, NBA, EPL, IPL, and A-League.
RealBookie does have its downsides though, popular payment options like PayPal are not available, RealBookie's maximum winnings amounts are lower than most online betting sites ($15,000), RealBookie only has email and live chat support and overall you'll get far fewer betting options for most sports than you'll find on the biggest betting sites like Neds and Bet365.
Why we like RealBookie ✅
- RealBookie consistently has sports lines above $1.90 and market-leading fixed racing odds
- RealBookie's support team is small and focused on facilitating a great customer experience
- RealBookie has popular betting features like live streaming, same game multis, BoB odds & betting tips
Why we don't like RealBookie ❌
- RealBookie only accepts Card, POLi, Bank Transfer, and Bookies Cash Card payments
- RealBookie often doesn't offer smaller betting markets like player props, alternative lines, and specials
RealBookie RealTalk
On the face of it, RealBookie seems to be one of Australia's best betting sites and while it does all depend on what you're looking for, we can confidently say that this is somewhat true but that also doesn't tell the full story.
Let's break it down:
- RealBookie has quality fixed odds - This is true but there will always be horses and sports markets where RealBookie doesn't have the best odds (in order to have the best prices for some outcomes, RealBookie needs to have the worst odds for others otherwise they would lose money).
- RealBookie offers 5,000 weekly racing markets - This represents all Australian and New Zealand thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound meets as well as all major international meets across the three codes.
- RealBookie offers BoB, TF & Best Tote odds - This is the case for almost all Australian thoroughbred races but for other codes or international races you'll likely only get fixed odds, starting prices, or Mid Tote odds.
- RealBookie has odds for 15+ sports - Depending on what's on, and if people want to bet on it, RealBookie will likely have main markets for it. This normally doesn't include proposition and special markets though. RealBookie also doesn't have esports or novelty (TV, politics etc.) betting options.
- RealBookie has an iPhone and Android app - The RealBookie apps are available on the Google Play and App Store and are decent, nothing fancy but they get the job done.
- RealBookie has daily price bumps - This is true but do be aware that they are only for racing and if you abuse them (or only bet with price bumps) they may get restricted.
- RealBookie offers Same Game Multis - RealBookie Same Game Multis are available for the AFL, NRL, NBA, EPL, and A-League. Generally, you will only get main markets in the following categories (head to head, spread, result, score, corners, cards, goals, player)
- RealBookie has free live streaming - RealBookie's live streaming, courtesy of RealBookie TV, is free but only shows select local horse racing meets.
- RealBookie's customer support team is really helpful - RealBookie's support team is great, they all know the RealBookie product well and they really seem to care but unfortunately, they can only be contacted via live chat or email.
- RealBookie's payments are secure - You will have no problem depositing and withdrawing from RealBookie using your card, POLi, Bank Transfer, or your Bookies Cash Card but you will get no other options than these.
If you're looking for a new betting site, or a small Aussie-owned bookmaker, RealBookie may be exactly what you're looking for
So, overall RealBookie has plenty to offer but also plenty of room for improvement. But should you bet with RealBookie?
Yeah, I think so.
If you like what RealBookie stands for, are sick of big corporate betting sites, and want to see their product get even better then choosing RealBookie is a wise choice.
Of course, RealBookie is not the only small Australian-owned operation you can choose. PlayUp, WinnersBet, and BlueBet each offer a product that we think is better.
PlayUp has more features, markets, and consistently better odds, WinnersBet is very easy to use and has Best Tote odds for all Aussie thoroughbred races and BlueBet is a well-rounded choice offering everything from same game multis, to player props, futures, and special markets.
What You'll Find in this RealBookie Review
Real Bookie Australia FAQ
Yes, unless you are a first-time punter, we recommend signing up with RealBookie. Here are the reasons why RealBookie is a good betting site:
- Great odds: RealBookie has Best Tote, Starting Price, Best of the Best, and Top Fluc odds for most Australian thoroughbred races as well as market-leading fixed racing odds and competitive sports prices including $1.90 to $2.00 lines.
- Same Game Multis: RealBookie has Same Game Multi markets for a range of popular sports including the AFL, NRL, EPL, A-League, IPL, and NBA. You will get fewer options than at bigger betting sites but we know that Aussies love this feature.
- Solid app: RealBookie has both an Android and iOS app and these are available from both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. They are simple and fast and get the job done nicely.
- Popular markets: RealBookie has betting markets for all 3 racing codes in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally as well as for over 15+ different sports. RealBookie does not, however, offer esports, novelty, and live bets.
- Live streaming: RealBookie live streams certain Australian races every day through RealBookie TV. If you are looking for sports streams though, another betting website like Bet365 or Unibet will serve you better.
- Aussie-owned: RealBookie is owned by Mark Sampieri (whose father is a Melbourne betting legend and began bookmaking in 1966). We love to bet with some of the best local players who are taking on the big, internationally-owned operators.
- Betting tips: If you sign up for them, RealBookie will send expert racing and sports tips to your email.
- Quality support: RealBookie's support team is not available 24/7 and has no phone number but we found that they were very helpful, knowledgeable, and attentive - they solved our issues even when it wasn't "in their best interests".
If you are new to betting then we recommend choosing a betting site with more options and features such as Neds or Bet365 - both of these online bookmakers are easy to use, have many payment options, 24/7 customer support, and hundreds of different betting options for most sports and races.
The RealBookie Australia app can be downloaded directly from the Google Play Store for Android devices or from the Apple App Store for iOS devices.
The RealBookie app is free and at just under 60MB it will not take up much or phone's storage capabilities.
To download the RealBookie app:
- Go to realbookie.com.au
- Create your account
- Open your device
- Head to the App Store or Play Store
- Search for 'RealBookie'
- Tap to download the app
- Log in to your account and start betting!
Australian betting regulations outlined in the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 prevent us from displaying the RealBookie sign up bonus or any other promotional offer.
Only players who are logged into their RealBookie account can view RealBookie bonuses, promos, and offers.
RealBookie only offers a few deposit and withdrawal options, these are:
- Visa (Deposits)
- Mastercard (Deposits)
- POLi (Deposits)
- Bookie Cash Card (Deposits & Withdrawals)
- Credit Card (Deposits & Withdrawals)
- Bank Transfer (Deposits & Withdrawals)
RealBookie Australia launched online in 2020.
However, owners Mark Sampieri and Chris Lester have been on-course bookmakers for much longer than that.
- Mark Sampieri began bookmaking in 2003 following in his father Graeme's footsteps. Graeme Sampieri is one of Melbourne's most respected on-course bookmakers beginning in 1966.
- Chris Lester got his booking licence in 2013 but has been known in the scene for decades before that.
Yes! RealBookie is fully licensed to conduct online bookmaking for all Australian residents by the Victorian Commission for Gambling & Liquor Regulation and is also a member of the Victorian Bookmakers Association (VBA). RealBookie has held an Australian bookmaking licence since 2020 but its owners have been legally offering on-course betting services since 2003.
As a VBA member, punters are guaranteed payment for winning bets should RealBookie default on payments.
RealBookie also uses the latest bookmaking technology designed by popular B2B proprietor BetMakers as well as the latest 2048 bit SSL encryption technology for all payments and account information.
RealBookie is an approved wagering provider of the NRL, AFL, FFA, Tennis Australia, Racing NSW, tasracing, Racing Queensland, and more.
RealBookie's apps have also been vetted and approved by the teams at both Google and Apple.
Yes. RealBookie often has the best fixed odds prices of any Australian bookmaker for at least a couple of runners for all local thoroughbred races.
RealBookie also offers Best Tote, SP, Top Fluc and Best of Best odds for many Australian gallops meets as well as fixed and Mid Tote odds for a variety of international, greyhound, and trotting events.
RealBookie also has full-form guides, speedmaps, 5 daily price bumps, and weekly tips for racing-minded punters.
RealBookie App
The RealBookie app and website share many similarities (as you would expect).
Both the RealBookie iPhone and Android app have the same odds, betting options, basic layout, and features (like live streaming and Same Game Multis) as the mobile or desktop website.
The benefits of getting the RealBookie app are that it is optimized for mobile so navigating and placing your bets is much easier, especially when you're away from your computer.
At just under 60MB this is also one of the smallest betting apps in Australia by size which means that your phone (or tablet) will easily be able to handle running the RealBookie app without the need to delete any other apps that you have.
We'd love to see some more integration like fingerprint or Face ID log in as well as some mobile-friendly payment options like PayPal or other eWallets but overall, if you're gonna sign up with RealBookie and bet on your mobile then you should probably get the RealBookie app too.
The RealBookie app is nothing special but if you want to get a bet on at a fair price, it will certainly do the job
RealBookie App Pros ✅
- Free for Android and iOS
- Australian-owned
- Market-leading odds
- Racing streaming
- Simple & easy
- Fantastic support
- 5,000+ racing markets every week
- 15+ different sports
- Same Game Multis
- 5x Daily Price Bumps
- Best Tote, SP, TF & BoB odds
- Only 57.9 MB
- Requires iOS 11.0 or later
RealBookie App Cons ❌
- No live betting options
- Sign up process is easier on the website
- The bottom of some pages has odd spacing
- Some markets are not available until the day of the event
- No mobile-specific log in or payment options
Downloading the RealBookie App
How to Download the RealBookie App
The RealBookie app is on the Australian App Store for iOS/Apple devices along with the Australian Google Play Store for Android phones or tablets.
How to download the RealBookie Android App
- Visit RealBookie.com.au
- Create a RealBookie account
- Open your Android device
- Go to the Google Play Store
- Search 'RealBookie'
- Select 'Install'
How to download the RealBookie iOS App
- Visit RealBookie.com.au
- Create a RealBookie account
- Open your iOS device
- Go to the Apple App Store
- Search 'RealBookie'
- Select 'Get'
The RealBookie sign up process is more complicated via their app so we recommend creating an account on the RealBookie mobile website or desktop website before you go ahead and download the RealBookie app.
RealBookie Racing
Like most Aussie betting sites, RealBookie's focus is on racing and its focus beyond that is on Australian thoroughbred racing.
For most Aussie gallops races you'll get form guides, speedmaps, fixed odds, Best Tote, Best of the Best, Top Fluc, and Exotics (Quinella, Exacta, Trifecta, First 4). This depends on the caliber of the race that you want to bet on with the bigger races getting more options, better odds, and more extra features.
Do be aware that RealBookie's maximum payout for Top Fluc and Best of the Best bets is $5,000
The later you bet, the more likely you will be to get quality racing odds and betting options
RealBookie covers Australian and international horse racing well with plenty of popular products and quality fixed odds prices
For Australian greyhounds and harness races, you'll see Mid Tote and fixed odds for the most part, and for all New Zealand races it's the same story.
Overall, RealBookie offers 5,000 weekly racing markets and the number of international options is impressive - although you won't get fixed odds for all of these meets.
RealBookie also has racing futures for the biggest Australian and international events of the year - although there are also fewer options here than on bookies like Neds.
Overall, there are better options for horse racing betting if you always want Best Tote odds, prices for smaller meets and features like tips and comments. However, RealBookie's prices for a couple of runners in all meets with fixed odds are often the best you'll find in Australia
RealBookie Sports
When it comes to sports betting, RealBookie is not as good as big sports betting sites like Bet365, Neds, or even PlayUp but it still shouldn't be ignored.
The most important thing to know is that RealBookie doesn't offer as many betting options as the bigger Australian bookmakers - you'll typically find around 50 betting markets for popular sports like the EPL, AFL, NRL, A-League, NBA, and IPL. Bigger bookies can offer 200+ bets for these leagues.
For the leagues mentioned above, you'll also get Same Game Multi options with RealBookie, although, again these are only limited to main markets.
While RealBookie does have more than 15 total sports on offer, for things like golf, snooker, volleyball, and boxing, your number of betting options will be small.
You'll find competitive prices and all the main betting markets for major sports on RealBookie - but not too much else
When it comes to odds, RealBookie is surprisingly competitive though. It's not uncommon to find $1.92, $1.95, and even $2.00 lines for major sports events which means that it's worth creating an account and checking RealBookie's odds before you bet somewhere else.
Otherwise, RealBookie has a small number of futures markets but often doesn't have extra sports markets like player props, corners, cards, and fouls - for this type of thing you're better off at corporate sports betting website.
RealBookie also doesn't accept live phone bets.
RealBookie Features
Normally, smaller Australian-owned betting websites do not have many features but RealBookie is an exception.
RealBookie offers Same Game Multis for a wide variety of sporting leagues as well as racing live streams for certain local meets.
We would, however, like to see live betting options, more racing information like filter options and price fluctuations and Same Race Multis.
RealBookie Betting Features
- RealBookie Same Game Mutlis
RealBookie lets you create Same Game Multis for a wide variety of sports and leagues including the AFL, NRL, NBA, EPL, IPL, and A-League.
Same Game Multis allow you to combine events from the same game into one larger bet for an increased payout.
On RealBookie you won't get the same range of options as the Same Game Multi builder on Bet365, but you will have main player, score, line, total, player, and special (eg. corners, cards, goals) options.
- RealBookie Live Streaming
RealBookie lets players watch live-streamed races for selected Australian events.
While the range of racing streams available is not as extensive as on Sportsbet this is still a great feature to have and not something we typically see from local Australian bookmakers.
If you want to stream sports, RealBookie is not the site for you, instead try Bet365 or Unibet - they stream tens of thousands of sports matches every year.
- RealBookie Price Bumps
RealBookie offers punters 5 daily price bumps for racing.
This is a great way to boost what are normally very competitive racing odds anyway to a level that no other online betting site offers.
- RealBookie Racing Tips
Every week, RealBookie sends you weekly racing tips curated by long-time bookmakers and industry experts.
You can, of course, opt-out of these emails at any time but if you're going to be betting on the races then this is a great way to cut down on some of your own research time.
- RealBookie Form Guides & Speedmaps
For all Australian and New Zealand races, RealBookie has full form guides and speedmaps.
While they don't have other features like a filter option or price fluctuations, getting this information directly on RealBookie is helpful so that you don't need to go looking for it somewhere else.
RealBookie Payment Options
RealBookie accepts popular deposit options like Visa, Mastercard, POLi, and Bank Transfer and supports withdrawals to credit cards and via bank transfer.
However, when it comes to other popular payment options like Apple Pay, PayPal, Paysafecard, and more - RealBookie is not a good choice.
Overall, our deposits to RealBookie were always in our account instantly and withdrawals took a standard 24-48 hours (2 bank days max) to process so we have no complaints there.
RealBookie's minimum bet amount is $1 and their maximum payout per bet is $15,000. $15,000 is a significantly lower maximum winnings amount than most other Australian betting sites.
Also, note that RealBookie's maximum payout for Top Fluc and Best of the Best bets is $5,000. For multi bets it's $1,001.
RealBookie Deposits
- Visa (Instant)
- Mastercard (Instant)
- Credit Card (Instant)
- POLi (Instant)
- EFT/Bank Transfer (Instant)
- Bookies Cash Card (Instant)
RealBookie Withdrawals
RealBookie Contact
Often an underrated factor when looking for a betting site - the quality of customer service can tell you a lot about how a bookmaker values its players.
When it comes to RealBookie's customer service, we found that all our interactions were handled professionally and thoroughly. It should also be noted that because the RealBookie team is small, most of the people you will talk to actually work with the product closely so they have a great knowledge of how everything works.
Despite this, RealBookie only offers email and live chat support - we'd love to see phone support as well.
How to Contact RealBookie Customer Service
How to Use RealBookie
The RealBookie website is powered by BetMakers which is a common platform used by many small Australian betting sites.
Therefore you will see a similar design to most local online bookmakers on RealBookie.
On the left of the screen, you have a menu with all the sports and racing options offered, on the right you will find your bet slip for any pending or submitted bets and in the main column in the center of the page, you will see featured markets based on what you have selected already from the menu.
Login and sign up buttons are located at the top of the page and extra information like RealBookie's live chat, FAQs, Contact and About information can be found at the bottom of any page that you are on.
RealBookie is organised like most Australian bookmakers - the menu on the left can be used to find your sports or racing betting market while the middle of the screen displays the current market you have selected.
RealBookie's website may not be the most modern and it may not win any innovative design awards but since it was only launched in 2020 and uses the latest in bookmaking technology thanks to BetMakers, you will have no problems with speed and overall functionality.
How to Sign Up & Bet with RealBookie
Any Australian resident who is at least 18 years old can create a RealBookie account and start betting. You can sign up with RealBookie on their mobile or desktop website by selecting the green button at the top or bottom of this page.
Do be aware that as per Australian betting regulations, RealBookie is required to verify the identity of all players within 14 days of them signing up.
This process is normally done automatically and you will receive a message if more information is required from you (usually just a photo of your passport or driver's licence and maybe a proof of address document like a bank statement or power bill).
You will be able to deposit and bet as much as you like before your account is verified but your RealBookie verification must be completed before you request a withdrawal.
Use the green button at the bottom of this page or simply go to realbookie.com.au
You will be taken to a sign up page, enter your basic ID info like phone number, Date of Brith and address
Choose between POLi, Visa, Mastercard or Bank Transfer and make your first deposit
Use the menu on the side of the RealBookie website to find the sport/race you want to bet on
Once you have found a bet, select the odds you want and enter your bet amount in your Bet Slip
If you are happy with your selection(s) then select 'Place Bet'
RealBookie Sign Up Bonus
In accordance with Australian betting regulations outlined in the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and the Gambling Regulation Act 2003, we are not allowed to advertise the RealBookie sign up bonus or any other betting offers such as money back promotions or free bets on My Betting Sites to players who may not have an account with RealBookie Australia.
Only players who are logged into their RealBookie account will be able to view RealBookie bonuses and promotions.