RealBookie review: classic bookie with good racing prices
Best sportsbook in your area
Introducing our exclusive RealBookie com au review. It contains all you need to know about one of the hottest names in Australian sports betting.
The first half of our RealBookie review will focus on the markets, odds and Realbookie features you will find when betting here.
We will then move on to look at the background areas of the site – the customer support and the accepted payment methods.
Plus, we will address the key issue of online security and ask the all important question – is RealBookie legit and trustworthy?
Pros and cons
- Great odds, Strong horse racing features
- Strong horse racing features
- Live chat, bonus bets
- Limited payment options
- No telephone support
- Relatively few sports to bet on
General ratings
General info
| Launch date | 2020 |
| Company behind | RealBookie Ltd |
Best alternatives to RealBookie sportsbook
Editor's note
This review is based on the operator’s current sports offer in Australia.
Expert verdict
If you are a racing fan, you will find a lot to enjoy at RealBookie. Like many of its rivals, RealBookie has a strong focus on providing competitive fixed odds for horse racing markets and racing bonus bets along with popular RealBookie promotions.
The coverage of other sports is not quite as impressive. Indeed, if you want to bet on niche sports, you would be better advised to look at some other sites.
With regard to the supporting areas of RealBookie. The payment options were a bit limited, but the customer support is extremely good and RealBookie offers a secure website.
Overall, RealBookie offers players an array of impressive features and we can recommend giving RealBookie a try. Its mobile app is very good, it offers excellent customer support, and most importantly, it has some of the best odds, RealBookie promotions and bonus bets in Australia.
Sports and markets at RealBookie: Big focus on racing
When you claim your RealBookie deposit bonus, you are free to check out all of the operator’s betting markets, live betting features, bonus bets and more. The sites’ markets are dominated by horse racing betting and harness racing.
At any time, you can bet on upcoming races from all over the world. In addition to covering all Australian race meetings, RealBookie also covers international racing, including meetings from the UK, Japan, the US and France while offering the most popular Realbookie promotions.
Due to Australian regulations, sites cannot advertise any promotions, therefore you will not find any RealBookie promotions or a RealBookie sign up bonus. However, you will find an array of greyhound races. As with horse racing, greyhound racing is covered extensively at RealBookie and you can wager on upcoming races from a number of countries, thanks to live betting features.
Sports facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of sports | 19 |
| Betting markets — Aussie Rules | 120+ |
| Betting markets — Basketball | 100+ |
| Betting markets — Cricket | 100+ |
| Esports | No |
| Other markets (politics/event betting) | No |
Aside from racing, our RealBookie com au review found 18 other sports covered. Realbookie offers all the most popular sports in Australia, plus a few niche options.
Featured betting markets
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Aussie Rules
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Basketball
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Cricket
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Horse Racing
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Football
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American football
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Baseball
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Boxing
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Golf
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Greyhound racing
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Ice Hockey
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Motor racing
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Rugby
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Tennis
Available events
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Big Bash League
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AFL
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ATP
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Australian Open
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ICC World Test Championship
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La Liga
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MLB
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MLS
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NASCAR
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NBA
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NBL
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NFL
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NHL
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NRL
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PGA
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Premier League
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Rugby World Cup
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Super Bowl
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Super Rugby Pacific
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UEFA Champions League
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UFC
Sports & markets rating
- Strong focus on horse races
- Huge range of racing meetings
- Markets for fewer than 20 sports
- Very few niche sports
In all honesty, I was expecting a lot more from the RealBookie app and website. RealBookie offers less than 20 sports to bet on and this is seriously disappointing, as ideally, we like to see over 30 sports covered.
Many other operators, including Bet365, offer betting markets for more than twice as many sports, as well as a lot more markets for each individual event.
I also found the number of markets available for each event somewhat underwhelming. Major fixtures, such as NRL games, had around 50 markets. At sites like Betfair, you will find over 200 markets for these games. So, it is no surprise that Betfair scored much higher in this area.
Additional market details: A big positive for RealBookie is that its markets are among the best in the industry. Both in terms of the number of future races covered and the range of Realbookie races offered.
Additional market details: The soccer markets at RealBookie feature around 30 leagues, including the most popular tournaments from countries such as Spain, Italy and Germany. Each fixture contains around 50 markets including totals, props and moneylines.
Betting features at RealBookie: Boost your bets
Whether you want live streaming, live betting, same game multi combos, boosted odds or the latest RealBookie promo code, you will be able to find it all on the RealBookie site.
Let’s start with live streaming. RealBookie has a partnership with Sky Racing Australia which allows the site to show live races from meetings all over the country. There are also a number of live streaming features and RealBookie promo codes for other sports.
The same game multi feature allows you to create your own bets by combining the odds on multiple markets for the same event. This feature is available on the NRL, AFL, EPL, NFL and a number of other major leagues.
Feature facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Bet Builder | Yes |
| Cash Out | Yes |
| Live betting | Yes |
| Live streaming | Yes |
Realbookie offers Price Bumps which are RealBookie’s version of enhanced odds. Every day, players have five Price Bumps that they can apply to the RealBookie racing markets of their choice.
Betting features rating
- Five Price Bumps every day
- Multi betting options
- Watch live racing
- Fewer streams than some sites
This is more like it. RealBookie certainly delivers when it comes to betting features. I was hugely impressed with the multi betting options and the five daily Price Bumps.
Many operators such as Ladbrokes offer boosted odds, but few provide the amount you can find at RealBookie. And this is one of the primary reasons why the brand achieves a score of 90 here.
The live streaming feature is great for racing fans who want to watch live racing, but across the board, they are on a par with operators such as Dabble. Good, without being outstanding.
Additional features: Should you decide to opt in to receive emails from RealBookie site, you will receive a set of weekly racing tips. These tips are formulated by the racing experts at RealBookie. To further assist your betting, RealBookie offers a wide range of statistical information relating to future races. This includes speed maps and form guides.
Competitive sports betting odds at RealBookie
All online sports betting fans want to find the best odds for their wagers. Simply put, better odds equals better potential winnings. And the good news is that RealBookie has some highly competitive odds.
We looked at a large range of markets at RealBookie and found its average payouts to be 95.82%. This puts it comfortably above the average for betting payouts in Australia of 95 and fully deserve a high score.
In terms of individual sports, the racing markets provide some of the highest payouts. We found the average payouts to be 96.14% for online wagering on future races.
Odds facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Average payout | 95.82% |
| Boosted odds | Yes |
| Parlay boosts | No |
| Line movement | Moderate |
As is the case at most online Australian bookmaker sites, the live odds at RealBookie are somewhat lower than pre match odds. That being said, in play payouts at RealBookie average over 93%, which is again higher than the market average.
Odds rating
- Overall payouts average almost 96%
- Superb thoroughbred racing odds
- Competitive live odds
- Not the best payouts on the market
This is another superb area for RealBookie. I am always delighted when I see an Australian bookmaker offering odds consistently above 95% and that is exactly what I found at RealBookie.
In fact, the odds at RealBookie are amongst the best you will find in the country. Remarkable, its racing payouts are over 2% higher than other leading brands, including BetStar.
The only reason that I haven’t gone even higher with my score in this section, is that RealBookie does not quite have the best odds on the market. A few operators, notably 888Sport also offer competitive fixed odds for major markets.
Realbookie com au review: Popular payment methods
You can fund your RealBookie account using the following payment methods: POLi, bank transfer or credit card. The minimum amount you can deposit into your RealBookie account is $5.
Withdrawals from RealBookie need to be made via bank transfer or credit card. In most cases, RealBookie will process your request within 24 hours and your funds will be in your account within two days.
The minimum amount you can withdraw from your RealBookie account is $10. Before you make your withdrawal, you need to turn over the value of your deposit at least once.
Payment facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of payment methods | 4 |
| Popular payment | PoLi |
| Minimum deposit | AU$5 |
| Maximum deposit | N/A |
| Average deposit time | Instant |
| Minimum withdrawal | AU$10 |
| Maximum withdrawal | N/A |
| Average withdrawal time | 72 hours+ |
| Deposit fees | None |
| Withdrawal fees | None |
All payments to and from RealBookie Australia are entirely free. Your deposit requests should be processed instantly. It is also worth noting that whilst there are no limits on the maximum payments you can make at RealBookie, the operator does have a maximum win amount of $5,000. Your bet slip will inform you if your potential winnings exceed this maximum amount.
Payments rating
- Excellent processing times
- No transaction fees
- Low deposit limit
- Only 2 withdrawal options
Ideally, we look for 10+ payment options and with 3 payment methods at RealBookie is really disappointing. If you look at sites such as Unibet, you will find over twice as many payment options.
A more ‘like for like’ comparison is BBet, but even it offers 2 more payment options than RealBookie. However you look at it, this is a poor area for RealBookie.
On the plus side, the processing times are very good, and I was pleased to see that all payments were free. But overall, the lack of options means that I cannot award RealBookie a very good score in this section.
Gamble safely at RealBookie
Licensing is a pivotal issue when you are betting online. Therefore, it is important to note that RealBookie is fully licensed and regulated by Racing Victoria and the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation.
To further highlight their legitimacy and trustworthiness, the operator has also been a full member of the Victorian Bookmakers Association (VBA) for a large number of years.
Players at RealBookie can access a range of responsible gambling information on the website. This includes links to safer gambling helplines and self-assessment forms to help you establish whether you have a gambling problem.
Safety facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Auditing seals | N/A |
| Responsible gambling seals | Gambling help online |
| Licences | Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission |
| SSL encryption | 128-bit |
| Two-factor authentication | Available |
| Ever blacklisted? | No |
| Deposit, wager, time, and loss limits | All available |
| Self-exclusion | Available |
| Cooling-off period | Available |
RealBookie also allows players to set safer gambling parameters for their online accounts. This includes the ability to self-exclude for a period and set deposit limits.
Licensed by
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Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission
Trusted by
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Gambling help online
Safety rating
- Fully licensed operator
- Excellent reputation
- Responsible gambling tools
- Fewer safer gambling articles than some sites
The security provision at RealBookie means that I am fully confident that you can gamble securely on the site. Ultimately, this is the most important factor when reviewing a betting site.
The responsible gambling tools are broadly similar to what you will find at other top Australian betting sites. For instance, NEDs has an almost identical set of tools.
I was also pleased to see that RealBookie had links to reputable safer gambling organisations. You can find similar links at PlayUp, and it all helps to confirm our high score of 90.
Customer support: Email and live chat options
If you have any queries whilst using RealBookie, you can contact Realbookie customer service via email or live chat. The latter of these options can be accessed via the speech bubble symbol in the bottom corner of the website.
RealBookie aims to reply to live chat requests within two minutes. Alternatively, you can send an email to [email protected] and expect to receive a reply within 24 hours.
The RealBookie website also has an FAQ page. This page has 14 answers to common questions, covering key areas such as bank transfer payments, live streaming features and RealBookie bonus bets.
Support facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Customer support availability | 8 am to 11 pm |
| Live chat | Yes |
| [email protected] | |
| Contact number | N/A |
| On-page support | FAQs |
The customer support options at RealBookie are available from 8am until 10pm Sunday to Wednesday, and from 8am until 11pm Thursday to Saturday. Times may be reduced on bank holidays.
Support rating
- Live chat and email support
- Excellent response times
- No telephone support
- No 24/7 support
- Fewer options than some operators
Live chat is always a positive for online betting sites, but I was a bit disappointed to discover the service was not available 24/7. This immediately puts RealBookie behind competitors like TopSport, who not only have 24/7 live chat, but also offer telephone support.
The FAQs are also slightly disappointing. Yes, there are FAQs, but they only cover a few areas. You will find far more extensive FAQs at sites like PointsBet.
So whilst I am confident that RealBookie provides a good customer support service, it falls short in a few areas and does not do enough to merit a score of over 85.
RealBookie platform: Mobile betting made easy
As is the case at a number of Australian bookmaker sites, RealBookie provides a mobile app that allows players to place bets from their Apple or Android mobile devices.
The RealBookie app has exactly the same betting features, markets and support options as the full desktop version of the site. It is available from with the Google Play or Apple store.
If you prefer, you can use the full RealBookie website using a mobile browser. The operator has optimized their site for mobile use and it is compatible with all major tablets and mobile phones.
Platform facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Mobile app | Yes |
| Ease of navigation | Very easy |
| Filters | Yes |
| Search function | No |
| Loading speed | 1.2 sec |
| UI and UX rating | Excellent |
| Other products | N/A |
When reviewing both the RealBookie website and app, we found the loading speeds to be excellent. Pages and markets loaded virtually instantly and there were no noticeable glitches.
Play on devices
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Android
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iOS
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Linux
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MacOS
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Windows
Platform rating
- Mobile app available on Apple and Android
- Excellent loading speeds
- No casino, bingo or esports options
- Limited search options
This is almost another excellent category for RealBookie. I loved the mobile app and the website looks great, but I was disappointed that the site was lacking a search box.
A search box is often the quickest way to find exactly the right market or event you are looking for. Sites like ZBet have search functions that can save you a lot of time when looking for the bet you wish to place.
But aside from that, there is a lot to like about the RealBookie platform. The loading times are as good as leading sites like BlueBet, and the menus are clearly laid out. Overall, this is a good online betting platform.
FAQs
Is RealBookie legit?
Yes. RealBookie is fully licensed by Racing Victoria and regulated by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation. In addition, the operator is a member of the Victorian Bookmakers Association (VBA) and enjoys an excellent reputation amongst sports betting players. The RealBookie website also provides responsible gambling tools to help you stay in control of your online gambling.
How does RealBookie work?
RealBookie is an online sports betting set that specialises in horse racing betting. It also offers betting markets for a number of other sports. After completing the RealBookie sign-up process and (if applicable) using a RealBookie bonus code, players can place pre-match or in-play bets. The types of wagers they can place include moneylines, totals, props, spreads and futures. There are also a number of additional features such as race multi combos and a live streaming feature.
Who owns RealBookie?
RealBookie is owned by Mark Sampieri, an Australian on-course bookmaker, The company was founded in the early 2000s and operated purely as a track bookmaker until 2020. At that point, Sampieri decided to join up with fellow bookmaker Chris Lester to create a new betting site. Since then, RealBookie has grown into an established online bookmaker and is especially popular with racing fans.
Are there cashout options at RealBookie?
Yes. This is one of the most popular promotions and allows players to cash out their sports bets whilst an event is taking place. Doing this means taking a reduced profit, but guarding against the bet ultimately losing. As is the case at many other Australian betting sites, players cannot opt to cash out a bet prior to the event starting.
Is there a RealBookie app?
Yes. RealBookie mobile app can be downloaded for free to Apple or Android devices. The RealBookie app contains all the features, markets and supporting options that you will find on the desktop version of the site. You can also access the RealBookie promotions page. Alternatively, you can access the RealBookie site via a mobile browser as the site is fully mobile-compatible.
RealBookie sportsbook User reviews
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