Betting on the Melbourne Cup 2020-2021: Beginner-Friendly Guide

The Melbourne Cup is just around the corner and if you are as excited as we are, then you are probably on the lookout for a new betting platform to place your bets ons. In this article, we will take a closer look at Ladbrokes and Bet365 and have a look at what the platforms offer players who are primarily interested in horse race betting. Together the two platforms represent some of the leading betting platforms in the betting industry.

On top of this, we will also give you some tips to bear in mind before you dive into the exciting world of horse race betting. At the end of the article, you will find some interesting facts about the Melbourne Cup – like what flower represents each race day and what to expect from this years’ prize money. We will also go back in time a bit and look at the history of the Cup. Let us dig right into it, so we can get you equipped and packed with horse racing betting so you are ready for November when the cup kicks off! There is plenty to cover, but we promise that it is worth your time to read it from beginning to end.

Betting on the Melbourne Cup: Which Operator to Choose?

Ladbrokes: Home to the biggest horse races

Does Ladbrokes have a mobile app that I can download?

Yes! The Ladbrokes application is perfect for bringing the horse racing action with you when you are out and about. Forget about being stuck in front of your laptop just because you need to make a bet! The application is available for both IOS devices and Android devices. Windows Phone users are referred to the mobile version of the Ladbrokes website if they want to bring the action with them. The application ensures that you never miss out on anything and every time a new great betting opportunity becomes available, you are notified through the push-notifications. Have a look at the application and see for yourself – it will probably end up becoming one of your new favorite applications!

What are the Deposit / Withdrawals options?

Ladbrokes supports a long list of payment methods, so it is just a matter of finding your preferred method and get started! The long list of payment methods also has a few new services on which could be interesting to try out. The smaller the fees are, the more you can place as bet! If you have questions regarding any of the payment methods, then we suggest you get in touch with the customer service department – they are on standby to assist you with whatever you might need.

Supported payment methods at Ladbrokes:

• Visa Card, Visa Electron, Visa Debit
• Mastercard, Maestro,
• Moneybookers
• Bank Transfer
• Cheque/Money Order/Bankers Draft Deposit
• International Bank Wire Withdrawal
• Flexepin
• Cheque Withdrawal
• ClickandBuy
• Ukash
• EntroPay
• Laser Card
• Mastercard, Maestro (International)
• Neteller
• PayPal
• Western Union Quick Pay
• MoneyTT Deposit
• Ladbrokes Shops
• Bank Wire Deposit

What is the customer service like at Ladbrokes?

It’s pretty great, actually! The phones are opened between 8.30 A and 10 PM UK time and the customer service team can be reached directly on +44 208 515 2565. If you have any further questions regarding the customer service department if you are looking for contact information such as the e-mail, then have a look on site, you will find all the information you are looking for on that page. The best way to get in touch with the customer service agents is to use the built-in live chat on the platform. Players can expect a very short response time, so we highly encourage you to reach out to the customer service department if you have questions or if you are facing problems when trying to make a deposit etc. When in doubt – just reach out!

Bet365: One of the Most Complete Sportsbooks in the Industry 

Does Bet365 have a mobile app that I can download?

I recommend the main Bet365 applications which give you access to everything on the platform – including horse racing! The applications are available for Android and for IOS devices and can be downloaded directly from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store in just a few moments. With the application at hand, you can log in to Bet365 and place your bets – perfect for making the time pass while you are waiting for the bus or train. It could also be profitable! I loved the interface and how easy it was to use, so it is definitely recommended. 

What are the Deposit / Withdrawals options?

Bet365 supports the most popular payment methods and even though the selection is not as big as you will find on other platforms, it should be more than sufficient for most players. The customer service agents are always on standby and ready to assist you if you have questions regarding the different payment methods. If you are looking to make a quick bet and need to fund your account, then we recommend that you use a debit card or a credit card to make the deposit. It will be available in your account within just a few seconds. 

Supported payment methods on Bet365:

• Maestro
• Visa Electron
• Visa
• MasterCard
• Skrill
• PayPal
• Bank transfer

How is the customer service like at Bet365?

Contrary to many other betting platforms, Bet365 offers exceptional customer service that never closes. Yeah, you read that right. The customer service department is open 24/7, 365 days a year! One of the downsides of betting online has traditionally been the difficulties players faced when they needed to talk to the customer service department – they were a no-show. That is luckily not the case with Bet365 and players can reach out to one of the friendly customer agents by either giving them a call or by writing them an e-mail. You could also just click on the live chat in the bottom right corner of the platform to be put in touch with a customer service agent immediately. It really does not get any easier than that and Bet365 seems to really understand how to cater to their customers. It is probably also the reason why it is one of the biggest betting platforms around – don’t you think? 

Betting on the Melbourne Cup 2020-2021: Other Bookmakers you Can Choose

The operators in Australia always update their daily specials for the Melbourne Cup. This year you should expect surprises also from Unibet, Pointsbet, and Neds.

Each one of them has a great sportsbook and competitive odds at horse racing. You can find here a comparison between the best horse betting sites in Australia. 

Tips on placing bets on horse racing for the Melbourne Cup 2020-2021

You will undoubtedly learn a lot as you start placing bets and even a lost bet can be used to make better decisions in the future. We have listed some of the most important things to be aware of or think about before you start placing your bets. Most of it is common knowledge and makes perfect sense when you are not the one in the hot seat. Do your homework and play smart instead of risking it on a whim. People who excel at prediction games like horse race betting are good at limiting their losses and even though they might not win a lot each time – they do usually manage to win consistently. The following tips will help you get started without risking too much and is specifically a way for you to learn while doing.

Keep track of your bets!

Keep track of how much you are spending when you place your bets online. It can easily get out of hand and it pays off to look at the numbers before you know if you should bet on your own judgment calls. A good idea is to build up a bankroll that acts as a buffer so you do not overextend. 

Learn the ropes

Watch videos, talk to experienced betters and try out smaller bets before you dive straight into it. You will undoubtedly pick up some very important lessons along the way. Make sure you learn from them and that they do not cost you a leg and an arm. Minimize your losses and once you start winning the smaller bets, you can move onto the bigger pond. Remember that is always better to be a big fish in a small pond than it is being a small fish in a big pond.

Look up the statistics

It always pays off to have a look at the previous performance of the horse you are looking to bet on. In fact, it is one of the most important things to look at before you even make a selection! Remember, however, that past performance is not indicative of future performance.

There is no such thing as a certain thing.

Regardless of what you hear, there is no such thing as a sure thing. Whatever you do, remember to bet responsibly and remember that every bet that you make could potentially turn out to be lost. Start out small as we mentioned earlier and work your way up the ladder. There are no shortcuts, so remember that you have to learn before you can earn.

Find the right platform

There are so many betting platforms out there that one can easily get lost in it all. In this article, we have had a closer look at Ladbrokes and Bet365 which are our two top picks as the leading betting platforms for horse race betting. We recommend that you also get in touch with the customer service team and find out the quality of the service they offer their players. Don’t sign up and make a deposit in the blind. Make informed decisions and put off a day or two to browse the internet and find a platform that suits your play style.

Interesting facts about the Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is the most famous horse race in Australia and it is by many known as “the race that stops a nation”. In fact, it should be ‘the race that stops two nations’ as many New Zealanders also tune in to watch this prestigious race each year. The very first Cup was held in 1861 and as per tradition it always takes place on the first Tuesday in November. The prize money has gone up almost consistently since the very first Cup and in 2018 it was sitting at a cool $8,000,000. Nobody knows what it will be for 2024 yet, but it will undoubtedly be an even bigger prize pool! On top of this, the winner also gets $500,000 on top of the prize money if it won the Group One Irish St. Leger the previous year. The very first trophy was a gold watch. Today, a new trophy is struck each year and becomes the permanent property of the owner of the winning horse.

The Melbourne Cup is today a public holiday in Melbourne and it has spurred a fashion spree where there is a prize for the best-dressed female and male spectator which is called the ‘Fashions On The Field' – this is often determined by the size and grandeur of the hats the women wear during the Cup. 2018, unfortunately, saw the lowest number of spectators (83,471) since 1990 – let’s hope that 2024 will be a vast improvement and draw in bigger crowds. One thing is certain and that is that the Melbourne Cup is sure to be a stunning visual sight as always. Flowers (and in particular roses) have a large role during the Cup as each of the major race days at the Flemington track has its own official flower;

• The Victoria Derby Day – Corn Flower
• The Oaks Day – Pink Rose
• The Melbourne Cup Day – Yellow Rose
• The Stakes Day – Red Rose.

The Melbourne Cup is one of the biggest days of the year for horse racing and we are very eager to see the many races this year! After this article you should be more than well equipped to be able to place your first bets – we hope so! If not, then there are still a couple of months to go before there’s money on the line at the Melbourne Cup, so do not worry – there is still time to catch up on everything.

• Bet365  / Commercial Content / 18+ Responsible Gambling.
• This review is based on a personal experience of the Bet365 offers.
• Validity Period for Bet365 promotions: 31/12/2024
• Disclaimer: This information was valid at the time of writing, for the latest updates please visit Bet365 platforms.

last update : November 2024