Best Racing Form
Best Racing Form
In March 2026, PlayUp and CrossBet merged to form a brand new Australian betting site, owned by NextBet Pty Ltd. The new operation, which also incorporates the Draftstars fantasy sports platform, is simply called NextBet.
Licensed by the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission, this new-look site accepts bets on more than 20 different sports. We’ll discuss these, as well as the odds, payment methods and other features, in our detailed NextBet review.
| Launched | 2026 |
| License | Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission |
| Number of Sports | 20+ |
| Horse Racing | Yes |
| Greyhound Racing | Yes |
| Esports | Yes |
| Live Streams | No |
| Cashout | Yes |
| Multi Builder | Yes |
| Mobile App | YesApp Store: 4.0* Google Play: 3.6* |
| Minimum Deposit | $0.10 |
| Minimum Withdrawal | $10 |
| Withdrawal Times | Instant to 72 hours |
| Customer Support | Live chat: 7am to 12am Email: support@nextbet.com.au Phone: 1800 752 987 |
As I mentioned, NextBet Pty Ltd acquired Crossbet and PlayUp, including the latter’s Draftstars fantasy sports platform, as part of a merger. The result is a brand new site, NextBet.com.au, which launched in 2026.
The operation is led by Scott Cross, the founder of Crossbet, who becomes the Executive Director. PlayUp continues to exist as a standalone site for the time being, but will eventually be wrapped up. Draftstars remains accessible though the NextBet website.
NextBet.com.au is an Australian betting site. It should not be confused with NextBet.com, which is owned by the AsianLogic Group, the company behind brands like Dafabet.
Absolutely. NextBet may be one of many Aussie sports betting sites that opened in 2025 and 2026, alongside brands like PandaBet, NinjaBet and BetReal. But it’s not a brand new operation, benefiting from the experience and reputation of both CrossBet and PlayUp.
The latter is licensed in several US jurisdictions, including North Dakota and New Jersey, as well as Australia’s Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission. It’s also earned a reputation for paying winners in a timely manner.
Scott Cross, meanwhile, has been in the gambling industry for over a decade, setting up the CrossBet platform in 2020. Everything we’ve seen from NextBet so far suggests a serious, reputable and trustworthy operation.
Okay, let’s jump into the main part of this NextBet betting site review – it’s time to assess the features and odds.
In terms of sports, there’s usually around 20 to 25 available. Although that’s not quite as comprehensive as the bigger-name brands, it’s still a lot better than newer sites, such as DashBet and EpicOdds.
NextBet also offers a complete greyhound, harness and thoroughbred racing product, plus a few esports. I spotted a handful of LOL, Dota2 and CS:GO markets, for instance.
Live betting is available 24/7 by calling 1800 888 001, while Same Game and Same Race Multis and cashout are also options. The only thing that’s really missing is live streaming of major sporting events.
It’s great to see a fantasy sports betting platform, in the shape of Draftstars. Here, you can enter pools in seven different sports, including AFL, NRL and horse racing, at a variety of stakes. The lowest entry fee is just $0.50, rising to $150 for high-stakes games.
NextBet offers pretty competitive odds. Pick any major sporting event and, for the most part, you’ll find the prices are close to the top end. Take NRL games, for example, which are priced to around 105.5% to 106%. That’s a fair margin, and one that’s in line with major brands like Ladbrokes, TAB and Unibet.
It’s the same story for AFL games, where the overround is also 105.5% and many soccer leagues. EPL games for instance, are priced to 107.5% – not quite as good as Sportsbet or Neds, but much better than newer sites like TeamBet, where the overround is 114%.
Funding your NextBet is simple enough, thanks to a variety of convenient payment solutions shown in the table below.
| Payment Method | Deposit | Withdrawal |
| Debit Card | ✅ | ❌ |
| PayID | ✅ | ❌ |
| PayPal | ✅ | ❌ |
| Apple Pay | ✅ | ❌ |
| BPAY | ✅ | ❌ |
| CashUp | ✅ | ❌ |
| PayID | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bank Transfer | ✅ | ✅ |
The minimum withdrawal requirement is only $10, and PayID transactions are processed almost instantly. It could take up to 24 hours for an electronic transfer to hit your account.
Unfortunately, NextBet doesn’t process payouts over the weekend. A withdrawal made on a Friday night could, therefore, take up to 72 hours to complete.
Yes, there is a NextBet sports betting app. It’s not the best on the market, but it’s not exactly bad, either. Although there aren’t many reviews yet, since the platform only launched in March 2026, this feeling is supported by feedback on Google Play and the App Store.
More than 10,000 Android users had downloaded the app at the time of writing, providing an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5. Admittedly, though, only 87 people had actually left a review.
The iOS software scores a little better – 384 Apple users rated their app 4.0 out of 5.
There’s a real lack of NextBet bonus codes. This is due to the regulatory restrictions placed on betting sites in Australia, rather than any fault of the operator. You won’t find a welcome bonus for that reason.
Some promotions are available, but – as is standard throughout the country – you’ll have to log into your account to view them.
Before we wrap up this NextBet site review, a quick word about the customer support options.
If you experience a problem, click the “FAQ” link in the website footer. This opens a searchable database of roughly 20 questions. It’s limited, but it does help with the basics.
Still require assistance? The support team is the same one responsible for the PlayUp site, so you can reach out by email (support@nextbet.com.au) or telephone (1800 752 987) at any time of day.
However, although there is a live chat service, it’s only available from 7am to 12am.
Assuming your details match the automated identity verification checks, you’re free to log in and make your first deposit. If not, you must provide further documents, such as a passport or driver’s license. This can take up to 72 hours to complete.
Combining the experience, features and competitive odds of the PlayUp and Crossbet platforms is very exciting. This promising new venture could easily threaten the established operators, and there’s no reason why NextBet can’t become a leading betting site in Australia.
However, it’s still early days for this platform. And to be honest, the main thing I took from preparing this review is how NextBet is basically identical to PlayUp. From the layout and markets, to the odds and customer support, there’s little – if anything – to differentiate the two.
I’m sure that will change over time, and most probably for the better. For now, though, NextBet is a solid site that’s definitely worth a look – especially if it pays as reliably as PlayUp does.
NextBet Interactive Pty Ltd is the registered owner of NextBet.com.au in Australia. The company, which is led by Executive Director Scott Cross, was created as the result of a merger between CrossBet and PlayUp.
There are handy buttons to install the NextBet sports betting app at the foot of the homepage. Scroll to the bottom, then click either the App Store or Android button. Follow the links on the resulting page to download the app and install the mobile app.
You don’t really need a NextBet promo code, as local regulations prohibit the site from offering a registration bonus. However, you’ll notice the code WELCOME is entered on the signup form by default – you can leave it there if you wish, but it makes no difference.
Yes. Despite the lack of a NextBet bonus for newcomers, there are still some moneyback specials, odds boosts and other sports betting promotions. Log into your account to see what’s available today.
No. Although NextBet provides a space on the registration form to enter a referral code, it won’t earn you any kind of bonus. It’s just a way for NextBet management to track affiliate signups. There isn’t a trend referral bonus in place yet.
Click the “Login” button on the NextBet.com.au homepage, then use the “Forgot Details” link. Enter your registered email address, then hit “Reset Password” to set up new login credentials.
| Same Game Multi | |
| Cash Out | |
| Live Streaming | |
| Bet Builder | |
| Apple Pay | |
| Minimum Deposit | $0.10 |