PlayUp Review April 2025

"A superb pick for racing aficionados"

Bren Gray, BettingTop10 expert

For those who value a well-rounded sportsbook with a strong racing focus, PlayUp is a great option. Both casual bettors and racing aficionados find the site intriguing because of its easy design and features, such as the single wallet system and prompt customer service.

PlayUp's strengths in racing, simplicity of use, and bonus offers help it to be a competitive participant in the industry, even if there are some negatives, such as limited payment alternatives and the need for phone-based live betting. PlayUp is absolutely worth looking at if you want a sportsbook that excels in important categories such as odds and customer experience. 

My Rating: 5/5

Looking for bookies with a lot of coverage for Kiwi and Aussie sports, I examined PlayUp, which has been becoming more and more popular on this side of the ditch. I will be reviewing all aspects of the platform - the good and the bad - in my PlayUp review, deciding whether or not PlayUp is a solid sportsbook where you can gamble worry-free. 

Launched in late 2019, the PlayUp betting website is owned and run by Australians that I have seen slowly acquiring ground in the cut-throat New Zealand market. Though not the most well-known platform, it has a good sportsbook that includes more than 20 different sports and a separate fantasy sports section. 

PlayUp betting licences are held across multiple jurisdictions, and they're active in Australia, New Zealand, India, and the US. Their biggest market is Australia, where they’ve become a known DFS provider and one of the fastest-growing fixed-odds providers. 

I also found out that, in the USA, they've secured licensing and are on the cusp of launching in multiple states, which should be exciting for anyone following the rapid growth of online sports betting.

Thanks to its licensing and rules, PlayUp is a safe platform in New Zealand. Here's all you need to know regarding its legality and safety. 

Licensing and Regulation

The Northern Territory Racing Commission, an Australian regulating authority, licences PlayUp. Apart from Australia and New Zealand, they run in India and the US, as I have said earlier.  

Security Measures

PlayUp NZ employs SSL encryption to protect your privacy. However, in my opinion, that’s the most basic security feature every betting website needs – a bare minimum if you will. Nonetheless, the SSL certification should give you enough assurance to use your payment information.

I admire how strongly PlayUp tries to promote responsible gambling on its website. You will find it right at the footer, a link to GamblingHelpOnline, where you can get support to avoid gambling addiction. I usually set a deposit and wager limit when I find myself spending a bit too much, and I was able to do that on this website. 

PlayUp Pros

• Excellent racing focus: In the racing field, PlayUp NZ really shines. A superb pick for racing aficionados, the set odds for horse and greyhound racing are among the best I have come across. Your PlayUp betting experience gains even more value from the extensive race statistics included.
• User-friendly interface: Whether you are betting on your laptop or on the fly, the simple and understated design of the website and mobile app makes navigating both easy. A good addition, the dark theme presents a simple and aesthetically pleasing arrangement. 
• Single wallet system: If you enjoy daily fantasy as well as sports betting, I thought the single wallet function was rather handy. It simplifies the process and lets you quickly handle your money without the trouble of keeping several accounts. 
• Responsive customer support: PlayUp’s live chat is available 24/7 and is highly responsive. I appreciated how quickly I could get in touch with a real agent, which is a big plus for resolving issues or getting quick answers.
• Solid bonus offerings: Australian rules mean that you won't see showy promotions upfront; once you're registered, PlayUp provides a good choice of incentives, including a 100% deposit match that's straightforward to claim and comes with acceptable wagering restrictions.

PlayUp Cons

• Limited payment methods: PlayUp presents just five payment choices, which is on the lower end compared to other sites. Particularly obvious is the absence of e-wallets; for NZ players who deal with currency conversion, PlayUp only accepts AUD, which could be problematic.
  
• No online live betting: Especially in the digital era, when online live betting is the norm, the requirement to place live bets over the phone is somewhat disappointing. For those who would rather have the ease of making live bets straight via the app or website, this is a major disadvantage.
  
• Longer withdrawal times: PlayUp's withdrawal mechanism seems slower than that of other websites, I noted. If you want quicker access to your money, keep in mind that my withdrawal took more than three days to finish.

Verdict

For those who value a well-rounded sportsbook with a strong racing focus, PlayUp is a great option. Both casual bettors and racing aficionados find the site intriguing because of its easy design and features, such as the single wallet system and prompt customer service.

PlayUp's strengths in racing, simplicity of use, and bonus offers help it to be a competitive participant in the industry, even if there are some negatives, such as limited payment alternatives and the need for phone-based live betting. PlayUp is absolutely worth looking at if you want a sportsbook that excels in important categories such as odds and customer experience. 

When betting  Play Up online, a sign-up bonus can be a great way to start off. PlayUp NZ runs various tempting offers to new players.

But recent Australian laws forbid sportsbooks like PlayUp from directly promoting their incentives or any promo codes on their websites. This means that without registering an account, you can’t see the benefits.

I discovered a range of specials and PlayUp bonus bets once I registered and logged in. The best thing is that PlayUp has made it simple for gamers to access their bonuses; none of these offers call for a promo code.

Just be sure you are aware of any restrictions and limitations connected with these promotions as well as the PlayUp withdrawal deadlines. This helps you to guarantee a seamless transaction when it comes time to claim your gains.

While these incentives might increase the value of your bets, for those of us living in New Zealand, always be sure to review the particular terms to maximise your betting experience on PlayUp. 

Welcome Bonus 100% up to AU$100

For New Zealand gamblers like me, I found a good PlayUp welcome bonus that is most definitely worth thinking about. Although Australian rules prevent you from seeing any flashy commercials promoting these incentives, rest assured that once you register, you will be eligible for a 100% deposit match bonus of up to AU$100.

Given simply a 1x playthrough need, I find the wagering requirements for this PlayUp bonus to be really reasonable. This is a huge advantage over other platforms, where you can find yourself hopping through hoops to get your gains. And with a minimum qualifying bet of just AU$1, anyone can participate, regardless of their level of casual betting or desired larger wager. 

Other Bonuses

PlayUp also has parlay boosts, risk-free bets, and other ever-changing bonuses. Whether using the desktop site or the PlayUp mobile betting app, once I registered it was simple to keep on top of these deals.

PlayUp's competitive and simple way of collecting bonuses for New Zealand players delighted me since it shows that the company considers them. Although rules prevent seeing all the perks upfront, which can be a little annoying, the quality of the deals once you're inside more than offsets this. 

Regarding usability, PlayUp nails it with a simple, understated design that is easy to traverse. Using the desktop site or the mobile app, you will find it seamless all the way. In the eyes, the black motif is particularly pleasing.

Downloadable for both Android and iOS, the PlayUp app comes free. With all the sports betting choices and promos easily available, I thought the app was speedy and responsive.

PlayUp has not sacrificed features; you may even immediately explore the fantasy sports part straight from the app. One disadvantage of the app, depending on your selected method, is that it does restrict your payment choices.

Despite the lack of filters or a search function, navigating through the different sports is straightforward. The app loads quickly, clocking in at just 0.5 seconds, which is a big plus when you’re placing live bets. Getting started on PlayUp is a breeze, too—just click the white sign-up button, and you’ll be registered in minutes, whether you’re on the app or desktop.

One minor issue I encountered was the verification process, which felt a bit slow. But this is something you can easily manage by completing it right away during sign-up, so you’re not left waiting when it’s time to withdraw your winnings.

Even though PlayUp does not have a casino and is a fairly new platform, I was happy to find some unique features. I summed up some of them here.

Clean & Minimalist

PlayUp shines in offering a really user-friendly, simple, basic design. Using the desktop site or the mobile app, I discovered that navigating was effortless thanks to a straightforward and functional design. The dark theme gives the site a clean, modern look that is easy on the eyes.

Racing

Regarding racing, PlayUp really excels with its set odds – some of the best I’ve seen, particularly for horse and greyhound racing. This is one of the key reasons why PlayUp is growing so rapidly across the ditch. 

The degree of detail each race offered really pleased me. PlayUp supports excellent odds with thorough form data and statistics for all races in Australia and New Zealand, therefore augmenting them.

Furthermore, there are a good range of statistics available for international events, which facilitates wise betting. This meticulous detail improved the betting experience and provided me with the means to make better decisions.

Sports Betting

PlayUp offers live betting, but there is a catch: Australian rules prevent you from making direct internet live bets. Rather, you will have to pick up the phone to participate in the action. This also applies to NZ players, if you were hoping to make those last-minute wagers via the desktop site or app—which I found to be disheartening.

Regarding betting features, PlayUp keeps things simple and although they perform fairly, there are some restrictions. I did value the simplicity of the betting slip and the availability of several stake kinds contingent on the sport.

The football section, for instance, surprised me with more than 120 markets, and the PlayUp racebook particularly stood out given the relatively limited choices on other websites.

Not all sports, meanwhile, are covered as thoroughly. There are not any major issues about cricket since, for example, it only had about 40 markets, which is somewhat normal for NZ sportsbooks. On other platforms, though, you will find significantly more thorough coverage.

The portion on simple, easily navigable live betting caught my attention. Clearly visible from the live betting is a green countdown timer that indicates what is about to commence. It is quite disappointing, though, because you have to call in to place a live bet.

Making a phone call feels antiquated in the digital era of today, particularly because many offshore companies let live betting, streaming games, and cash out all from their website.

The ability to arrange parlays is one more element deserving of note. Though all legs must come through to win, this lets you mix several wagers into one bet for a possibly larger return. Though it's a high-risk, high-reward situation, PlayUp provides this across most sports.

Although PlayUp's live betting experience is not bad overall, the paucity of online live betting choices for NZ players does limit it compared to other fully-powered platforms.

Cash Out

PlayUp has a cash-out feature, which is currently somewhat prevalent in the New Zealand betting scene. Though cash out at PlayUp is a fantastic tool, it is only available for specific athletic events and at the company's discretion. This meant I wasn't always able to cash out and when I did, it wasn't on every wager I placed.

Having said that, particularly if a game isn't going as you would have hoped, I found that, when it is available, the cash-out feature may be a helpful tool for protecting your wins or lowering losses.

PlayUp's inclusion of this tool is encouraging even though it's not as comprehensive as I have seen on some other sites. Just keep in mind that availability could be somewhat hit or miss depending on the event and the calendar.  

Single Wallet

One great feature that I found while writing this PlayUp review is the single wallet system, which really adds to the overall convenience. For those who enjoy daily fantasy as well as sports betting, I thought it was especially helpful.

PlayUp allows you to relax when handling several accounts or moving money between several wallets. Everything is handled under one simplified account, which makes it simple to move between jumping into daily fantasy contests and wagering on your preferred sports.

This connection not only improves the experience but also helps you to concentrate more on the games and less on financial management, therefore simplifying it.

One of PlayUp's best qualities, in my opinion, is the extent of its betting market. Whether your taste is in more specialised events or the major sports leagues, this platform really suits everyone. From cricket and rugby to US sports like the NBA and NFL, PlayUp covers a broad spectrum of sports to guarantee that there is always something to gamble on.

PlayUp does, however, shine, especially in its emphasis on racing. Should you enjoy horse racing, this website is absolutely worth seeing. With a section covering everything from horses to greyhounds and harness racing, I discovered some of the greatest odds for horse racing here.

The racing markets' meticulous attention to detail greatly impressed me. They provide a mix of regional and international events, all readily accessible via a drop-down tab in the main menu,

Sports are arranged alphabetically down the left side of the site, which is neat and easy to use with Quick Links to major events. Although I was a little bummed that there is no search or filter system, the company is still strong, and it is simple to locate the events I was looking for.

PlayUp's market choices are strong overall, particularly if racing is your main concentration. Although the site may not provide as many niche sports as some other platforms, its excellent coverage of prominent sports and top-tier odds qualifies it as a dependable alternative for a wide spectrum of bettors. 

Regarding payment options, PlayUp leaves some room for improvement, in my view. With just five choices, the platform is on the lower end among leading sports betting sites.

Remarkably, I found no e-wallet withdrawal options; even after PlayUp login, the options are still few. PlayUp only takes AUD. Hence your money will be instantly converted should you be putting in NZD. 

Deposit Methods

Deposit is instant with the following methods: 

• Visa
• Mastercard
• Cash In
• POLi
• BPay
• Bank Transfer

I used my card to deposit and was surprised at how quickly it reached my PlayUp account.

Withdrawal Methods

It took more than three days to complete my withdrawal. The withdrawal methods are the same as the deposit ones.

• Visa
• Mastercard
• Cash In
• POLi
• BPay
• Bank Transfer

The staff at PlayUp are always ready to help you. You can get assistance with your account, have a question, or run across technical problems around the clock by live chat and PlayUp email.

Live Chat

I was impressed by how responsive and helpful the staff of the live chat was—unlike some other platforms where support can feel like an afterthought. The live chat is available 24/7, so you’re never left stranded if you need assistance, which is a big plus compared to sites like LeoVegas, which have more limited support hours.

Although the live chat begins with a bot, I discovered it didn't take long to be connected with a real agent. The change went without a hitch, and the staff quickly attended to my issues. This is a minor thing, but it makes a significant impact when you require assistance quickly.

The sole drawback is having to negotiate the bot first, which can be a little slow; but, once you're through, the help is excellent. PlayUp's live chat provides a dependable and quick approach to assistance overall. 

Email Support

Stuck on something tricky? You might want to reach them via email. Shoot them a line at support@playup.com.au. This way, your question lands with the person who knows it best, getting you back to your bets in no time.

You can also contact them at the PlayUp phone number: 1800 752 987

PlayUp does not have a casino – only a sportsbook. 

After thoroughly exploring PlayUp, it’s clear that this platform has a lot to offer, especially for those who are passionate about racing. While I and many other NZ bettors do a lot of our betting on platforms like Betway and Bet365, names like PlayUp are a breath of fresh air.

While having no NZD option is something that still gripes me, it’s not an issue I’m unfamiliar with. Moreover, having to call for live betting just does not feel like a modern platform to me. Other than these, I still use the bookie for the excellent odds that I mentioned in this PlayUp review.