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Horse and Dog Racing in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Jack Fahey Jack Fahey Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: February 2024 ANZSIC R9120

Revenue

$4.6bn

2024-25

$4.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

23,155

Businesses

2,287

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Horse and Dog Racing in Australia industry analysis

The Horse and Dog Racing industry has weathered the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic, benefiting from a surge in wagering turnover through the growing popularity of online betting platforms. Nevertheless, the industry has faced serious challenges over recent years, with some segments of the industry faring better than others. Attendance at racing events tanked, following longer-term trends of a growing proportion of punters opting to bet from home, rather than attend the races. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated these trends, as lockdown measures prevented race day attendance and sharply reduced ticketing and hospitality revenue. Many consumers also shifted to online betting platforms while in-person venues were closed. Industry profitability has declined over the period, as the industry expended significant costs to keep races running throughout the pandemic. These efforts proved beneficial, as wagering revenue surged during lockdown periods, contributing industry-wide growth, which is expected to grow at an annualised 1.7% over the five years through 2023-24, to $4.6 billion. This includes an anticipated rise of 0.6% in 2022-23, driven by higher crowds at marquee events.

Trends and Insights

  • Wagering revenue is booming as consumers are embracing online betting platforms. These trends offset the effect of COVID-19 on the industry, as crowds collapsed, especially for major events.
  • Racing authorities have capitalised on surging wagering revenue, especially from corporate bookmakers. Racing club operators suffered from falling on-course wagering during periods of heavy crowd restrictions.
  • Melbourne is the traditional home of racing in Australia, which centralises more businesses in Victoria. Proximity to world-class facilities and high-quality races induces a high proportion of trainers to base themselves in Victoria.
  • The racing industry is highly regulated, state-based monopolies attract a dominant market share. As wagering revenue has become increasingly dominant, racing authorities have attracted a growing share of overall turnover.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $4.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic was a mixed bag for the racing industry

  • Attendances at horse racing events plummeted following the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent shutting of Australia's international border from March 2020 to February 2022.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Horse and Dog Racing in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Races will increasingly rely on marquee events, as overall crowd numbers continue their gradual decline

  • Over the coming years, crowds at races are on track to return to pre-pandemic levels, as race clubs and racing authorities rely on marquee events to drive industry-wide expansion. Large events with high crowds open up the industry to a range of new revenue streams outside wagering turnover and prizemoney distributions that comprises the core of the industry.

Biggest companies in the Horse and Dog Racing in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Racing Victoria
558.1
Racing Queensland
506.1
Racing NSW
443.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 7 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Horse and Dog Racing in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Racing authority operation, Racehorse and race dog ownership and Racetrack and race club operation. Racing authority operation is the largest segment of the Horse and Dog Racing in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Racing authorities have capitalised on surging wagering revenue

  • Racing authorities include Racing Victoria, Racing Queensland and Racing NSW. Racecourse licence boards exist under specific state racing and gaming acts that license race clubs and specify the number of race meetings that can be held at each racecourse annually.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry companies administer horse and dog racing activities, or operate horse and dog racing venues. Firms that operate horseracing stables or dog racing kennels, own racehorses or greyhounds, or provide related training services are also included in the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Racing authority operationRacehorse and race dog ownershipRacetrack and race club operationRacehorse and race dog training

Companies

Racing VictoriaRacing QueenslandRacing NSW

Purchase this report to view all 7 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

TOTALISATORWAGERING TURNOVERWAGERING MARGINPOINT OF CONSUMPTION TAX

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 9121 - Horse and Dog Racing in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Wagering revenue is booming as consumers are embracing online betting platforms. These trends offset the effect of COVID-19 on the industry, as crowds collapsed, especially f...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Racing authorities have capitalised on surging wagering revenue, especially from corporate bookmakers. Racing club operators suffered from falling on-course wagering during p...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Melbourne is the traditional home of racing in Australia, which centralises more businesses in Victoria. Proximity to world-class facilities and high-quality races induces a ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The racing industry is highly regulated, state-based monopolies attract a dominant market share. As wagering revenue has become increasingly dominant, racing authorities have...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The growth of online betting platforms is shifting the funding model of key racing authorities. Racing NSW and Racing Victoria are increasingly reliant on wagering revenue fr...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Racing Victoria's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Racing Queensland's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Racing NSW's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 4 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Racing Victoria, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Racing Queensland, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Racing NSW, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 4 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Demand from rival gambling activities surged in 2022-23 and will continue growing in 2023-24. This trend provides more competition for attention among gamblers in Australia, ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The racing industry was required to expend significant resources to keep the industry up and running during the pandemic. These costs drove down profit margins in the industr...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Horse and Dog Racing industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Horse and Dog Racing industry in Australia is $4.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Horse and Dog Racing in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 2,287 businesses in the Horse and Dog Racing industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Horse and Dog Racing industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Horse and Dog Racing industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Horse and Dog Racing industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Horse and Dog Racing industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Horse and Dog Racing market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Horse and Dog Racing market in Australia are Racing Victoria, Racing Queensland and Racing NSW

What does the Horse and Dog Racing in Australia include?

Racing authority operation and Racehorse and race dog ownership are part of the Horse and Dog Racing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Horse and Dog Racing in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Racing Victoria.

How competitive is the Horse and Dog Racing industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Horse and Dog Racing industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Horse Farming in Australia
  • Sports Administrative Services in Australia
  • Horse and Sports Betting in Australia
  • Sports and Recreation Facilities Operation in Australia

International industries

  • Racing & Individual Sports in the US
  • Horse and Dog Racing in New Zealand

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.