Oldgill Review [October 2024]

OldGill is the latest new betting site on the BetCloud platform, and what a name it is! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I fired up my computer to take a look as I wrote this OldGill review. Would I be met by the image of a big old Grouper fish?! Unsurprisingly I was way off the mark and as the site loaded I was greeted by the huge grin of a cartoon bookmaker character of what clearly had to be OldGill himself.

After a little deeper investigation it would appear that OldGill is none other than I’d guess the nickname of the owner himself, Greg Engellener. I might be wrong of course but it makes sense as Greg Engellener is a veteran on course bookmaker of 35 years.

Anyway, now that we have cleared that up - at least to a point - let’s focus on what we have with OldGill as far as punters are concerned.

As you may well be aware, there are a number of bookies built on the BetCloud platform which means on many levels they are all very similar. It’s important therefore for OldGill to try to differentiate itself via its look and branding. The cheeky face of OldGill himself is quite endearing and the blue and yellow colourways are strong but the catchphrase of ‘Crafty Betting One Jitter At A Time’ doesn’t really say much if I am honest.

All that said, let’s take a good look through what you can expect to get from OldGill as a punter.

🐴Betting Offerings - 8/10

OldGill covers all the essential bases for punters, offering a broad range of betting markets:

• Australian Racing: OldGill provides extensive coverage across all racing codes—thoroughbreds, harness, and greyhounds. From midweek regional races to the major Group One events on Saturdays, punters have access to the full spectrum of Australian racing. For those looking for an edge, be sure to check out our horse racing tips and Free Saturday horse racing tips for expert advice. Also, take advantage of our multi bets to spice up your betting.
• International Racing: If you’re interested in global racing, OldGill has you covered with a growing selection of international events, allowing you to bet on races from around the world.
• Australian and International Sports: OldGill also offers a wide variety of sports markets, including the biggest Australian sports such as Rugby League, AFL, and Cricket, along with major international sports like Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Ice Hockey, and the NFL. 

💳Banking Options - 5/10

The banking options are limited at OldGill and it is a clear weakness. For Deposits, you can only use a Visa or Mastercard Debit Card, which is very limited compared to other bookmakers. The OldGill withdrawal time is a pretty industry standard 1-3 business days via bank transfer. 

📱Mobile Experience - 9/10

The OldGill mobile app delivers a seamless mobile betting experience, earning a solid 9/10. Navigating the app is straightforward, and placing bets is quick and hassle-free, with minimal effort required to move through pages. The simplicity of the design makes it incredibly user-friendly, which is a big win for punters on the go. If you’re looking for an easy-to-use mobile platform, the OldGill betting app is definitely one of the best. For more information on the best apps, check out our guide to betting apps.

💸​Withdraw Speed - 6/10

It’s just the Bank Transfer as an option and OldGill states a fairly standard 1-3 days for withdrawal time. As I haven’t made a withdrawal yet I can’t add any more to that information.

🧩Overall User Experience - 7/10

Like many of the BetCloud platform bookies, OldGill’s user experience is more than acceptable with its emphasis on simplicity and ease of use.

The look and feel is clean and it is easy to navigate, both of which are important when you are busy trying to get bets on quickly.

📧Customer Support - 6/10

I haven’t had any need as yet to get in contact with customer support but was reassured to know that the live chat is available 24/7 7 days a week should you need them. There is also an email option to get in contact - service@oldgill.com.au - should you prefer, as well as the phone number (03) 7043 4223.

🔒Security- 9/10

The great thing about the highly regulated Australian bookmaking landscape is that us the punters can feel very safe dealing with any bookie that has a licence. OldGill is no exception - a strong 9/10. 

Given the 35-year on-course bookmaking history of the man behind OldGill, it’s no surprise that racing, particularly horse racing, makes up a significant part of what OldGill offers as a betting site.

• All 3 Racing Codes: OldGill extensively covers all three racing codes—thoroughbreds, harness, and greyhounds.
  
• Extensive Global Racing Coverage: As expected, all Australian racing events are covered, and OldGill also offers access to international races from around the world. On any given day, you can expect racing from a wide variety of countries, ensuring there’s always something to bet on.
  
• Tote Betting: For Australian punters, OldGill offers Mid Tote bets across all races. During major Saturday meetings, Best Tote is available, providing punters with the highest payout from the three Australian TAB Win Tote prices. This ensures you're always getting solid value on your bets, especially on the big race days.
  
• Exotic Bets: All the popular exotics, such as trifectas, quinellas, first fours, and quaddies, are available across all Australian racing codes. Flexi Betting also allows you to place a percentage of the full unit for exotics, meaning you can bet within your budget while still enjoying these bet types.
  
• Other Racing Products: OldGill also offers several unique racing products, such as Top Fluctuation, which guarantees the best price declared by on-course bookmakers. Additionally, Best of the Best (BOB) is available on selected Saturday metropolitan thoroughbred meetings, giving you the highest payout between the three Australian TABs or on-course fluctuations.

While OldGill’s racing product is comprehensive, there are a few areas where it could improve, such as the lack of detailed form guides and tipping services, as well as the absence of live betting options. If you're looking for betting advice, check out the free horse racing tips available on site.

Like all betting sites these days OldGill has a betting app and essentially it’s very good and easy to use.

The OldGill mobile app offers a smooth and efficient betting experience, with a few standout features:

• Quickbet Feature: This allows you to place bets in just a couple of clicks and is always a welcome convenience.
  
• Featured Race: Conveniently located dead centre on your screen as you open the app, it highlights the biggest race coming up in the next little while.
  
• Easy Navigation: The app’s navigation is intuitive, making it easy to place bets, check your account, and manage deposits or withdrawals—all just a few taps away.

While the app mirrors some of the limitations of the desktop site, overall, it’s a very solid mobile experience. The OldGill betting app is efficient, user-friendly, and well worth using if you’re on the go.

There are a couple of standout features at OldGill that I really appreciate, with the Blended feature being the clear highlight. Here’s why it stands out:

• Blended: This unique feature allows you to back more than one runner in a race. If you’re ever stuck between two or more horses, Blended lets you bet on multiple runners in the same race. It’s especially handy for those times when you can’t make up your mind between two top picks. Simply select the runners you like and place your stake—it's as simple as that.

I've included a screenshot below as an example of how I used Blended to back two runners in a race.

In the last race at Sandown on the Saturday afternoon that I was giving OldGill a proper workout so as to write this review I fancied backing 3 runners in the race. By clicking the Blended option at the top of the market I was able to easily select those runners and place my bet.

In addition to Blended, there are a few other features that add value to the OldGill experience, most of which are staples across betting platforms in 2024:

• First Past The Post: This feature ensures that if your horse is first to cross the finish line, you'll be paid out even if there’s a protest. It removes the stress of waiting for post-race objections to be resolved.
  
• Same Game Multis (SGM): This allows you to combine different markets within a single sporting event, providing more flexibility and creativity in your bets.
  
• Same Race Multis (SRM): Similar to SGMs, but tailored for racing, this feature lets you create a multi-bet involving multiple markets in the same race.
  
• Mystery Bet - this is an interesting one that’s not for me personally as I don’t really get the idea of betting randomly, but if you do then you’ll like how it’s done on OldGill. It basically offers you an option of a mystery bet at either $2,$4 or $8, and if you really fancy the idea of rolling the dice you can rollover the bet so that if it wins your winning will automatically go on another mystery bet in the next available race.

While OldGill offers a solid product set, there are still a couple of areas that could be improved. For example, the absence of live betting and cash-out options feels like a missed opportunity, especially since these are common features across many other betting sites. Adding these options would be a relatively simple upgrade and could elevate the user experience.

That said, even without these additions, the overall feature set at OldGill is competitive and provides plenty of value for punters.

OldGill offers an extensive range of betting markets, ensuring that punters have plenty of options to choose from. Whether you’re into racing or sports, OldGill covers all the essential bases:

• Australian Racing: All three codes—thoroughbreds, harness, and greyhounds—are fully covered. This includes everything from major Group One races to regional and provincial races. 
  
• International Racing: For those interested in global events, OldGill provides access to racing markets from various countries, including the USA, UK, and Japan. If you like to bet on international racing you’ll find a good variety of options here, ensuring there’s always something available.
  
• Sports Betting: When it comes to sports, OldGill covers an ever growing number of key markets, including major Australian sports like Rugby League, AFL, and Cricket. On the international front, popular leagues such as NFL, NBA, EPL, and more are also featured, offering punters plenty of choices. You can even find markets for more niche sports like Darts and Table Tennis. There’s not as many sports on offer as some betting sites but there’s still a decent amount.

Navigating the markets is easy enough with a variety of link options available down the left hand side menu headed by a toggle option of the OldGill cartoon character between Racing and Sports options in the main screen.

All Australian bookmakers, including OldGill, must comply with strict regulations that prevent them from offering promotions and bonuses to new customers. While this ensures a high level of security and safety when betting on these platforms, it also means that you won’t find any enticing sign-up bonuses or promotional offers for new users.

Once you’ve signed up with OldGill, there is a Promos section on the site that you can check periodically for any available OldGill promotions offers. While the regulations prevent bonuses for new customers, OldGill is free to provide promotions to existing users. That said, there is nowhere near as many promos offered by OldGill as many of the other betting sites available to us punters.

It’s a very straightforward process. Either do so via the website - https://oldgill.com.au/ or download the OldGill app and follow the simple instructions by clicking the ‘Sign Up’ button. (See below) 

Website

App

How to Deposit

After signing up, you’ll notice your account balance displayed at the top right of the screen (as shown in the screenshot below). Simply click on it, and you’ll be able to fund your account using a Visa or Mastercard..

How to Withdraw

You have two options for withdrawing funds. You can either access your account balance the same way you did for depositing, or click on My Account under the Quick Links menu on the left side of the screen. In the Withdraw section, you’ll see your available balance, and withdrawals can be made via Bank Transfer.

OldGill offers several customer support options, including 24/7 live chat, phone support at (03) 7043 4223, and email at service@oldgill.com.au.

The platform is straightforward and easy to use, and I’ve only needed to contact support once since starting. I used Live Chat, and they responded quickly. 

I have to be honest and tell you that OldGill is definitely not the most competitive when it comes to the all-important odds offered. If you're betting on racing, your best option might be to take the Best Tote price, as this ensures you're getting the best payout across the three Australian TABs. However, it's important to remember that this will only be competitive within the tote system and may not provide better value than fixed odds available elsewhere.

When it comes to fixed odds, OldGill tends to fall short compared to other platforms. The fixed prices are generally a little lower than what you’ll find with other bookmakers, meaning you may not always get the best value for your bets in fixed markets. To maximise returns, I suggest taking advantage of Best Tote on major races might be the better option, especially on Saturdays.

While the odds aren’t the strongest part of the offering, OldGill provides a user-friendly platform, and punters looking for additional insights can always check our free horse racing tips or take advantage of multi bets.

Overall, OldGill provides a solid, user-friendly platform for both racing and sports betting. With extensive coverage of the three major racing codes—thoroughbreds, harness, and greyhounds—as well as access to international racing and a variety of sports markets, there’s plenty for punters to explore.

While OldGill excels with features like Best Tote and offers a straightforward betting app, it does fall short in a few areas. The lack of competitive fixed odds and the absence of live betting options may be a drawback for some. However, the inclusion of popular exotic bets, multi bets, and easy site navigation make it an attractive option if you value simplicity.

So for me, while OldGill may not be the best for chasing top odds, it offers a reliable and enjoyable betting experience, particularly for the racing punter. Whether you're betting on local or international races, OldGill covers the essentials pretty well and really the best way to truly see what it can offer is for you to check it out yourself. Sign up and give it a spin!