Melbourne Cup Sweep Rules & Prize Splits
Yes — even a casual sweep needs a few ground rules.
Clear rules prevent disputes about payments, prize splits, redraws and fairness, which are the most common sources of arguments.
This guide explains the traditional, paper-based sweep rules used in pubs, clubs and workplaces across Australia. If you haven't run a sweep before, you may want to read the How to Run a Sweep guide first so you understand the full flow before setting rules.
Last Updated on October, 01, 2025
1. Do You Need Rules for a Sweep?
Yes — even a casual sweep needs a few ground rules.
Clear rules prevent disputes about payments, prize splits, redraws and fairness, which are the most common sources of arguments.
This guide explains the traditional, paper-based sweep rules used in pubs, clubs and workplaces across Australia.
2. Basic Sweep Rules (Traditional Method)
Each person pays the entry fee before the draw
Names are drawn randomly — no picking horses
Each entry receives one horse — or more if agreed
All money collected must be returned as prizes (no house cut unless clearly stated upfront)
Prize money is paid after the official race result
In the event of a scratched horse — redraw or refund the entry (decide this before the draw)
Keep a visible record of who drew which horse to avoid disputes
Tip: If you’re using a digital sweep app like MelbourneCupSweep, all entries are automatically tracked and stored for you.
3. Prize Split Examples (Most Common Methods)
There are a few classic ways people divide prize money in a sweep:
Winner Takes All – The entire pot goes to the person who draws the winning horse. This is common in small office sweeps or casual groups.
Classic Venue Split (50/30/20) – First place gets 50% of the prize pool, second gets 30%, and third gets 20%. This is the most common format used in pubs and clubs.
Heavy First Place Split (70/20/10) – First place takes the majority, with smaller amounts for second and third. Good for bigger crowds where you want more excitement around the top prize.
Fun Variant – Last Place Prize – Some groups award a smaller prize to the person who draws the horse that finishes last. For example: 50% for 1st, 30% for 2nd and 20% for last. This adds humour and keeps people interested even if their horse trails early.
👉 Tip: Whatever split you choose, announce it before the draw so everyone knows what they're playing for.
Once your rules are set, you'll also need to decide how prize money will be split — the Prize Payouts guide covers the most common formats used in pubs and workplaces.
4. Handling Scratched or Leftover Horses
If a horse is scratched before the race → redraw or refund — decide before starting.
If there are fewer than 24 entries → leftover horses can be left unassigned, redrawn, or pooled and treated as a bonus pot.
For more than 24 entries → run multiple sweeps (Sweep A, Sweep B, etc.) — many venues do 2–3.
Scratchings are one of the biggest causes of dispute in sweeps. If you're unsure how to handle redraws or refunds, the Keep Sweep Fair guide has fairness tips that work in both paper and digital sweeps
5. Legal Considerations in Australia
Melbourne Cup sweeps are generally allowed nationwide as long as:
All money collected is returned as prizes
It’s social and small-stakes (not a betting operation)
Entries are random — no buying specific horses like a tote
Different states like VIC, NSW, QLD have slightly different wording, but the above applies almost everywhere.
6. Making Rules Clear at the Start
The simplest way to keep it fair:
State entry price
State prize split
State how scratches are handled
State how leftover horses are treated
🎤 Quick announcement before the draw prevents 90% of Cup Day headaches.
7. Considering Digital Alternatives
Paper sweeps work, but they rely on manual honesty and tracking.
Some organisers now use digital sweep tools to handle prize splits, redraws and scratches automatically — but this guide remains focused on the traditional method first, so you can choose what's right for your group.
If enforcing sweep rules is becoming a headache, some organisers now switch to digital sweeps where rules, payouts and redraws are handled automatically. The Digital vs Paper guide compares both without any jargon.
FAQ — Melbourne Cup Sweep Rules
Do I need to announce the rules before starting a sweep?
Yes — announcing the entry price, prize split and how scratchings will be handled before the draw helps prevent disputes once names are assigned to horses.
Are sweep rules legally enforced?
Sweeps are considered a social activity in Australia as long as all entry money is returned as prizes. However, it’s still important to follow clear rules so the process is fair and transparent.
Can people pick their horse instead of drawing randomly?
Traditionally, sweeps are based on random draws. Allowing players to choose horses makes it more like betting and can create arguments or claims of unfair advantage.
What should we do if a horse is scratched before the race?
There are two common options — either redraw a new horse for that person or refund their entry. Make sure this is clarified at the start so everyone knows what will happen.
Do leftover or undrawn horses need special rules?
If there are fewer than 24 entries, some organisers leave the remaining horses unused, while others redraw them among participants. Either method is fine, as long as it’s stated before the draw begins.
Can the organiser keep a percentage of the prize pool?
Only if it’s clearly stated before entries are taken. In most casual sweeps, 100% of entry money goes back to participants as prize payouts.
Do sweep rules change in venues compared to offices?
The rules stay the same, but bigger venues often explain them out loud before drawing, while smaller office sweeps may simply write the rules at the top of the sheet.
Are digital sweep rules different from paper sweeps?
No — digital tools follow the same structure. The only difference is that entry tracking, draw allocation and payouts are recorded automatically rather than manually written down.
This guide is part of our Melbourne Cup Sweep knowledge base, covering setup, rules, prize payouts, templates and digital sweep tools.