Bookmaker's Manager Licence

Under the licensing and approval provisions of the Betting Control Act 1954, a partnership or a body corporate that holds a bookmakers licence must appoint a licensed bookmaker’s manager.

A bookmaker’s manager licence can only be granted to a natural person. In determining the grant of a bookmaker’s manager’s licence, the Gaming and Wagering Commission must be satisfied that the applicant:

• is over 18 years of age;
• has knowledge of the business of bookmaking and the obligations of a bookmaker under the act; and
• is fit and proper and that no circumstances exist to make it undesirable to grant a licence.

A bookmaker’s manager licence is renewable and valid for a period of five (5) years or until it is surrendered or suspended/cancelled by the Commission under prescribed disciplinary powers. The grant of a bookmaker’s manager licence entitles the holder to generally undertake employment in that capacity with a bookmaker that is a partnership or body corporate for the purposes of carrying on the business of the bookmaker. However, a person licensed as bookmaker’s manager may only be appointed as such by one bookmaker at any one time.

General information

• In addition to the licence issued by the Gaming and Wagering Commission, a bookmaker’s manager is also required to obtain authorisation from the relevant racing code controlling authority.
• In the event that a person ceases to be a licensed manager of a bookmaker, it is incumbent on that person to advise the Commission within seven (7) days of so ceasing. Failure to comply with this requirement is an offence under the Act.
• It is the responsibility of an employee of a government department, intending to apply for a bookmaker’s manager licence, to obtain consent from the departmental head to undertake employment as a bookmaker’s manager.

Application requirements

When lodging an application for a bookmakers’ licence the following information is to accompany the application: