With responsibilities under the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (the Act), a bookmaker’s key employee is a person who is:
- employed by a bookmaker in a managerial role
- authorised to make decisions about a bookmaker's business operations
- employed in any other activity we've specified that relates to a bookmaker's operations
Note: we have not specified any other activities at this time.
Interstate conditions
Bookmaker key employee registration is only valid in Victoria. It can't be used in other states or territories.
If you're from another state or territory, you must apply for registration with us to be able to work in Victoria.
Approval as a substitute bookmaker
A registered key employee can perform the duties of a bookmaker’s substitute if they've been approved by:
- Racing Victoria Limited
- Harness Racing Victoria
- Greyhound Racing Victoria.
An approved substitute is responsible for the same duties and disciplinary action as a registered bookmaker.
It's an offence to work as a substitute bookmaker without prior approval. Disciplinary action may be taken against both the key employee and their employer.
Register or renew a key employee
An individual aged 18 years or more may apply to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) for registration as a bookmaker's key employee.
To apply, you will be required to submit these documents:
- Bookmaker key employee application form:
Depending on your answers to the application form questions, you may have to submit additional documents.
Application requirements
Please ensure all information is attached before submitting your application.
Credit card authorisation is required for the prescribed fees. The VGCCC will call to take payment upon submission of the application.
Your application must include:
- Complete application form - Every question on the application form has been answered
- Original National Police Certificate and/or an equivalent report from the relevant Police Agency
- Original Credit Report and/or an equivalent report from the relevant overseas agency
- Passport sized photo.
Requirement for notification of changes while your application is in progress
Between lodging your application and a decision being made about it, you must notify the VGCCC in writing immediately of any changes to the information you have provided (including any documents lodged with the application). Breaching this requirement may incur penalties.
False or misleading Information
It is an offence under the Act to give information that is false or misleading. If you give false or misleading information, your application may be refused and/or you may be prosecuted and fined up to 60 penalty units.
Duration of your registration
If your application is granted, your key employee’s registration will be granted for up to 10 years.
This is subject to conditions in the registration, and unless it's:
- cancelled
- surrendered
- suspended.
You will be issued with:
- a certificate of registration
- an identity card
- a Notice of conditions of registration:
Your responsibilities and obligations
As a registered Bookmaker key employee, you must:
- display your identity (ID) card at all times while working
- show your registration certificate and ID card if requested by the police or a compliance inspector
- return your registration certificate and ID card to us within 14 days if your registration is cancelled or suspended.
Failure to comply with these requirements may result in fines.
You need to know your obligations listed in the Notice of Conditions. You must let us know about certain changes in your circumstances within 14 days. These include:
- any change in your name or residential address
- any finding of guilt for any offence under statute or common law recorded in any jurisdiction* against you (excluding non-custodial traffic offences#), and
- details of any proceedings leading to your participation in a diversion program.
the start of any bankruptcy proceedings, or:- entry into a formal or informal scheme of arrangement with your creditors, or
- a formal administration under the Bankruptcy Act 1966, or
- the commencement of like proceedings in any jurisdiction.
- entry into a formal or informal scheme of arrangement with your creditors, or
- details of a litigation outcome that resulted in an order or finding being made against you, whether personally and/or via business associations (e.g. legal action that involved a company of which you are a director, partner etc.
- the result of any disciplinary action taken outside Victoria against a gaming, bingo or casino licence held by you.
the result of any disciplinary action taken against any non-gaming licence, approval, authorisation or registration, held by you under any jurisdiction (excluding matters of your driver licence or motor vehicle registration) - if you are a company director or public officer of an incorporated association, the outcome details of any investigation by the/under:
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- Australian Corporations Law
- Registrar of Incorporated Associations
- Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)
- Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), or
- by any other regulatory body or law enforcement agency in any jurisdiction.
Definitions:
(*) Any jurisdiction means any relevant legal or other authority, or territory, within or outside Australia.
(#) Non-custodial traffic offences are traffic matters which resulted in a penalty other than a jail sentence or community-based order.
Replacement of identity card or certificate
If you lose or damage your identity (ID) card, you may request a replacement. You'll need to provide a statutory declaration with details of how the card was lost or damaged.
You can make the statutory declaration at your local police station. Email the statutory declaration to: [email protected]
Renewal of registration
It's your responsibility to ensure your registration's current. We'll send a reminder application 2 months before your registration expires.
To get a renewal reminder, you must ensure your details are current.
Disciplinary action
Failure to comply with the Act will result in disciplinary action. Grounds for disciplinary action include the registration holder being found guilty of a relevant offence.
A relevant offence in relation to a bookmaker’s key employee registration, means an:
- offence against the Racing Act 1958 and regulations under the Act
- offence (in Victoria or elsewhere) involving fraud or dishonesty
- indictable offence or an offence that, if committed in Victoria, would be an indictable offence.
We'll advise you in writing if disciplinary action begins against you. Within 28 days of receiving our letter, you can provide further information or respond to the disciplinary action.
Surrender of key employee registration
If you no longer want to be registered as a key employee, you need to let us know in writing by emailing: [email protected].
Within 14 days, you must also return your:
- certificate of registration
- identity card.
Failure to do so may result in a fine.
Appeals to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
You can appeal a decision made by the VGCCC by lodging an appeal with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
A person whose interests are affected may apply to VCAT for review of a decision to:
- refuse an application for registration
- impose or amend a condition of a registration
- refuse to renew a registration
- take disciplinary action
- suspend a registration under section 4.5A.14B of the Act.
The appeal must be lodged within 28 days of our decision.
Under the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998, you can request a statement of reasons for our decision.
If you do this, the appeal must be lodged within 28 days of the date we:
- provide the statement of reasons
- advise that a statement of reasons won't be given.
Engaging convicted persons
A registered bookmaker must not engage a person with a conviction to assist in any part of the bookmaker's operations that involves:
(a) handling or making arrangements in relation to any bets made with the bookmaker
(b) the publication of betting odds.
Engage means to engage:
(a) whether by contract or otherwise
(b) whether by employment or otherwise
(c) whether on a voluntary basis or otherwise.
A person with a conviction means a person who has, within the last 10 years, been convicted of a relevant offence within the meaning of section 4.5A.17(opens in a new window) of the Act.
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