Bookmakers (and employee) application process and requirements

Bookmakers

A bookmaker is a person who:

whether acting on their own account or as an employee or agent for another person, carries on the business or vocation of, or acts as a bookmaker or turf commission agent
gains or endeavours to gain a livelihood entirely or partly by betting or making wagers.

The duration of a bookmaker's registration is 10 years, subject to the conditions specified in the registration, and unless cancelled, surrendered or suspended.

Once approval is granted, you will be given a set of directions, which gives you an ongoing responsibility to notify the VGCCC of any changes.

Registered bookmakers cannot allow a person convicted of a 'relevant offence', within the last 10 years, to handle or have any involvement in any bets made with the bookmaker or the publication of betting odds. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action being taken against you as a registered bookmaker.

See Standard licence obligations for more details.

For a list of current bookmakers, see Approved bookmakers.

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Application forms

Important notice for applicants

Individuals applying to be registered as a bookmaker or as a nominee for a corporate registered bookmaker are required to apply to Victoria Police for a 'National name check' National Police Certificate.

Finger and palm prints are not required. The VGCCC is currently updating the GIE application forms on this website to indicate this change.

Select the right application form

Individuals applying to be registered as a bookmaker complete the Bookmaker's registration as a sole trader form.
*Bookmaker's registration - corporation
*Bookmaking partnership
*Bookmaker key employee

Nominees

If a corporation is approved as a registered bookmaker, the corporation must nominate a person to act as a nominee. To apply, complete the Registered bookmaker - approval as a nominee of a corporation application form.

Associates

Corporate associates of a registered bookmaker are required to complete the application form - Registered bookmaker - approval as an associated entity (online). Only use this form if the applying entity has only individuals as associates. If the applicant entity is a trustee of a trust or has other entities (companies) as associates in addition to individuals please use the downloadable form.
Bookmakers - associated individual (online) - If applying as part of another application for a new or renewal of a Bookmaker's Licence, or as part of an associated entity application, please use the form – Bookmaker registration - associated individual.

For further information about how to register as a bookmaker, see Frequently asked questions - bookmakers.

If you would like a copy of any of these documents in a more accessible format, contact us.

*Note: these forms require Adobe Reader to complete electronically. Download a current and free version from Adobe here. To save your progress when completing this form, download the document to your device before commencing. If you wish to print forms and complete them by hand, please use Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge or Firefox browsers only to do so.

Approval by relevant racing industry controlling body

You must also obtain a club bookmaker's licence from the relevant racing industry controlling body such as Racing Victoria Limited, Harness Racing Victoria or Greyhound Racing Victoria.

Licences provide the authority for bookmakers to field at race meetings of each racing code and in some cases, to conduct 24-hour trading at racecourses. The contact details in relation to club bookmaker's licence applications are listed below:

Racing Victoria Limited www.racingvictoria.com.au (03) 9258 4258 Email: [email protected] Racing Victoria Centre 4000 Epsom Road Flemington VIC 3031	Greyhound Racing Victoria www.grv.org.au (03) 8329 1100 Email: [email protected] 46-50 Chetwynd Street West Melbourne VIC 3003
Harness Racing Victoria www.hrv.org.au (03) 8378 0200 Email: [email protected] PO Box 184 Moonee Ponds VIC 3039

By clicking this link, you are leaving the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission’s website.

Bookmaker's key employees

A bookmaker's key employee is a person who is:

employed by a bookmaker in a managerial capacity
authorised to make decisions that are relevant to the business operations of a bookmaker
employed in any other activity relating to the operations of a bookmaker specified by the VGCCC.

Note: the VGCCC has not specified any other activities at this time.

The VGCCC is responsible for granting and enforcing the conditions of the registrations of bookmaker's key employees.

For your obligations as a bookmaker's employee, see Standard licence obligations - bookmakers and key employees.

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Application requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and must not have been convicted of a 'relevant offence' in the last 10 years.

A relevant offence is:

an offence against the Racing Act 1958, a gaming act, or regulations
an offence involving fraud or dishonesty punishable by imprisonment for three months or more
an indictable offence, or an offence that, if committed in Victoria would be an indictable offence.

Application process

To register as a bookmaker's key employee, you will need to complete the Bookmaker registration - approval as a key employee (new or renewal). This form includes information about the application process and relevant documentation that needs to be included in the application.

For information about how to register as a bookmaker's key employee, download the Frequently asked questions - Bookmaker's key employee.

If you would like a copy of these documents in a more accessible format, contact us.

Online Services Portal

To use the self-service portal you must have your email address registered with the VGCCC. If you have not registered your email address, contact us.

To update your email address online, you will need your user ID and password. The user ID is your bookmaker's key employee registration number, followed by '/GIE'. For example, if your registration number is BK1234567, then your user ID is BK1234567/GIE.

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