Participant registration / Bookmaker registration

What is a bookmaker?

A bookmaker takes bets, calculates odds and pays out winnings on a greyhound race.

In order to attend greyhound race meetings in NSW or provide electronic and telephone betting from an approved premises, a greyhound bookmaker must be registered with the Commission. Either an individual or a proprietary company may apply for registration as a bookmaker. However, in proprietary companies that apply, each company director must be a registered bookmaker.

This registration allows you to:This does not allow you to:
  • Act as a bookmaker at greyhound race meetings or provide electronic and telephone betting from an approved premises.
  • Own a greyhound
  • Keep a greyhound
  • Handle a greyhound
  • Train or trial a greyhound
  • Breed greyhounds.

Requirements for bookmaker applications:

In order to apply for registration as a bookmaker you must be aged over 18 years of age and provide the following:

  • Copy of your guarantee from the NSW Bookmakers Co-op
  • Colour passport style photograph.

As part of your application, you must also consent to a National Police History Check (completed by the Commission on applicants behalf. Cost of check included in the registration fee).

Additional requirements for bookmakers that provide electronic and telephone betting (offcourse bookmaker)

  • Photographs of the premises from which you operate, including entry points to show security and signage to prevent public access
  • Website construction in line with the conditions specified by the Minister for Customer Service under section 16(5) of the Betting and Racing Act 1998

*Please note – if you wish to be approved for electronic and telephone betting, GWIC will forward your bookmaker application to Liquor & Gaming NSW  for review and approval. Staff from Liquor & Gaming NSW may contact you to discuss that approval process.

Additional requirements for company bookmakers:

  • Names of each director and anyone else involved in the management of the company
  • Names of employees and close associates
  • List of shareholders who are not directors. Shareholders who are not directors must be a family member of a director
  • Estimated turnover.

Registration Fees

Fees for all participant registrations and greyhound applications and notifications can be viewed by visiting the Registration Fees webpage.

How long will the application take to process?

Upon receiving your complete application, we aim to process it within four weeks. Please note that applications submitted by post may be significantly delayed.

What do I need to do to register as a bookmaker?

To register as a bookmaker, you must do the following:

  1. Obtain a guarantee from the NSW Bookmakers Co-op
  2. With your guarantee, complete a Bookmaker Registration application form
  3. If your application is approved, you will receive a confirmation email / letter and an identification card
  4. Contact Greyhound Racing NSW to complete the Race Field Information Use application form
  5. Seek permission from the local race club to obtain a kiosk / space to provide bookmaker services

If you are seeking to provide electronic and telephone betting services (offcourse bookmaker), you must do the following:

  1. Obtain a guarantee from the NSW Bookmakers Co-op
  2. With your guarantee, complete a Bookmaker Registration application form
    1. If you are wishing to register a Company, also complete the Company Bookmaker application form
  3. With your application, provide photographs of your premises to show security and signage to prevent public access
  4. Provide details of your website for review
  5. Once your application is received, the Commission will forward a copy to Liquor & Gaming NSW for approval of electronic and telephone betting services
  6. GWIC will review your photographs and website and provide any feedback if changes are needed
  7. If your application is approved, you will receive a confirmation email / letter which includes premises and website approval and an identification card
  8. Liquor & Gaming NSW will advise you and the Commission when you are approved for electronic and telephone betting services
  9. Contact Greyhound Racing NSW to complete the Race Field Information Use application form

How do I get a guarantee?

A person applying to the NSW Bookmakers Co-op for a guarantee must have two references from current co-op financial members and have performed as a bookmaker or bookmaker’s clerk for a minimum period of 6 months.

The required guarantee may vary, depending on the location of the services provided and the turnover of your business.

For more information and to obtain a guarantee you must contact the NSW Bookmakers Co-op on 0433 828 345.

What is Race Field Information Use?

Section 33(1) of the Betting and Racing Act 1998 provides that a “betting service provider” or prescribed person must not use any NSW race field information unless they obtain the proper approval.

The term “betting service provider” is defined in section 4(1) of this Act to include a bookmaker (being a person who carries on the business of, or who acts as, a bookmaker, bookmaker’s clerk or turf commission agent).

Contact Greyhound Racing NSW for the Race Field Information Use form.

Under the Race Field Information Use approval conditions, approval holders have several key responsibilities, including the requirement to:

(a) submit daily reports to GRNSW (if monthly turnover is above $200,000), monthly reports and an annual return to GRNSW;

(b) pay race field fees by monthly instalments; and

(c) comply with various notification and other obligations.

GRNSW will permit any GWIC-registered on-course bookmaker who operates on-course only to provide GRNSW with quarterly and annual returns only, and to continue paying fees in quarterly rather than monthly instalments.

The fee payable is calculated as– 1.6% of turnover or 15% of gross margin – whichever is greater. This fee is paid to GRNSW, and then GRNSW pays this to the relevant NSW greyhound racing club.

For more information about Race Field Information Use or the conditions of approval, please contact Greyhound Racing NSW on (02) 8324 7622

Do I need to be at a racecourse to operate as a bookmaker?

If you are only providing online bookmaker services, you can be approved by Racing NSW as a bookmaker and approved by Liquor & Gaming NSW for electronic and telephone betting.  Once approved, you must seek Race Field Information Use approval from Greyhound Racing NSW.

If you are providing oncourse bookmaker services or wish to provide tote bets, you must be at a racecourse to operate as a bookmaker.  You may operate offcourse, however you must have your website and office space approved by the Commission.

Under section 88 of the Totalizator Act 1997 you must be located at a racecourse if you wish to offer betting services such as Best tote, Mid tote or exotic prices, as those prices and dividends are calculated using the working of a totalizator, whether that be NSW TAB, S-TAB or U-TAB.

How can I apply?

Apply online button

Download a copy of the Bookmaker (Individual) application here.

Download a copy of the Bookmaker (Company) application here.