On-Course Bookmakers in Western Australia: Licensed Operators and Your Rights

Who regulates on-course bookmakers in Western Australia

Bookmakers who field at Western Australian racetracks are licensed and overseen by Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA), working alongside the state's Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) and its Gaming and Wagering Commission for broader regulatory matters. RWWA is responsible for the control of thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing in WA and administers the licensing of bookmakers who operate in the betting ring.

The operators featured on this page — including Severn Bookmaking Partnership, Steve Mills Bookmaking, BudgetBet, McCormack Bookmaking, R Collett, Steve Mulhall, Willobet, Ernie McCreed (McCreed Bookmakers), Michael Linton Windle, Styleform Bookmaking, Freemantle Bookmaking and PG Yujnovich — are listed as fielding at WA racecourses. Details such as which meetings a bookmaker attends and what services they offer should always be confirmed directly with the bookmaker and with RWWA, because licensing conditions and fielding arrangements can change.

How to verify a licence

Before you place a bet or hand over any personal details, confirm the bookmaker holds a current licence:

• Contact Racing and Wagering Western Australia and ask them to confirm the bookmaker's licence status.
• On-course, licensed bookmakers field from allocated positions in the betting ring under the racecourse's supervision and display their identifying details.
• If you are ever unsure whether a wagering service is legitimate, you can check the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) register. ACMA maintains information about interactive gambling services and operates a blocking program for illegal offshore services.

Always confirm you are dealing with the licensed operator and not an imitation, and that any account or transaction is handled through the bookmaker's proper channels.

How on-course bookmakers operate for customers

Traditionally, on-course bookmakers take bets in cash at the track, in person, during a race meeting. Many now also offer telephone betting and, in some cases, online or app-based accounts. Because each operator is an individual business, the products and features differ. Factual differences you may encounter include:

• Deposit and withdrawal methods — some accept cash on-course only; others support telephone accounts, bank transfer or card-based deposits and withdrawals. Ask what methods apply and whether any processing times or minimum amounts apply.
• Verification (KYC) requirements — to open an account, Australian law requires identity verification. Expect to provide proof of identity and to confirm you are 18 or over. On-course cash bets may not require an account, but account-based betting does.
• Phone and on-course availability — some bookmakers field only at particular tracks (for example, Ascot, Kalgoorlie-Boulder or Pinjarra Park), while others take phone bets away from the ring. Confirm operating days, hours and the meetings attended.
• Minimum bet rules — racing regulators in various jurisdictions have introduced minimum bet limit rules requiring bookmakers to lay a bet to lose a set amount on certain markets. Whether and how these apply depends on the relevant racing jurisdiction and the market involved. Ask the bookmaker or RWWA how minimum bet obligations apply to their service.

Consumer protections and how to complain

If you have a dispute with a WA-licensed on-course bookmaker — for example about a bet settlement, a payout or account access — the general pathway is:

1. Raise it with the bookmaker first. Put your complaint in writing and keep records, including bet details, dates, times and any correspondence.
2. Escalate to the regulator. If the matter is not resolved, contact Racing and Wagering Western Australia, which oversees WA bookmaker licensing and can advise on the complaint process.

Complaint time limits and processes vary by jurisdiction. For example, wagering operators licensed in the Northern Territory are generally subject to a 60-day complaint window through the NT Racing Commission — but that applies to NT-licensed operators, not WA on-course bookmakers. Always confirm the applicable time limit and pathway with the regulator that licenses the operator you dealt with.

Questions to ask before opening an account

• Are you currently licensed, and by which regulator?
• Which racecourses do you field at, and do you take phone or online bets?
• What identity documents do I need to provide to open an account?
• What deposit and withdrawal methods do you accept, and are there processing times?
• How do minimum bet limit rules apply to your markets?
• What is your complaints process, and who is the external regulator if we cannot resolve a dispute?
• What responsible gambling tools do you offer, such as deposit limits?

Responsible gambling

Betting is a form of entertainment that carries financial risk, and it is not a way to make money. You can set deposit limits with licensed operators, and you can exclude yourself from all licensed Australian online and phone wagering services through BetStop — the National Self-Exclusion Register at betstop.gov.au.

If gambling is causing you or someone you know harm, free and confidential support is available. Call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au at any time.

This page is a factual directory resource for people aged 18 and over. It does not promote gambling or any particular operator, and all licensing details should be confirmed with the relevant regulator.