Phone & Telephone Betting in Western Australia: Licensed Operators and Your Rights

How phone and telephone betting works in Western Australia

Phone and telephone betting is one of the oldest forms of legal wagering in Australia. Instead of placing a bet through a website or app, you speak to an operator (or, in some cases, use an automated telephone service) and give your instructions verbally. Some licensees combine phone betting with an on-course presence at racecourses, while others run a phone-based operation without any betting website at all.

Bookmakers based in Western Australia are licensed and regulated under WA law. Oversight of racing and wagering in the state sits with Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) and the relevant WA government agencies responsible for gambling regulation. On-course bookmakers at WA racecourses also operate under the rules that apply at those venues. Bookmakers licensed in other Australian jurisdictions — for example, the Northern Territory — are regulated by that jurisdiction's authority instead.

This page features the following WA-related listings: R Collett (Western Australia), TABtouch (Western Australia) and Steve Mills Bookmaking (Stephen Gerard Mills), based at Ascot Racecourse. The register does not publish promotional material about these operators — only factual, directory-style information. Always confirm current licensing details directly with the relevant regulator, because licence status, conditions and contact details can change.

How to verify a licence

Before you deal with any bookmaker, confirm they are licensed:

• Ask the operator for their licence details and which authority issued them. For WA-licensed operators, this will be a Western Australian regulator; for interstate operators it will be that state or territory's authority.
• Check with the regulator directly. Racing and Wagering Western Australia can confirm WA licensing matters. Interstate regulators maintain their own public information.
• Check ACMA's register. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) maintains information on licensed interactive wagering services and operates an illegal offshore gambling blocking program. If an operator is not verifiable through an Australian regulator, treat that as a reason to stop and check further.

Do not deal with any service you cannot confirm is licensed in Australia.

Product and feature differences to check

Phone and telephone bookmakers differ in the practical features they offer. Factual points to compare include:

• How you place a bet. Some operators take live phone calls during trading hours; others may offer on-course betting at a racecourse in addition to, or instead of, phone betting. A bookmaker without a website will handle everything by phone and, where relevant, in person.
• Deposit and withdrawal methods. These vary between operators and may include bank transfer or other methods. Ask which methods apply, how long withdrawals take, and whether any conditions attach.
• Identity verification. Australian law requires wagering operators to verify your identity. You will generally need to provide identification when opening an account, and you may be asked to confirm details when transacting by phone.
• Trading hours and availability. Phone lines operate within set hours. Confirm when the operator is contactable and which racing or sporting markets they take bets on.
• Record of your bet. With phone betting, ask how your bet is confirmed and recorded, as calls may be recorded for this purpose.

Minimum bet limit rules

Australian racing jurisdictions apply minimum bet limit obligations for certain wagering operators, meaning an operator must accept bets up to a set amount on nominated markets. The exact rules depend on the jurisdiction that licenses the operator and the type of racing. If this matters to you, ask the operator which minimum bet rules apply to them and confirm the detail with the relevant regulator.

Consumer protections and complaints

If you have a dispute with a licensed WA operator that you cannot resolve directly, you can escalate it to the relevant WA regulator. Start by raising the issue with the bookmaker, keep records of dates, amounts and what was said, and ask for their internal complaint process.

Complaint pathways and time limits depend on where the operator is licensed. For example, operators licensed in the Northern Territory are subject to that jurisdiction's rules, which include a 60-day window to lodge certain complaints with the NT regulator. WA-licensed operators fall under WA processes. Because the applicable pathway and any time limit turn on the operator's licensing jurisdiction, confirm the correct process for your specific operator before you lodge.

Responsible gambling

Gambling should be treated as entertainment, not as a way to make money, and it carries real financial risk. You can use tools such as deposit limits to control your spending, and you can register with BetStop — the National Self-Exclusion Register to exclude yourself from licensed Australian operators.

For free and confidential support, call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.

Questions to ask before opening an account

• Which authority licenses you, and can I verify this with the regulator?
• What are your phone betting hours, and do you also offer on-course betting?
• What identification do you require, and how is my identity verified?
• What deposit and withdrawal methods do you offer, and how long do withdrawals take?
• How is my bet confirmed and recorded when I bet by phone?
• What is your complaint process, and which regulator handles disputes?
• What responsible gambling tools, such as deposit limits, can I set up?