Introduction
You need a permit or licence to become a bookmaker in the Northern Territory. A licence allows you to take bets on racing or sporting events.
This section has information on how to apply for or renew a bookmaker licence or permit, licence fees and approved sporting and other events.
Apply for or renew a sports bookmaker licence
A sports bookmaker licence allows you to take bets on all kinds of sporting and other events over the phone and via the internet.
The term of a sports bookmaker licence is determined by the NT Racing Commission, and includes an annual licence fee.
Here is the list of declared sporting and other events which a sports bookmaker can take bets on.
Evaluation
Before you can operate as a sports bookmaker your wagering systems must be evaluated. For more information, contact Licensing NT.
Before you apply
Before you apply for a bookmaker licence, you must do all of the following:
- undertake a police check on all directors, major shareholders and key personnel
- fill in the deed of release and indemnity form, which you will find on the gaming and wagering licence forms page
- provide all required supporting documentation including:
- a $200,000 bank guarantee
- your latest audited financial statements
- a three-year business plan that outlines how granting you a licence will benefit the NT
- follow all NT racing rules and regulations, including any conditions imposed by the NT Racing Commission.
How to apply
Read below to find out how to apply for individuals and corporations.
For individuals
To apply, follow these steps:
Step 1. Fill in a sports bookmaker licence form.
Sports bookmaker licence form DOCX (56.0 KB)
Sports bookmaker licence form PDF (142.3 KB)
Step 2. Fill in the deed of release and indemnity form.
Step 3. Check the application fee.
Step 4. Submit your application and fee to a Territory Business Centre.
For corporations
To apply, follow these steps:
Step 1. Fill in a corporation sports bookmaker licence form:
Step 2. Check the application fee.
Step 3. Submit your application and fee to a Territory Business Centre.
How to renew a sports bookmaker licence
Read below to find out how to renew for individuals and corporations.
For individuals
To apply, follow these steps:
Step 1. Fill in a individual sports bookmaker licence renewal form.
Step 2. Fill in the deed of release and indemnity form.
Step 3. Check the renewal fee.
Step 4. Submit your application and fee to a Territory Business Centre.
For corporations
To apply, follow these steps:
Step 1. Fill in corporation sports bookmaker licence renewal form.
Step 2. Check the renewal fee.
Step 3. Submit your application and fee to a Territory Business Centre.
Apply for or renew a racing bookmaker permit
You must have a permit to work as a registered bookmaker at any Northern Territory (NT) racecourse.
A bookmaker permit allows you to take on-course bets in person. You can also take bets over the phone as long as you are on a registered race course.
You must not take bets via the internet.
You must have approval to operate as a bookmaker from the thoroughbred or greyhound club that controls the racecourse.
Apply for a racing bookmaker permit
Your bookmaker permit is valid for up to 12 months and expires on 30 June each year.
Before you apply
You must complete all of the following:
- undergo a police check
- provide supporting documentation including financial records
- follow all NT racing rules and regulations, including any conditions from racing club stewards
- provide a bank guarantee of $10,000.
How to apply
You must complete the following steps:
Step 1. Fill in a bookmaker permit form DOCX (65.1 KB).
Step 2. Check the application fee.
Step 3. Submit your application and fee to a Territory Business Centre.
How to renew a bookmaker permit
You must complete the following steps:
Step 1. Fill in a bookmaker permit renewal form DOCX (64.3 KB).
Step 2. Check the renewal fee.
Step 3. Submit your application and fee to a Territory Business Centre.
Apply for or renew a bookmaker's key person licence
You may need a licence to work as a bookmaker's key person in the Northern Territory (NT).
You do not need any special knowledge, experience or training to become a bookmaker's key person. However, experience in the betting, racing or greyhound industry can be beneficial.
Apply for a bookmaker's key person licence
Your bookmaker's key person licence is valid for up to 12 months and expires on 30 June each year.
Before you apply
You must do all of the following:
- undergo police fingerprinting
- provide all required supporting documentation
- follow all NT racing rules and regulations, including any conditions imposed by the NT Racing Commission or racing club stewards.
How to apply
You must complete the following steps:
Step 1. Fill in a bookmaker's key person licence form DOCX (67.4 KB) and tick the box for new application.
Step 2. Check the application fee.
Step 3. Submit your application and fee at a Territory Business Centre.
Interstate key person licence holders
If you hold a bookmaker's key person licence from another Australian state of territory, you must fill in a bookmaker's key person licence under mutual recognition form before you apply for an NT key person licence.
Bookmaker's key person licence under mutual recognition form DOCX (68.0 KB)
Bookmaker's key person licence under mutual recognition form PDF (181.0 KB)
How to renew a bookmaker's key person licence
You must complete the following steps:
Step 1. Fill in a bookmaker's key person licence form and tick the box to indicate it is a renewal application.
Bookmaker's key person licence form DOCX (68.4 KB)
Bookmaker's key person licence form PDF (177.6 KB)
Step 2. Complete a police history check.
Step 3. Check the renewal fee.
Step 4. Submit your application and fee to a Territory Business Centre.
Declared event or contingency to be a sporting event
- The Northern Territory Racing Commission, pursuant to section 4(2) of the Racing and Betting Act 1983 hereby declares the events and contingencies set out in Schedule 1 to be a sporting event.
- Licensees must only open a betting market on a sporting event where the sporting event:
- is governed by a sport's governing body at the district, state or territory, national or international level (unless otherwise noted in Schedule 1)
- has a clear result which is publicly accessible
- can be resulted within five days of the conclusion of the sporting event
- can be independently verified and
- is not restricted to persons under the age of 18 years.
- Licensees must only open an eSport betting market where the eSports event:
- is governed by an organisation that is capable of fulfilling the role played by sports’ governing bodies in relation to traditional sports including:
- tournament organisers
- video game publishers or
- video game developers and
- is conducted according to clear, publicly available rules that:
- prohibit match-fixing and establish processes for sanctioning those who have engaged in, or attempted to engage in match-fixing and
- prohibit participants including event organisers, staff and competitors from betting on the outcome of the event.
- is governed by an organisation that is capable of fulfilling the role played by sports’ governing bodies in relation to traditional sports including:
- Licensees must only open a fantasy sport betting market* where the underlying event or contingency has been declared to be a sporting event by way of this declaration.
* A fantasy sport betting market comprises fantasy points (or some other form of measurement) being earned by reference, directly or indirectly, to a scoring scheme based on contingencies relevant to the event where the scoring system is published in advance of the commencement of the event.
Event or contingency | Classes of event or contingency | Governing body |
---|---|---|
Air sports | ||
Air sports | Drone racing | World Air Sports Federation |
American football (Gridiron) | ||
Archery | ||
Athletics | ||
Australian rules football | Australian rules football | |
Australian statistics | Australian Bureau of Statistics. | |
Backgammon | Backgammon | |
Baseball | ||
Basketball | Basketball | |
Bowling | ||
Boxing | ||
Chess | Chess | |
Commonwealth Games events | Events conducted at the Commonwealth Games sanctioned by the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee. | Commonwealth Games Organising Committee only. |
Cricket | Cricket | |
Croquet | Croquet | |
Crossfit | Crossfit | |
Cycling | Cycling | |
Cue sports | ||
Curling | Curling | |
Darts | Darts | |
Diving | Diving | |
Entertainment awards | Awards for film, television and entertainment industries in Australia and other countries. | Organising committee for the award. |
Elections | Political elections | Government approved electoral system authorities. |
Esports | Refer clause 3. | |
Equestrian sports | ||
Fencing | Fencing | |
Financial indices | Relevant regulatory authority. | |
Fishing | Fishing | |
Gaelic sports | ||
Golf | Golf | |
Greyhound racing | Greyhound racing | |
Gymnastics | ||
Handball | Handball | |
Harness racing | Harness racing | |
Hockey | ||
Horse sales | Magic millions horse sales | Magic Millions Auction House. |
Hurling | Hurling | |
Interest rates | Interest rates | Reserve Bank of Australia. |
Iron man events | ||
Kabaddi | Kabaddi | |
Kayaking | ||
Lacrosse | Lacrosse | |
Literary and art awards | Literary and art awards | Organising committee for the award. |
Martial arts | Nevada Athletics Commission | |
Motor racing | ||
Netball | Netball | |
Nobel prize | Norwegian Nobel Committee. | |
Novelty events | Novelty events | Northern Territory Racing Commission novelty guideline 2019 |
Oil prices | Oil prices | As published by Bloomberg LP. |
Olympic Games events | Events conducted at the Olympic Games sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee | International Olympic Committee only. |
Poker | Organising committee for the poker competition. | |
Power boats | Power boat racing | |
Racquet sports | ||
Rainfall | Rainfall | Australian Bureau of Meteorology. |
Rodeo | Professional bull riding | |
Rowing | Rowing | |
Rugby league | Rugby league | |
Rugby union | Rugby union | |
Sailing | Sailing | |
Skating | ||
Skiing | ||
Sledding | ||
Snowboarding | ||
Soccer | ||
Solar car challenge sports | World solar challenge | World Solar Challenge Scientific Faculty. |
Stock market indices | Relevant regulatory authority. | |
Surfing | ||
Surf Life Saving | Surf Life Saving | |
Swimming | ||
Thoroughbred racing | Jockey competitions thoroughbred racing. | |
Trampoline | Trampoline | |
Volleyball | ||
Water polo | Water polo | |
Weather | Weather | Australian Bureau of Meteorology |
Weightlifting | Weightlifting |
Bookmaker licence fees - 2023/2024
You must pay the required fees to apply for or renew a bookmaker licence or permit in the Northern Territory.
All bookmaker licence fees are free from GST.
Application and renewal fees
Item | Fee |
---|---|
Bookmaker permit - application or renewal | $155 |
Bookmaker key employee licence - application or renewal | $27 |
Corporate or individual sports bookmakers licence | 20,000 revenue units or approximately $27,000 |
Other fees
Item | Fee |
---|---|
Police history name check | $81 |
Police history finger print check | $226 |