Bookmaker Industry Code of Practice

Harm Minimisation

Bookmakers agree to provide wagering services in a manner that encourages responsible wagering patterns and behaviour. 

General

Bookmakers will:

  1. Comply with statutory obligations and refuse access by minors.
  2. Provide unrestricted access by clients to their own wagering account records.
  3. Endorse warning messages regarding the effects of excess gambling and notices advising how to access problem gambling counselling agencies.
  4. Improve customer information to assist in responsible wagering.
  5. Agree not to offer propositions unless they have a probability of occurring.
  6. Advise their clients of their credit betting policy.
  7. Not accept bets by credit card on-course.

Additional requirements for online wagering operators

On-Line operators agree to the following points:

  1. Internet sites to contain up to date links to Australian agencies providing assistance for problem gamblers.
  2. Access by minors to be prevented by ID checks and the use of devices such as PINs and access passwords.
  3. Monitor daily transfer from credit cards.
  4. Bookmakers must abide by the restrictions contained in Credit Card Merchant contracts.
  5. Bookmakers agree to offer their services on an opt-in basis to assist customers to wager responsibly, which could include features such as:
    • Offering pre-committed loss limits to clients.
    • Increases in loss limit parameters to incorporate a 7-day cooling-off period.
    • Decreases in loss limit parameters to be effective immediately.
  6. All Internet sites will not have entrapment systems and will facilitate easy exit from their site.
  7. The Bookmaking Industry has a moratorium on micro-event wagering and bookmakers agree to seek approval from ABA before offering bet-types that may be considered micro-event propositions.
  8. Bookmakers using the “Seal of Approval” agree to the withdrawal or addition of any micro-event bet-type approved by ABA.

Exclusion

  1. Self exclusion to be strictly enforced by each wagering provider based on an individual request by the client to that provider and to observe the requirements of the National Self Exclusion Register (Betstop) when introduced.
  2. Subject to judicial order, third party exclusion will be strictly enforced by each wagering provider.
  3. Each excluded person to be given direction to counselling services.

Training

  • Copies of the Code of Practice to be made available to bookmakers’ staff.
  • Bookmakers to ensure staff are aware of the requirements of the Code of Practice.
  • Bookmakers and their customer service staff to receive training in the responsible provision of wagering services.
  • Each employee is to complete the national Responsible Service of Online Wagering Microcredential training in accordance with federal legislation by no later than 30 March 2023.

General

To support the local community as part of a commitment to the provision of responsible gambling services.