Section 44: Licensing of bookmakers

44. Licensing of bookmakers (1) No person shall operate fixed odds betting unless he holds the appropriate bookmaker licence. (Subsec. (1) came into operation on 6 December 2007.) (2) Subject to subsection (3), the Board may, on application made for the conduct of fixed odds betting on local races, issue— (a) a bookmaker licence authorising the applicant to operate at the racecourse; or (b) a bookmaker licence authorising the applicant to operate at only one place outside the racecourse as the Board may approve. (Subsec. (2) came into operation on 6 December 2007.) (3) No bookmaker licence shall be issued to an applicant to operate both at the racecourse and outside the racecourse. (Subsec. (3) came into operation on 6 December 2007.) (4) The Board may, on application made for the conduct of fixed odds bet on local races through remote communication, issue a bookmaker licence authorising the applicant to operate through remote communication at such place outside the racecourse as the Board may approve. (Subsec. (4) came into operation on 6 December 2007.) G2 – 25 [Issue 7] Gambling Regulatory Authority Act (5) The Board may, on application made for the conduct of fixed odds bet on any event or contingency other than a local race, issue a bookmaker licence authorising the applicant to operate— (a) where the applicant already holds a bookmaker licence under subsection (2) (b), at the place approved by the Board under that subsection; or (b) where the applicant does not hold a bookmaker licence under subsection (2) (b), at such place as the Board may approve. (Subsec. (5) came into operation on 6 December 2007.) (6) No bookmaker licence to conduct fixed odds betting on a local race shall be issued to a totalisator operator. (Subsec. (6) came into operation on 6 December 2007.) (7) No bookmaker licence under subsection (4) or (5) shall be issued unless the applicant is a company. (Subsec. (7) came into operation on 6 December 2007.) (8) Subject to subsection (10), no bookmaker licensed under subsection (4) shall, in relation to his activities as bookmaker, carry on any activity or provide any facility in connection with his activities at any place other than the place in respect of which he is licensed. (Subsec. (8) came into operation on 6 December 2007.) (9) No bookmaker licence shall be issued unless the appropriate licence fee specified in the Third Schedule is paid to the Authority. (Subsec. (9) came into operation on 6 December 2007.) (10) A bookmaker licensed under subsection (4) or (5)— (a) may apply to the Board for authorisation to provide facilities in connection with his activities at a place other than the place in respect of which he is licensed; and (b) on being authorised by the Board to provide facilities at such other place as the Board may specify, shall pay such licence fee in respect of such other place as may be specified in the Third Schedule. (Subsec. (10) came into operation on 6 December 2007.) (11) A bookmaker may, for the purposes of his business as bookmaker and with the approval of the Board, receive bets from, or negotiate bets with, another bookmaker on such terms and conditions as the Board may approve. (Subsec. (11) came into operation on 11 November 2009.) [S. 44 amended by s. 10 (c) of Act 26 of 2012 w.e.f. 22 December 2012.] [S. 44 amended by s. 10 (c) of Act 26 of 2012 w.e.f. 22 December 2012; s. 21 (d) of Act 9 of 2015 w.e.f. 14 May 2015.]