This section provides detailed guidelines on the rules and regulations surrounding on-course bookmakers. It contains practical information about the steps involved in becoming a bookmaker, the responsibilities of bookmakers operating at Irish racecourses and all the relevant forms required..

Conditions / Requirements for all Permit Applications
 

  1. Must possess a state betting licence. For details on how to obtain a state betting licence, click here
  2. Produce certified monthly statements for a bank / building society / financial institution for the two years immediately prior to the application.
  3. Lodge a security deposit with Horse Racing Ireland in the form of a cheque or draft.
  4. Complete the appropriate forms agreeing to pay by direct debit from your bank / building society account all charges, levies etc., due to Horse Racing Ireland. For a direct debit mandate form, click here
  5. Furnish a photocopy of bookmaker revenue licence.
  6. Attend an interview in Horse Racing Ireland at an agreed time, date and venue.
  7. Provide evidence of public and employers liability insurance cover.
     

Note:

The current fixed fee for all permit holders is €250 per annum and €300 in the case of those that do not receive statements by email. Once a permit has been approved by the Board of Horse Racing Ireland, this fee is non-refundable. The first two representative permits are free of charge and each one thereafter costs the permit holder €200.

HRI may only grant a Course Betting Permit to a person who holds of a bookmaker's licence. For details of how to apply for a betting licence see www.revenue.ie.

When you have a revenue licence and intend to operate as a bookmaker at either race meetings or point-to-point meetings, you should apply to: Betting Division, Horse Racing Ireland, Ballymany, The Curragh, Co. Kildare, for a permit to accept bets at same.

These rules relate to bookmakers working at a particular pitch on any authorised racecourse, excluding point-to-points, along with details of how pitches are allocated or transferred between bookmakers.

For the current rules, click the following link RACECOURSE EXECUTIVES` SENIORITY AND PITCH RULES

Should you have any queries relating to the Seniorities for Sale, please contact us- click here.

Should you wish to transfer a Seniority recorded in your name, you must complete the attached form which in turn must be witnessed by an Authorised Officer of HRI. For Transfer of Seniority form, click here.

In October 2004, HRI introduced the Code of Practice of bookmakers at authorised racecourses. For the detailed document, Code of Practice of Bookmakers at Authorised Racecourses

All permit holders must be familiar with and comply with all terms of the Code of Practice.

An authorised officer of Horse Racing Ireland decides on the deduction required, if any, on a withdrawn horse. These deductions are decided upon using Tattersalls Rule 4c.

In the case of bets made at a price on the day of the race, before it has been officially notified that a horse has been withdrawn prior to coming under starter's orders or has been declared "not to have started", the liability of a layer against any horse remaining in the race, win or place, will be reduced in accordance with the following scale depending on the odds current against the withdrawn horse at the time of such notification:

If the current odds are:

3/10 or longer:                    by €0.75 in the €
2/5 to 1/3:       by €0.70 in the €
8/15 to 4/9:       by €0.65 in the €
8/13 to 4/7:       by €0.60 in the €
4/5 to 4/6:       by €0.55 in the €
20/21 to 5/6:       by €0.50 in the €
Evens to 6/5:       by €0.45 in the €
5/4 to 6/4:       by €0.40 in the €
13/8 to 7/4:       by €0.35 in the €
15/8 to 9/4:       by €0.30 in the €
5/2 to 3/1:       by €0.25 in the €
10/3 to 4/1:       by €0.20 in the €
9/2 to 11/2:       by €0.15 in the €
6/1 to 9/1:       by €0.10 in the €
10/1 to 14/1:       by €0.05 in the €
Over 14/1:       No deductions made

 

In the case of two or more horses being withdrawn before coming under starter's orders, the total deductions shall not exceed €0.75 in the €.

In the case of withdrawals in reformed markets, the total deduction over the two or more horses (i.e. on in the original and one in the reformed market) will be calculated on the prices applicable in the original market.

On- Course Betting Permit Application form. View 2024/25 Form

On- Course Betting Permit Representative Application form. View 2024/25 Form

Transfer of Seniority form. View Form

Direct Debit Mandate form. View Form

Registration Fees View Form

Racing Services Executive

Phone: 045 455445
Email: [email protected]