Irish Horseracing Industry 1994

Regulations in relation to authorised bookmakers.

53

53.—(1) F48[Subject to the Act of 2024 and this section, the Authority may, by regulations, provide]—

(a) for fixing the conditions governing and fixing the charges to be made by the executive of an authorised racecourse to an authorised bookmaker for admission to the racecourse (and different charges may be fixed in respect of different authorised racecourses and in respect of different parts of the same racecourse):

Provided that in fixing such conditions and charges, the Authority shall not fix for the admission of an authorised bookmaker to any part of that racecourse a charge exceeding 5 times the charge then made to a member of the public for admission to that part,

F49[(b) for governing the activities of authorised bookmakers at authorised racecourses, including—

F48[(i) the relevant betting activities that may be made available, and]

(ii) the methods of bookmaking and practices employed by such bookmakers such as—

(I) the timing for opening a book,

(II) the setting, changing and presentation of betting odds on offer,

(III) the requirements for pay-outs of winnings, and

(IV) the use of appropriate modern facilities and equipment.]

(c) for the provision of facilities for authorised bookmakers by the executive of an authorised racecourse,

(d) for the permitting of authorised bookmakers to operate from betting offices F50[at authorised racecourses],

(e) for the regulation of—

F48[(i) the relevant betting activities that may be made available at betting offices,]

(ii) the structure and location of betting offices,

(iii) the operation and opening hours of betting offices,

(iv) the persons who may be admitted to, or permitted to place bets at, betting offices,

(v) good order and conduct at betting offices.

F51[(1A) The Authority shall consult with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland before making regulations providing for any matter referred to in paragraphs (b) to (e) of subsection (1).]

F52[(2) Regulations made under subsection (1)(e)(iii) of this section in respect of the opening hours of betting offices may permit betting offices to open for business any time at an authorised racecourse—

F48[(a) on any day and during such hours that are not prescribed under section 176 (1) of the Act of 2024 as days or hours, or both, during which a licensee (within the meaning of the Act of 2024) of an in person gambling licence may not open a premises in respect of which the licence is held, and]

(b) on the day of a race-fixture at the racecourse, also from the time the public are permitted admission to the racecourse and up to two hours after the conclusion at it of the last race where that would exceed the hours referred to in paragraph (a).]

(3) The Authority where it proposes to make regulations under subsection (1) may have regard to any agreement between authorised racecourses and authorised bookmakers in relation to any matter referred to in that subsection.

(4) A person to whom any regulation made under subsection (1) applies shall comply with such regulation.

F51[(5) In this section, "relevant betting activity" has the same meaning as it has in the Act of 2024.]

Annotations

Amendments:

F48

Substituted (5.02.2026) by Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (35/2024), s. 265(1)(f)(i), (iii), S.I. No. 31 of 2026, art. 2(i)(iii)(III), subject to transitional provisions in subss. (2), (3).

F49

Substituted (18.12.2001) by Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 (20/2001), s. 7 and sch. para. 13, S.I. No. 630 of 2001, art. 2.

F50

Inserted (25.07.1999) by Horse and Greyhound Racing (Betting Charges and Levies) Act 1999 (24/1999), s. 8(2), S.I. No. 211 of 1999, art. 2.

F51

Inserted (5.02.2026) by Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (35/2024), s. 265(1)(f)(ii), (iv), S.I. No. 31 of 2026, art. 2(i)(iii)(III), subject to transitional provisions in subss. (2), (3).

F52

Substituted (18.12.2001) by Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 (20/2001), s. 7 and sch. para. 14, S.I. No. 630 of 2001, art. 2.

Editorial Notes:

E23

Power pursuant to section exercised (1.03.2006) by Horseracing On-Course Betting Office (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 481 of 2006), in effect as per reg. 1(2).

E24

Power pursuant to subs. (1)(b) exercised (1.12.2004) by Authorised Bookmakers (Code Of Practice Of Bookmakers At Authorised Racecourses) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 755 of 2004), in effect as per reg. 1(b).

E25

Power pursuant to subs. (1)(e) exercised (1.12.2001) by Horseracing (On-course Betting Office) (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (S.I. No. 545 of 2001), in effect as per reg. 1(b).

E26

Power pursuant to subs. (1)(d), (e) exercised by (28.10.1995) by Horseracing (On-course Betting Office) Regulations 1995 (S.I. No. 320 of 1995), in effect as per reg. 1(b).

E27

Previous affecting provision: subs. (2) amended (25.07.1999) by Horse and Greyhound Racing (Betting Charges and Levies) Act 1999 (24/1999), s. 6, S.I. No. 211 of 1999, art. 2; substituted (18.12.2001) as per F-note above.

E28

Previous affecting provision: power pursuant to subs. (1)(d) exercised (24.11.1998) by Horse racing (On-course Betting Office) (Amendment) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. No. 572 of 1998), in effect as per reg. 1(b); revoked (1.03.2006) by Horse Racing On-Course Betting Office (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 481 of 2006), reg. 4, in effect as per reg. 1(2).