When do the Minimum Bet Limit conditions commence?
The conditions commence on 1 October 2016.
Who must comply with the conditions?
All approved off-course Australian wagering operators who are approved to use Victorian thoroughbred race field information (excluding Victorian on-course bookmakers).
A list of approved wagering operators is available
here. Note that the minimum bet limit conditions do not apply to interstate on-course bookmakers that operate on Victorian thoroughbred racing. The conditions applicable to Victorian licensed on-course bookmakers are available
here.
Do the conditions apply to races held in Victoria only?
Yes. The conditions apply to fixed odds bets on Victorian thoroughbred races. This will include telephone and internet bets placed on Victorian thoroughbred races, but exclude bets placed in a retail outlet.
Racing NSW has similar conditions which apply to fixed odds bets on NSW thoroughbred races.
What are the betting limits imposed under the conditions?
The MBL conditions are included under the RV Race Fields Policy and are available on the Racing Victoria website
here. Approved Australian off-course wagering operators are required to lay the odds displayed for fixed odds bets to the limits below:
| Race Type |
Bet (Win, Win/Place or Each Way) |
Bet (Place Only) |
| Metropolitan Victorian Thoroughbred races |
$2,000 |
$800 |
| Non-metropolitan Victorian Thoroughbred races |
$1,000 |
$400 |
Why does the Minimum Bet Limit not apply to Victorian on-course bookmakers?
Victorian licensed on-course bookmakers already have minimum bet limit requirements, outlined in the Rules of Race Betting on the Racing Victoria website. From time to time these requirements may be amended.
Note that the minimum bet limit conditions do not apply to interstate on-course bookmakers that operate on Victorian thoroughbred racing.
Why doesn't the minimum bet limit apply if my bet is with an unlicensed wagering operator?
Customers who choose to bet with an unlicensed wagering operator expose themselves to many risks as these operators are not bound by Consumer Protection laws. The minimum bet limit policy only applies to transactions with licensed wagering operators approved to use Victorian thoroughbred race field information outlined in question 2.
What type of bets do the conditions apply to?
The conditions only apply to fixed odds Win, Win & Place, Each Way or Place bets on Victorian thoroughbred races. They do not apply in respect of bets placed as part of a betting exchange. They also do not apply to free bets or bonus bets, derivative bets such as best tote or exotic bets such as quinellas and trifectas. Bets which do not have a determined return at the time of placing a bet (e.g. Top Fluc or SP) are also excluded.
Do the conditions apply to multi bets?
No. The calculation of multi-bets, where some of the legs are not related to fixed odds bets on Victorian thoroughbred product could be complex. For this reason, multi-bets have been excluded.
How many bets is a wagering operator obliged to accept to the limit from a punter?
Wagering operators are only required to bet to the limit once per horse for each customer for each race. This could be one fixed odds bet to the limit or a number of fixed odds bets which together add up to the limit.No. The calculation of multi-bets, where some of the legs are not related to fixed odds bets on Victorian thoroughbred product could be complex. For this reason, multi-bets have been excluded.
Can i attempt to bet more than the limit?
Yes. An operator is obliged to accept a bet up to the minimum bet limit amount (subject to the exclusions), however, they may be prepared to accept more than the minimum bet limit.
What price does a wagering operator have to bet each punter?
All punters are entitled to the price publicly displayed in the wagering operator’s latest betting market on their website or app. The only time a changed price can be offered after a punter places a bet is if the official Victorian Official Price (VOP) had just changed or another bet has been layed at the original price and the wagering operator is adjusting the price, which will flow through to their website or app. Time log records can be checked to confirm this process.
Can a wagering operator close an account, refuse to open an account or place limitations on an account to avoid accepting a fixed odds bet to the limit?
No. Wagering operators are not to take actions such as closing a punter’s account, refusing to open a punter’s account or placing restrictions on a punter’s account solely to avoid complying with the minimum bet limit conditions.
However, wagering operators are still able to take such actions for legitimate reasons including bowlers (persons betting on behalf of other persons), responsible gambling practices, fraudulent activity, money-laundering and other integrity-related reasons such as the punter being warned off or disqualified or where Racing Victoria is satisfied that the reason the Approval Holder has not complied properly falls within the Racing Victoria list entitled “Further reasons where an Approval Holder is not required to comply with clauses 12.1.1 and 12.2.1” as published on its website and amended from time to time.
Do the conditions apply to pre-post betting?
No. The minimum bet limit conditions apply to fixed odds bets placed after Final Acceptances Deadline.
Do the conditions apply to bets in a retail outlet?
No. At this stage, the minimum bet limits will not apply to bets placed in retail outlets (regardless of whether cash or account betting), including interstate and Victorian TAB agencies, hotels, clubs and pubs, primarily due to the difficulties associated with determining whether a bet in a retail outlet is a bowler bet placed on behalf of another person.
Is the wagering operator obliged to extend credit to a punter to make a bet to the limit?
No. If the punter does not have sufficient funds to pay for the bet, the wagering operator is not obliged to accept the bet.
What should a punter do if they have a complaint?
At first instance, punters who believe that a wagering operator has refused their bet or excluded them in contravention of the minimum bet limit condition should contact the wagering operator to ascertain the reason for the refusal or exclusion.
If the punter remains unsatisfied with the reason provided by the wagering operator, and they do not fall within one of the exclusions listed in the conditions, then they may lodge a formal complaint with Racing Victoria by completing and submitting the complaints form found on the Racing Victoria website
here.
Complaints will only be accepted and investigated following submission of a fully completed complaints form. Rude, abusive or offensive submissions will be disregarded.
A summary of the formal complaints process can be found
here.
How long does a punter have to lodge a complaint with Racing Victoria?
Within 14 days of the date of the incident that is the subject of the complaint. For example, from the date the bet was rejected, the date of the account closure or the rejection of the opening/reopening of an account. This can be extended if the punter has contacted the wagering operator and not received a response.