Rules & Regulations

In these Rules the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings:

Authorised Racecourse(s) means Down Royal Racecourse, Downpatrick Racecourse and all Point To Points and Greyhound Tracks in Northern Ireland.

Betting Ring means an area or areas at an Authorised Racecourse designated by the relevant Racecourse Executive and agreed by the Association where a Licensed Bookmaker may carry on the business of receiving or negotiating bets and to which the public may resort for the purpose of betting.

Licensed Bookmaker means a person who holds a current Northern Ireland Bookmakers License is a member of the Association and holds Seniority at the relevant Authorised Racecourse as evidenced by the records kept by the Association on behalf of the Racecourse Executive. Only a Licensed Bookmaker, his nominated representative or employee may accept bets at any pitch.

Employee means any person in the employment of, or acting as agent for, a Licensed Bookmaker at an Authorised Racecourse.

Joint means the stand and equipment used by a Licenced Bookmaker to carry on his/her Business in a Betting Ring as approved by the Association.

Authorised Race meeting means a horse race meeting authorized by [HRI] and run Under Turf Club and/or the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Rules operating from an Authorised Racecourse.

Pitch means the permanent position in the Betting Ring based on his/her Seniority allocated to a Licensed Bookmaker by the Racecourse Executive to conduct his/her bookmaking business.

Racecourse Executive means the body with responsibility for the management of an Authorised Racecourse.

Representative means a person designated by a Licensed Bookmaker to act on his/her behalf at Authorised Racemeetings in his/her absence by accepting bets at his/her Betting Ring.

Seniority means a right of priority that a Licensed Bookmaker holds at an Authorised Racecourse which is evidenced in the records of the Association.
SENIORITIES & BETTING PITCHES
(a) The Racecourse Executive has control over the Betting Ring. No alteration in plan or alignment of a Betting Ring shall take place without consultation and agreement between the Racecourse Executive and the Association.

(b) The Pitch shall be allocated to a Licensed Bookmaker when the Pitch becomes available. Seniority however shall date from the date he/she first acquired the relevant Seniority.
VACANCY OF A PITCH
(a) Where a Licensed Bookmaker’s license has lapsed or not been renewed and the Licensed Bookmaker has informed the Association that he/she does not intend to continue, the Licensed Bookmaker shall have two years from the date of when he/she relinquished his/her license to dispose of any Seniority rights that he/she holds. When this 2 year period has elapsed the Licensed Bookmaker concerned shall lose all Seniority rights on all Authorised Racecourses
and all of his/her Pitches shall be deemed vacant for the purposes of these rules.

(b) A Licensed Bookmaker may declare his/her Pitch to be vacant by giving written notification to the Association (who will inform the relevant Racecourse Executive) of the date from which the Licensed Bookmaker wishes the declaration to apply, provided that all monies due to the
Racecourse Executive have been paid. Provided that if any monies are overdue from the Licensed Bookmaker to the Racecourse Executive at the date of declaration these shall be a debt due from the Licensed Bookmaker to the Racecourse Executive payable on demand.

(d) A Racecourse Executive may declare a Pitch vacant on a temporary basis for a particular day by giving [written] notification to the Association (who will inform the relevant Racecourse Executive) where the Licensed Bookmaker who is entitled to occupy that particular Pitch has advised that he/she will not be in attendance on that day or will not be in attendance on that day by the off of the first race.

(e) Where a Licensed Bookmaker who holds Seniority on an Authorised Racecourse acts as a Representative for another Licensed Bookmaker on that Authorised Racecourse on any day then the Representative shall notify the Association and the Pitch of the first Licensed Bookmaker shall be deemed to be vacant for that day.

(f) Where a Pitch is deemed vacant the Pitch shall be offered to the Licensed Bookmaker holding the next highest Seniority or on proximity depending on the agreed move plan between the Association and the relevant Racecourse Executive. A copy of all move plans is available from the Association.

(h) In the event of any dispute as to which Licensed Bookmaker is entitled to occupy any Pitch on and particular day the decision of the Racecourse Executive or his agent shall be final on the day. A Licensed Bookmaker who takes issue with any such decision may refer the matter to the
Management Committee of the Association for investigation whose decision on the matter shall be final and binding on all parties.

(i) When a Licensed Bookmaker is absent from his Pitch (and has not paid Pitch fees) for 2 years his/her Pitch shall be declared vacant unless the Association is satisfied that he/she was prevented by just cause.

(j) In the event of the retirement of a Licensed Bookmaker all his/her seniorities shall be declared vacant unless he/she has a son, daughter, widow, parent, brother, sister or recognised Employee who has been employed on a regular basis for 5 years previous to his/her death, who is a Licensed Bookmaker and who can show the Association evidence of entitlement to continue the retired Licensed Bookmaker’s business.
DEATH OF A BOOKMAKER
(a) The name of a deceased Licensed Bookmaker shall remain upon any relevant Pitch list until such Pitch shall either become vacant under these rules or a reallocation shall have occurred.

(b) In the event of the death of any Licensed Bookmaker, all of his Pitches shall be deemed vacant on the expiry of 24 months from the date of probate unless his/her personal representatives have in the meantime transferred, sold or otherwise disposed of his Seniority at any relevant Authorised Racecourses to another Licensed Bookmaker or to a son, daughter, widow, parent, brother, sister or Employee who has been employed on a regular basis for 5 years previous to his/her death, who has a bookmakers license and is entitled to continue the business.

(c) Any person succeeding to a Pitch, under the provisions of this rule, shall be regarded thence forth as having the same Seniority as the Licensed Bookmaker to whose Pitch he has succeeded.
SALE OF SENIORITY
(a) A Licensed Bookmaker may only sell his/her Seniority at any Authorised Racecourse to a person who holds a current Northern Ireland Bookmakers License.

(b) A sale of Seniority under the provisions of rule 5 (a) shall not be deemed to have taken effect until:
(i) A transfer of Seniority form (supplied by the Association) has been completed by both the
transferor and transferee and returned to the Association who acts as agents on behalf of the
Racecourse Executive
(ii) All amounts due to the Racecourse Executives of the Authorised Racecourses where Seniorities are held have been paid in full
(iii) A registration fee of £250for the racecourse and £50for point to point is paid to the association for
the updating of all records.

(c) Upon the completion of the sale within the meaning of this rule 5, the name of the transferee shall be substituted for the name of the transferor in the Seniority list maintained by the Association on behalf of the relevant Racecourse Executive. Furthermore, the transferor
shall relinquish his Seniority on the relevant Authorised Racecourses and the transferee shall assume the Seniority previously enjoyed by the transferor.

(d) Where a Licensed Bookmaker already has an existing Seniority at an Authorised Racecourse and acquires a second one, he/she will have 1 year in which to dispose of the first Seniority in accordance with these rules before it will be deemed to be relinquished. During this period the
Licensed Bookmaker may not occupy the Pitch associated with the first Seniority.

(e) When two or more Authorised Racemeetings occur on the same day in the absence of a Licensed Bookmaker, the Pitch allocated to a Licensed Bookmaker may be occupied by a bona fide Representative who shall bet on behalf of the Licensed Bookmaker who holds the Seniority (“the Principal Bookmaker”) provided the Representative is a Licensed Bookmaker and the provisions of rules 6 below have been adhered to.
REPRESENTATIVES
(a) A Principal Bookmaker can have 2 Representatives (excluding immediate family). All Representatives must be nominated by the Principal Bookmaker by the 31st March each year and their details provided to the Association.
(b) All Representatives must:
(i) hold a current Northern Ireland Bookmakers License;
(ii) be members of the Association;
(iii) display the name of the Principal Bookmaker at all times at the Pitch;
(iv) use printed tickets which clearly show on them the name of the Principal.
(c) A Principal Bookmaker will at all times be held responsible for the actions of the Representative.
BEHAVIOUR & CONDUCT
(a) A Licensed Bookmaker may not receive or negotiate bets at an Authorised Racecourse unless all bets are received and negotiated with bona fide customers and/or any person authorised by the Association to conduct business in a Betting Ring.

(b) A Licensed Bookmaker may take or negotiate bets on races at the meeting at which he/she is attending and on races taking place at other racecourses and on any other event, subject to notifying the Association. A Licensed Bookmaker who intends to bet on an away event must first notify the Association.
(c) Double boards may NOT be used by Licensed Bookmakers.
BOOKMAKERS ATTENDANCE AT RACEMEETINGS
A Licensed Bookmaker registered with a Seniority, not proposing to attend that meeting at which the Seniority is registered, either in person or represented by a Representative, must inform the Association at least TWO HOURS before the advertised time of the first race at that meeting at which he/she is the holder of a Seniority.
DISPLAY OF TERMS AND TRADING DETAILS
(a) A Licensed Bookmaker must trade from a Joint.

(b) A Licensed Bookmaker must display the following details on his/her board or on his/her Joint in a manner clearly visible to the public in the relevant Betting Ring:
(i) His/her trading name which must be registered with the Association.
(ii) When a Representative or employee is operating on behalf of a Principal Bookmaker, the name of the Principal Bookmaker.
(iii) The runners in race card order or betting order.
(iv) The minimum bet which will be accepted by the Licensed Bookmaker.
(v) Whether the Licensed Bookmaker is prepared to lay each way betting and if so same must be on standard terms as set out by Tattersalls.
(vi) Whether the Licensed Bookmaker is betting without a horse or horses. Where a Licensed Bookmaker is betting without the favourite/forecast betting/multiple bets, a notice to this effect must be clearly displayed.

(c) Following the announcement that a horse prior to coming under starter’s orders has been withdrawn from a race on which the Licensed Bookmaker is betting, a Licensed Bookmaker or his Employee shall immediately withdraw the particular horse before laying any more bets.

(d) A Licensed Bookmaker who wishes to bet on a particular race must price up the odds on offer on all horses no later than the public address announcement stating that the horses are leaving the parade ring. Each Licensed Bookmaker has a responsibility to form a market and to
provide an SP return for each event. The Licensed Bookmaker acknowledges that the Association is under contract with SIS to supply a show for each race.

(e) In the case of a disputed bet, a Licensed Bookmaker must inform the customer that he/she (the customer) may refer the matter to the relevant Racecourse Executive or give details to the Association.

(f) The following shall apply in relation to settlement of bets:
(i) A Licensed Bookmaker who has conducted business at an Authorised Racecourse shall not leave the racecourse without first paying all outstanding unsettled cash claims in respect of betting transactions struck at that meeting within a reasonable time.
(ii) A Licensed Bookmaker who wishes to leave the racecourse where he/she has an outstanding unsettled bets must first receive permission from an authorised officer of the Association.

(g) A Licensed Bookmaker shall not dismantle his/her Joint or leave his/her Pitch until ten (10) minutes after the winner “alright notification” has been given in respect of the last race at that meeting.

(h) A Licensed Bookmaker shall not be allowed to partake of any move from his/her Pitch after the off of the fourth race at the meeting where he/she is betting.
BETTING SLIPS OR TICKETS
A Bookmaker or his/her Representative who conducts business at an Authorised Racemeeting or an Authorised Racecourse, including a point to point meeting, must issue to the customer for
each bet accepted a ticket, receipt or betting slip displaying the following information:
(i) The Licensed Bookmaker’s name.
(ii) The Association contact details.
(iii) The meeting name, date and race number.
(iv) The name and number of the horse.
(v) The stake.
(vi) The potential return including the stake to the customer.
(vii) The odds at which the bet was laid.
(viii) The type of bet – Win, Place, Forecast, Betting Without other.
CONDUCT OF LICENSED BOOKMAKERS WHILE OPERATING ON AUTHORISED RACECOURSES
(a) A Licensed Bookmaker, his/her Representative or Employees while conducting business in the Betting Ring, shall not indulge in or be associated in anyway with any practice that has or might have the effect of distorting artificially the betting market or the starting price at any meeting, whether by offering false prices on any horse or by any other means.

(b) A Licensed Bookmaker, his/her Representative or Employees must keep any Pitch/Joint/equipment used in the course of his/her business in a clean, tidy and safe condition.

(c) A Licensed Bookmaker, his/her Representative or Employees must dress in an appropriate manner.

(d) A Licensed Bookmaker, his/her Representative or Employees shall conduct themselves in a proper and orderly manner at all times. They shall conduct any business with customers and any other authorised personnel in a polite and helpful manner. Any person acting in an offensive, disorderly or violent manner may be immediately removed from the Betting Ring by the racecourse security staff or the PSNI.

(e) A Licensed Bookmaker, his/her Representative or Employees shall comply with any reasonable request or directive made by an Authorised Officer of the Association, or a representative of the racecourse Executive or their security personnel or the PSNI at any time.

(f) A Licensed Bookmaker must ensure at all times that he/she does not encroach on the neighbouring bookmakers Pitch.

(g) When using umbrellas Licensed Bookmakers should ensure that they do not inconvenience their neighbour

(h) A Licensed Bookmaker may use 2 computers, provided their Employees and equipment do not inconvenience their neighbouring bookmakers.
BOOKMAKERS EMPLOYEES
(a) Where a Licensed Bookmaker or his/her Representative employs or uses the services of a runner or assistant at an Authorised Racecourse on a permanent or temporary basis, the Licensed Bookmaker shall be responsible for the conduct of said Employees throughout the period of the employment.

(b) A person employed by a Licensed Bookmaker as an assistant to record bets negotiated by the said Licensed Bookmaker must be situated to the rear of the Joint. It is the responsibility of the Bookmaker to ensure that during any period of time that he/she is accepting or negotiating
bets that his/her assistant is in close proximity to the rear of the Joint.

(c) A Licensed Bookmaker shall undertake to abide by employment law in respect of any person in his/her employment on an Authorised Racecourse.
DISPUTES
Three members of the Management Committee of the Association will adjudicate on all betting disputes. Those involved have the right of appeal to the remaining members of the Management
Committee. The three members so selected from time to time will meet on the first Wednesday (racing permitting) after the dispute has been referred to the Association to determine the case.

Rules & Regulations

NIOCBA