Western Australian Current Acts

BETTING CONTROL ACT 1954 - SECT 32

32 .         Disputes as to bets with bookmakers

        (1)         A question or dispute as to whether a bet alleged to have been made with a bookmaker on a racecourse was so made, or as to the amount payable in respect of such a bet —

            (a)         shall be referred in the first instance to and determined by the stewards of the race meeting, or as the committee or other authority controlling the racecourse may direct; and

            (b)         may, by any party to the bet affected by that determination, be referred to the Commission on an appeal from that determination made under subsection (2).

        (2)         An appeal from a determination made in the first instance shall be referred to the Commission by notice in writing delivered to the Commission —

            (a)         if the racecourse is in the metropolitan region, within 3 days; or

            (b)         in any other case, within 7 days,

                of that determination, but may be heard at the discretion of the Commission where special circumstances exist if lodged otherwise, and shall be decided by the Commission as an administrative act.

        (3)         Where any question or dispute as to a bet relates only to a proportion of the amount otherwise payable then payment shall be made on the bet in so far as it is not so questioned or disputed.

        (4)         A bookmaker shall abide by —

            (a)         any determination in the first instance made under subsection (1), but if it is the intention of the bookmaker to withhold payment of the bet pending a decision of the Commission on an appeal made under subsection (2) the bookmaker shall give to any other party to the question or dispute an acknowledgment in writing setting out the amount, nature and circumstances of the bet as alleged by the bookmaker and the fact of any determination made; and

            (b)         any decision of the Commission made under subsection (2).

        (5)         Where a person is entitled to be given an acknowledgment of an alleged bet under subsection (4)(a), and payment on that bet is not made by the bookmaker, then on the expiry of the period permitted by subsection (2) if an appeal in respect of a determination of the question or dispute has not been referred to the Commission for decision that person may apply to the Commission for a direction that the bet, on terms decided by the Commission, shall be payable by the bookmaker.

        [Section 32 inserted: No. 11 of 1992 s. 56; amended: No. 35 of 2003 s. 102; No. 38 of 2005 s. 15; No. 21 of 2019 s. 80.]