Phone & Telephone Betting in New South Wales: Licensed Operators and Your Rights

How phone and telephone betting works in New South Wales

Phone betting lets you place a wager by speaking directly with a bookmaker or their staff, rather than through an app or website. Some licensed bookmakers in New South Wales operate primarily on-course at racecourses, some take telephone bets from established account holders, and a few operate without any online platform. This page features licensed operators including Garry Clarke, Mark Alati, David Dwyer Bookmaking (Royal Randwick Racecourse), Greg Burgess (B&G Bookmaking), Murphy Racing (Bill & Shan Murphy, Warwick Farm Racecourse), Jeff Pendlebury (Pendlebury Bet), Luke Lucas (LucasBet), Punters Pal (Shane Filipek Bookmaking), NPS Brown (Nathan Brown), Joe Lahood, Owen Walker (Newcastle Racecourse, Broadmeadow) and Robert J Turner.

Each operator sets its own arrangements for how you open and use an account, so features vary. Confirm the specific details directly with the bookmaker before you rely on them.

Who licenses these bookmakers

Bookmakers operating in New South Wales are licensed and overseen by state racing bodies and the state regulator. On-course and racecourse bookmakers are generally licensed through the relevant NSW racing controlling body (for example, Racing NSW for thoroughbred racing), and gambling conduct in the state is regulated by Liquor & Gaming NSW. Some Australian bookmakers hold licences issued in other jurisdictions, such as the Northern Territory, where the Northern Territory Racing Commission is the licensing authority.

Because a bookmaker's licensing jurisdiction affects which regulator handles complaints and which rules apply, it is important to establish which body licenses the operator you are dealing with. Always confirm licensing status and details with the relevant regulator rather than relying on a directory listing alone.

How to verify a licence

Before opening any betting account:

• Ask the bookmaker directly which authority licenses them and for their licence details.
• Confirm those details with the relevant regulator — Racing NSW or Liquor & Gaming NSW for New South Wales licensees, or the Northern Territory Racing Commission for NT-licensed operators.
• Check the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) resources. ACMA maintains information about illegal offshore gambling and operates a website-blocking program. Only deal with operators you can confirm are licensed by an Australian regulator.

If you cannot verify that an operator is licensed, do not open an account with them.

Product and feature differences to check

Phone and on-course bookmakers differ from large online brands in several practical ways. Factual points to confirm with each operator include:

• Availability: Whether the operator takes bets only on-course, by telephone during set hours, or both.
• Deposit and withdrawal methods: How you fund an account and how winnings are paid (for example, bank transfer). Methods and timeframes vary by operator.
• Identity verification: Australian rules require bookmakers to verify a customer's identity. Ask what documents you need to provide and when verification must be completed.
• Minimum bet limits: Racing NSW and other racing bodies apply minimum bet rules that require licensed bookmakers to accept bets up to a set amount on certain racing markets under defined conditions. Ask the operator how these rules apply to phone bets.
• Record-keeping: With phone betting, ask how bets are recorded and confirmed, and how you can obtain a record of your transactions.

Consumer protections and how to complain

If you have a dispute with a licensed bookmaker, first raise it directly with the operator. If it is not resolved, escalate to the licensing regulator:

• For a New South Wales–licensed bookmaker, contact Racing NSW (for racing-related betting disputes) or Liquor & Gaming NSW.
• For a Northern Territory–licensed operator, complaints go to the Northern Territory Racing Commission. The NT scheme generally requires that a betting dispute be lodged with the operator, and then referred to the Commission, within a limited period — commonly cited as 60 days from the date of the disputed transaction. Confirm the current time limit and process with the regulator, as rules can change.

Keep clear records of your bets, dates, amounts and any communication, as these help if a complaint is needed.

Questions to ask before opening an account

• Which authority licenses you, and what are your licence details?
• Do you take bets by phone, on-course, or both — and during what hours?
• How do I deposit funds and how are withdrawals paid?
• What identity documents do I need to provide?
• How are my bets recorded and confirmed?
• What is your complaints process, and which regulator oversees disputes?
• What responsible gambling tools do you offer, such as deposit limits?

Gambling is entertainment with risk

Betting can lead to financial and personal harm. Set a budget you can afford to lose and treat any wager as entertainment, not a way to make money. You can use deposit limits offered by licensed operators, and you can register with BetStop — the National Self-Exclusion Register to exclude yourself from all licensed Australian online and phone betting services.

For free and confidential support, call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. This information is for people aged 18 and over.