What is a sporting contingency?

Under the provisions of the Racing Integrity Act 2016 (Racing Integrity Act), a sporting contingency is defined as including the following whether happening in Queensland or elsewhere:

1. a contest, contingency or event relating to animals, other than a race;

2. a contest, contingency or event relating to an athletic meeting, exercise, fight, game, pastime or sport.

Racing Queensland (RQ), as the control body for the three codes of racing, may declare a sporting contingency as a declared sporting contingency, on which licensed racing bookmakers may lawfully offer betting.

Who can offer betting on a declared sporting contingency?

Racing bookmakers licensed by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (the Commission) can offer betting on these declared sporting contingencies while at a race meeting at a licensed venue, or, if the racing bookmaker holds an offcourse approval, at the bookmaker’s approved place.

Further, there is a requirement under the Local Rules of Racing All Codes – Rules of Betting (BR.33(2)), that a racing bookmaker may only offer betting on a declared sporting contingency if the bookmaker has an agreement/approval in place with the relevant sports governing body conducting the event, and the bookmaker has provided a copy of that agreement/approval to the Commission.

What is the process for RQ to declare a sporting contingency?

The following process is followed where a racing bookmaker licensed by the Commission wishes to offer bets on a sporting contingency that is not currently on the list of declared sporting contingencies published by RQ.

• The racing bookmaker makes application/provides notice to the Commission that they wish to offer betting on a particular sport/event/competition and provides the Commission a copy of an approval/agreement from the relevant sports governing body (as required under the Rules of Betting BR.33(2)).
• The Commission:

  • provides RQ with notice of the request received by the Commission from a racing bookmaker to offer bookmaking on a sporting contingency; and

  • confirms to RQ in writing that a racing bookmaker has approval/agreement from the relevant sports governing body for the sporting contingency notified under subparagraph above.

• RQ considers the application to declare a sporting contingency in line with the provisions of s.141(2) of the Racing Integrity Act, specifically:
  • whether declaring the sporting contingency brings, or has the potential to bring, its code of racing, or racing bookmakers licensed for the code of racing, into disrepute;
  • whether declaring the sporting contingency will erode public confidence in the Queensland racing industry;
  • whether a decision about the result of the sporting contingency can be relied on by the Commission, control body, racing bookmakers and the public.

• Where no confirmation can be provided to RQ by the Commission that a racing bookmaker has approval/agreement from the relevant sports governing body to offer betting on the sporting contingency, it will be presumed that declaring that sporting contingency to be a declared sporting contingency would not be consistent with the requirements of s.141(2) of the Racing Integrity Act.

• If RQ decides to declare the sporting contingency, RQ must give notice of the declaration in line with the provisions of s.141(3) of the Racing Integrity Act by one of the following:

  • publishing the declaration in the control body’s racing calendar; or

  • by making notice of the declaration available on the control body’s website; or

  • by giving each racing bookmaker for the code of racing a copy of the declaration.

• In addition to complying with the notice requirements under s.141(3) of the Racing Integrity Act, following any determination made in response to a notification received from the Commission, RQ will also provide formal notice back to the Commission outlining the determination made.

Please contact policies@racingqueensland.com.au if you require any further information.

List of Declared Sporting Contingencies (as at June 27, 2024)

Racing Queensland gives notice that in accordance with the provisions of s.141 of the Racing Integrity Act, Racing Queensland has declared the following as declared sporting contingencies:

• Racing Queensland notes that only licensed racing bookmakers who have satisfied the requirements of BR.33(2), may lawfully offer betting on a declared sporting contingency.