How to become a Bookmaker
Bookmakers offer odds and take bets on racing results at horse racing, harness racing, greyhound racing and other sporting events.
Personal requirements for a Bookmaker
- Able to make calculations quickly and accurately
- Able to work under pressure
- Good oral communication skills
- Comfortable working with computers
- Enjoy working with people.
Duties & Tasks of a Bookmaker
Bookmakers may perform the following tasks:
- Attend races to provide a betting service
- Determine the odds on race entrants after considering such things as the type of event, the handicap of the competitors, the condition of the track and the odds offered by other bookmakers
- Display the odds for each race on a betting board, amending them according to variations in betting demand
- Issue betting tickets to people making a bet (known as 'punters'), giving details of bets such as race number, runner's name and number, stake, win and/or place dividend
- Pay bets on the results of each race, or on a combination of races.
Working conditions for a Bookmaker
Bookmakers keep in contact with punters and people in the racing industry such as racing stewards, club administrators and government department officials. A considerable amount of contact with the public is involved.
Specializations
Bookmaker's Agent
A bookmaker's agent may perform the same function as a bookmaker on the bookmaker's behalf, when the bookmaker is absent.
Bookmaker
Bookmakers offer odds and take bets on racing results at horse racing, harness racing, greyhound racing and other sporting events.
Bookmaker's Agent
A bookmaker's agent may perform the same function as a bookmaker on the bookmaker's behalf, when the bookmaker is absent.
