Race field legislation to provide even field

Racing and Gaming Minister Terry Waldron has announced the introduction of legislation requiring licensed betting operators to pay a fee for using Western Australian race fields.

He said three Bills introduced into Parliament today provided the framework authorising the collection and disbursement of a levy payable by domestic and offshore betting operators.

"The levy, to be retrospectively applicable from September 1, 2008, will be based on a betting operator's turnover or gross revenue, and will be directed to the WA racing industry," Mr Waldron said.

"Securing the financial benefit of our racing product for the local industry is crucial, if we had not acted the industry faced the prospect of losing around $18million per year from the stake base."

He said the legislation allowed all authorised Australian betting operators to use Western Australian race fields, provided they continued paying the levy and complied with information requirements in relation to matters concerning the integrity and reputation of the racing industry.

Offshore betting operators will be required to apply to the Gaming and Wagering Commission for approval to use the race fields, and will also be subject to the same conditions as those operators licensed in Australia.

The Minister said domestic operators could pay the levy based on a percentage of either turnover or gross revenue.

"Domestic betting operators will pay either 1.5 per cent of turnover, or the greater of 20 per cent of gross revenue or 0.2 per cent of turnover," he said.

"However, offshore operators will not have this option and will be required to pay 1.5 per cent of their turnover."

The introduction of the race fields legislation follows similar moves in the Eastern States which require betting operators, who accept bets on race fields in those States, to pay a fee.