The department will be closed from Monday 23 December 2024 and will reopen on Thursday 2 January 2025. We will respond to queries in the new year. Best wishes for a safe and happy festive season.
The department is responsible for the regulation of the community gaming, casino gaming and racing industries.
The main role of the department in relation to the gaming industry is to provide executive support to the Gaming and Wagering Commission of Western Australia which is responsible for administering the Gaming and Wagering Commission Act 1987 and the Casino Control Act 1984.
The department is responsible for the regulation of the community gaming , casino gaming and racing industries through the provision of:
Applying for gaming licences, permits, conditions including fees and charges.
Sign into the online portal to renew a gaming licence.
A list of fees and charges for gaming applications.
Applying for casino employee licences including fees and charges.
How to lodge gaming returns.
Gaming types permitted in Western Australia.
On 26 March 2024, the Minister for Racing and Gaming, the Hon. Paul Papalia CSC MLA, announced his decision to extend the initial 2-year remediation period for the casino licensee.
Gaming is defined in the Gaming and Wagering Commission Act 1987 as "the playing of a game of chance for winnings in money or money's worth, whether any person playing the game is at risk of losing any money or money's worth or not."
A 'game of chance' includes a pretend game of chance, or a pretended game which includes a degree of chance, whether or not combined with a skill or degree of skill.
A game of chance does not include any athletic game or sport.
In Western Australia, the Gaming and Wagering Commission Act 1987 provides for the issue of permits to charitable groups, sporting bodies and community-based, not-for-profit organisations for the purpose of raising funds from gaming related activities.
There are also a number of other gaming activities that may be conducted for fund raising purposes that do need to require a permit. These are covered under sections 103, 107 and 108 of the Gaming and Wagering Commission Act 1987 and include minor raffles, chocolate wheels, number based games and even mouse racing. However, there are strict requirements and monetary limits on these types of activities so if you are uncertain, whether the gaming activity you propose to conduct is lawful, please contact the department.
Gaming and lottery types
The Gaming Community Trust was established in 2002 to provide advice and make recommendations to the Minister for Racing and Gaming on the distribution of funds and grants for the general benefit of the community.
The funds administered by the Gaming Community Trust are derived from unclaimed winnings that are payable from:
In order for those winnings to be made available by the Gaming Community Trust, a minimum of 12 months must have elapsed after the right for the winnings to paid has past.
Application enquiries can be made via email to gamingcommunitytrust@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
Applying for racing licences, permits, conditions including fees and charges.
Requirements of betting operators who use or publish WA race fields as part of their wagering operations.
Lodgement guide for conducting telephone betting on sports or racing events.
Lodgement guide for conducting internet betting on sports or racing events.
Ensuring that community gaming stakeholders and the industry meet their regulatory obligations.
The RPAT is an impartial judicial forum for the racing industry.
The main role of the department in relation to the racing industry is facilitating and providing executive support to the Gaming and Wagering Commission of Western Australia, which is responsible for administering the Betting Control Act 1954, the Racing and Wagering Western Australia Act 2003, the Racing Bets Levy Act 2009, the Gaming and Wagering Commission Act 1987 and the Racing and Wagering Western Australia Tax Act 2003.
The department's responsibilities in relation to the racing industry include:
In May 2002, the State Government restructured the racing industry governance system in Western Australia.
The restructure involved merging the principal club functions of the Western Australian Turf Club, the Western Australian Trotting Association and the Western Australian Greyhound Racing Authority, in conjunction with the off-course betting activities of the TAB, into a single controlling authority.
That authority is known as Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) and it is responsible for providing strategic direction and leadership in the development, integrity and welfare of the racing industry in Western Australia to ensure its competitiveness and long-term commercial viability for the benefit of industry stakeholders.
Racing and Wagering Western Australia
The Gaming and Wagering Commission of Western Australia is responsible for administering the law relating to gaming and wagering, subject to the Gaming and Wagering Commission Act 1987, the Casino Control Act 1984, the Betting Control Act 1954 and the Racing and Wagering Western Australia Act 2003.
Telephone 61 8 6551 4888Freecall 1800 634 541 (WA country callers only)Email rgl@dlgsc.wa.gov.au