Question 1: Does a worker who works for multiple bookmakers need more than one registration card?
Answer: No. A bookmaker assistant only needs one RBC ID badge, regardless of how many different bookmakers they work for. The badge is issued to the individual worker, not to a particular bookmaker.
Question 2: What happens if a regular worker becomes ill at short notice and a replacement is needed when the RBC office is closed? For example, on a Friday evening for someone required to work on Saturday?
Answer: Common sense needs to prevail in exceptional circumstances such as this.
Where a bookmaker needs to arrange a replacement worker at short notice and it is not possible to obtain an ID badge before racing, the bookmaker should inform the Betting Ring Manager (BRM) in attendance at the racecourse.
The BRM should take the replacement worker's details and record in the Betting Ring Report that the individual worked without an RBC Worker ID Badge due to the circumstances.
This is intended to deal with genuine last-minute situations and should not be treated as an alternative to the normal registration process.
Question 3: Some casual workers only work a handful of days each year and may not wish to register. Would it be sensible to introduce a minimum number of working days before registration becomes compulsory?
Answer: No. All individuals wishing to work as bookmaker assistants at UK racecourses must register and obtain an RBC Worker ID Badge, regardless of how frequently they work.
The advantage of the scheme is that registration is a one-off process. Once a worker has registered and received their ID badge, there is no requirement to renew their registration annually.
Provided the worker keeps their badge safe, the same badge can be used for future racecourse work, whether they work regularly or only a few days each year.
A replacement fee will only apply if the badge is lost and a new one needs to be issued.