Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
•   Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
•   Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
•   Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
•   Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
•   Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
•   Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
•   Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Working Life

Bookmakers organise and manage gambling activities and can work 'off course', 'on course', or remotely:

• Off-course bookmakers run licensed betting offices.
• On-course bookmakers, also called turf accountants or ‘totes’, work on location – usually at horse or dog racing tracks.
• Remote bookmakers manage online/telephone betting and gaming.

Work involves calculating bets and winnings and paying out money to customers, dealing directly with the public in most cases.

Bookmakers work in a sales driven environment and will have targets to meet. Work is carried out on computerised electronic systems, you must be aware of all gambling and betting laws.

If you’re an on-course bookmaker, your work could take you all over the country to different sporting events. Your 'office' would be outdoors in all weather conditions. If you’re a remote bookmaker, you’ll spend most of your time at a computer and your hours may vary.

The bookmakers also has a duty of care towards customers and may need to refuse some customers at risk of developing a gambling addiction, and refer them to appropriate support services.

Every member of staff who deals with customers’ 'personal data', such as names and addresses, or who process payment card transactions, need to have some knowledge of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). It is the responsibility of the employer to give job-specific information on GDPR in their organisation. You can read more about data protection in the workplace here.  

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Collect bets in the form of cash or chips, verifying and recording amounts.
• Collect cards or tickets from players.
• Compute and verify amounts won or lost, paying out winnings or referring patrons to workers, such as gaming cashiers, so that winnings can be collected.
• Answer questions about game rules or casino policies.
• Conduct gambling tables or games, such as dice, roulette, cards, or keno, and ensure that game rules are followed.
• Operate games in which players bet that a ball will come to rest in a particular slot on a rotating wheel, performing actions such as spinning the wheel and releasing the ball.
• Exchange paper currency for playing chips or coins.
• Compare the house hand with players' hands to determine the winner.
• Seat patrons at gaming tables.
• Open or close cash floats or game tables.

Further Information

• Bookmaker- from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

 Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

 Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

A bookmaker does not necessarily need a specific qualification, but he/she needs to be passionate about sports and betting, and needs some math skills.

To work as a bookmaker in Ireland, you need a bookmakers licence from the National Excise Licence Office (NELO). You can read about how to apply and the costs involved here.

Remote betting (i.e. online and telephone) requires a different licence which you can read more about here

In addition to the betting licence, on-course bookmakers also need permits. Read more about permits and bookmaking at Horse Racing events from Horse Racing Ireland.

As there are fees involved in both licencing and permits you need some funds/capital to start off.

Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research. 

Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.

Example search terms include: business administration, customer service, management.

Search for FET Courses

PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.

Example search terms include: business management, sales, marketing, commerce, accounting.

Search for PLC Courses

Apprenticeships: 
Apprenticeships are structured work-based training programs that combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. They run from 2 – 4 years and are open to individuals of all ages, including school leavers, those seeking a career change, and existing employees who wish to upskill.

Examples: Accounting, Finance, Sales Apprenticeships.

Search for Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate) 
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.

Example search terms include: business, commerce, economics, math, statistics, accounts, finance.

Search for CAO Courses

Higher Education (Postgraduate)
Postgraduate courses are courses at Levels 9 and 10 on the NFQ and usually last 1 – 2 years full time, or longer if a PhD or part time. Entrants typically require an undergraduate award (Level 8).

Example search terms include: sales, business, accounts, management, financial advice.

Search for Postgraduate Courses

With experience, you could set up your own betting shop, or manage several shops in a region.

You may also want to move away from self-employment and instead work for one of the larger bookmakers, in shops or remotely.

Local Enterprise Offices

Partnership Enterprise Offices

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €27k - €60k

Salaries vary by employer, location, duties, role, and experience

Data Source(s):
Glassdoor/ Eirieri / Indeed / Salary expert/ Excel

Last Updated: February, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Credit controllers; Book-keepers; payroll managers; wages clerks; Bank and post office clerks; Finance officers; Financial administrative occupations n.e.c.; Pensions and insurance clerks and assistants.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Financial administration roles accounted for the largest occupation in this group. Employment declined marginally between 2021 and 2022, although the annual average employment growth rate over the five-year period was slightly above the national average. Despite the fall in employment, there was a high volume of recent job hires indicating that job churn is a feature of this occupation. Almost three quarters of those employed in these roles were female, and 62% held third-level qualifications.

Approximately two-fifths of persons employed were in the financial sector, with the remainder spread across most other sectors. The number of online job adverts grew strongly (nearly 12%) in 2022 driven entirely by increases for book-keepers/payroll managers etc. Difficult-to-fill vacancies (noted in the Recruitment Agency Survey and the Skills for Growth data) related to accounts administration (payable/receivable) staff, fund accountants, and credit controllers (some with languages) and payroll administration; skills in particular demand included digital skills and knowledge of accounting systems. For such a large occupation, and with a high level of job churn, demand for these roles is likely to continue in the short to medium term.

• Irish Bookmakers Association

  • Click Here

• Horse Racing Ireland (HRI)

  • Ballymany, The Curragh, Co. Kildare, Ireland, R56 XE37
  • (045) 455 455
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• National Excise Licence Office (NELO)

  • 01 738 3640
  • [email protected]

• Irish Greyhound Board

  • Click Here