Definitions
3 Definitions
S. 3(1) amended by No. 33/2026 s. 3.
In this Part and, where the case so requires, in this Act unless inconsistent with the context or subject-matter—
S. 3(1) def. of approved betting event inserted by No. 18/2007 s. 6(a).
approved betting event has the same meaning as in the Gambling Regulation Act 2003;
S. 3(1) def. of approved bookmaking company inserted by No. 19/2002 s. 3, repealed by No. 73/2008 s. 3(2).
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S. 3(1) def. of approved off-course premises inserted by No. 55/2012 s. 4.
approved off-course premises means premises approved by a controlling body under section 4C;
S. 3(1) def. of approved substitute inserted by No. 73/2008 s. 3(1).
approved substitute means a registered bookmaker's key employee approved under section 91AB by a controlling body to carry on the business of a registered bookmaker;
S. 3(1) def. of assessable disclosure inserted by No. 2/2019 s. 105.
assessable disclosure has the meaning given in section 3 of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012;
S. 3(1) def. of authorised officer inserted by No. 2/2023 s. 3(1).
authorised officer means—
a police officer; or
a person appointed as an authorised officer under section 32H;
S. 3(1) def. of Authority inserted by No. 37/1994 s. 174(a), repealed by No. 114/2003 s. 12.1.3 (Sch. 6 item 10.1(a)).
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S. 3(1) def. of ban order inserted by No. 2/2023 s. 3(1).
ban order means an order made under section 32G;
S. 3(1) def. of betting contingency inserted by No. 16/2001 s. 3(1)(a).
betting contingency includes any event or contingency;
S. 3(1) def. of Board repealed by No. 37/1994 s. 174(b).
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S. 3(1) def. of bookmaker's key employee inserted by No. 73/2008 s. 3(1).
bookmaker's key employee has the same meaning as in the Gambling Regulation Act 2003;
S. 3(1) def. of charitable purposes amended by No. 8344 s. 26(3)(a).
charitable purposes means—
the aiding of any institution or benevolent society within the meaning of the Hospitals and Charities Act 1958 or, if approved for the purposes of this Part by the Minister by writing under his hand, of any hospital asylum institution or society affording charitable relief within the meaning of that Act which is exempted from the operation of that Act;
the aiding of the funds of any public authority in Victoria engaged in research into the cause prevention or cure of disease in human beings; or
the affording of charitable relief within the meaning of that Act to any diseased infirm incurable poor or destitute person or persons;
S. 3(1) def. of chief steward inserted by No. 55/2005 s. 3(1)(a).
chief steward, in relation to a controlling body, means—
in the case of horse racing, the person appointed as chairman of stewards by Racing Victoria;
in the case of harness racing, the person appointed as chairman of stewards by Harness Racing Victoria;
in the case of greyhound racing, the person appointed as chief steward by Greyhound Racing Victoria;
club includes club society or other association by whatever name called;
S. 3(1) def. of club betting permit inserted by No. 97/1998 s. 4.
club betting permit means a permit issued under Division 2A of Part 1;
S. 3(1) def. of club bookmaker's licence inserted by No. 55/2012 s. 4.
club bookmaker's licence has the same meaning as it has in section 84;
S. 3(1) def. of Commission inserted by No. 114/2003 s. 12.1.3(Sch. 6 item 10.1(b)), amended by No. 58/2011 s. 102, substituted by No. 26/2022 s. 58(1)(b).
Commission means the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission established under Part 2 of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission Act 2011;
conduct includes conduct carry on manage or to assist in doing any of these things;
S. 3(1) def. of confidentiality notice inserted by No. 2/2019 s. 105.
confidentiality notice means a notice issued by the Racing Integrity Commissioner under section 37T(1);
S. 3(1) def. of controlling body inserted by No. 55/2005 s. 3(1)(a), substituted by No. 52/2009 s. 4(b).
controlling body means—
in the case of horse racing, Racing Victoria;
in the case of harness racing, Harness Racing Victoria;
in the case of greyhound racing, Greyhound Racing Victoria;
S. 3(1) def. of corrupt conduct inserted by No. 82/2012 s. 180, amended by No. 82/2012 s. 318(a).
corrupt conduct has the meaning given in section 4 of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011;
S. 3(1) def. of Department inserted by No. 37/2018 s. 8(2), amended by No. 2/2022 s. 29(1).
Department means the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions;
S. 3(1) def. of domestic partner inserted by No. 72/2001 s. 3(Sch. item 11.1), substituted by No. 12/2008 s. 73(1)(Sch. 1 item 50.1).
domestic partner of a person means—
a person who is in a registered relationship with the person; or
an adult person to whom the person is not married but with whom the person is in a relationship as a couple where one or each of them provides personal or financial commitment and support of a domestic nature for the material benefit of the other, irrespective of their genders and whether or not they are living under the same roof, but does not include a person who provides domestic support and personal care to the person—
for fee or reward; or
on behalf of another person or an organisation (including a government or government agency, a body corporate or a charitable or benevolent organisation);
S. 3(1) def. of duration of an official trial meeting inserted by No. 2/2023 s. 3(1).
duration of an official trial meeting has the meaning given by section 14AB;
S. 3(1) def. of exclusion order inserted by No. 55/2005 s. 3(1)(a).
exclusion order means a written order under section 33;
S. 3(1) def. of gambling and casino inspector inserted by No. 26/2022 s. 58(1)(a).
gambling and casino inspector means an inspector appointed under section 40 of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission Act 2011;
S. 3(1) def. of gambling and liquor inspector inserted by No. 55/2012 s. 4, repealed by No. 26/2022 s. 58(1)(c).
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S. 3(1) def. of General Post Office Melbourne repealed by No. 50/2015 s. 3(1)(a).
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S. 3(1) def. of greyhound race inserted by No. 37/1994 s. 174(a).
greyhound race means a race in which greyhounds compete;
S. 3(1) def. of Greyhound Racing Victoria inserted by No. 2/2022 s. 4.
Greyhound Racing Victoria means the body corporate in that name established by section 69;
S. 3(1) def. of GRV Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board inserted by No. 52/2009 s. 6, repealed by No. 37/2018 s. 8(1).
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S. 3(1) def. of harness race inserted by No. 9671 s. 24(b), substituted by No. 37/1994 s. 174(c).
harness race means a race in which horses compete moving at a gait generally known as pacing or trotting;
S. 3(1) def. of Harness Racing Victoria inserted by No. 2/2022 s. 4.
Harness Racing Victoria means the body corporate in that name established by section 39;
S. 3(1) def. of horse race inserted by No. 37/1994 s. 174(a), amended by No. 33/2026 s. 64(3).
horse race means a race in which thoroughbred horses compete;
S. 3(1) def. of HRV Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board inserted by No. 52/2009 s. 6, repealed by No. 37/2018 s. 8(1).
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S. 3(1) def. of IBAC inserted by No. 82/2012 s. 180, amended by No. 82/2012 s. 318(b).
IBAC means the Independent Broad-based Anti‑corruption Commission established under section 12 of the Independent Broad‑based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011;
S. 3(1) def. of IBAC personnel inserted by No. 82/2012 s. 180, amended by No. 31/2024 s. 113(Sch. 1 item 30.1).
IBAC personnel has the same meaning as it has in the Integrity Oversight Victoria Act 2011;
S. 3(1) def. of Integrity Board inserted by No. 37/2018 s. 33.
Integrity Board means the Victorian Racing Integrity Board established by section 95G;
S. 3(1) def. of Integrity Oversight Victoria inserted by No. 33/2026 s. 64(1).
Integrity Oversight Victoria has the same meaning as in the Integrity Oversight Victoria Act 2011;
S. 3(1) def. of Integrity Oversight Victoria Officer inserted by No. 33/2026 s. 64(1).
Integrity Oversight Victoria Officer has the same meaning as in the Integrity Oversight Victoria Act 2011;
S. 3(1) def. of metropolitan race-course inserted by No. 9924 s. 4, amended by Nos 37/1994 s. 174(d), 50/2015 s. 3(1)(b), repealed by No. 33/2026 s. 64(4).
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S. 3(1) def. of mixed sports gathering substituted by No. 9050 s. 2(a), amended by Nos 9671 s. 24(a)(c), 49/1987 s. 4(a)(b), 17/1992 s. 4(1)(a)(b), 16/2001 s. 3(1)(b).
mixed sports gathering means—
a meeting for foot races bicycle races or any other games exercises pastimes or contests of a kind usually conducted carried on contested or decided on any land whatsoever to which persons are admitted either at all times or only at certain times (whether on payment of an entrance fee or charge or otherwise) for the purpose of taking part in or witnessing any such races games exercises pastimes or contests, being a meeting at which—
the races which take place include races of one or more of the following kinds, namely, horse races, pony races and harness races;
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a meeting for foot races bicycle races or any other games exercises pastimes or contests of a kind usually conducted carried on contested or decided on any land whatsoever to which persons are admitted either at all times or only at certain times (whether on payment of an entrance fee or charge or otherwise) for the purpose of taking part in or witnessing any such races games exercises pastimes or contests, being a meeting—
at which no horse race pony race or harness race takes place; and
which is conducted by a club or other body of persons approved by the Minister;
S. 3(1) def. of mixed sports gathering consent inserted by No. 33/2026 s. 64(1).
mixed sports gathering consent means a consent given under section 19(1);
S. 3(1) def. of official trial meeting inserted by No. 2/2023 s. 3(1).
official trial meeting means a meeting for the purpose of trialling horses or greyhounds—
that is not a horse race, harness race or greyhound race; and
that is approved by the appropriate controlling body and supervised by a steward of that controlling body; and
at which entries are taken and results are recorded;
S. 3(1) def. of Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Commission inserted by No. 27/2024 s. 159.
Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Commission means the body established by section 42 of the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024;
S. 3(1) def. of picnic race-meeting amended by Nos 9671 s. 24(a), 37/1994 s. 174(e), repealed by No. 16/2001 s. 3(1)(c).
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S. 3(1) def. of police member inserted by No. 55/2005 s. 3(1)(a), repealed by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 139.1(b)).
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S. 3(1) def. of police officer inserted by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 139.1(a)), repealed by No. 33/2026 s. 64(4).
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pony races or pony racing means races under conditions limiting the height of any horse eligible to compete therein to any height not exceeding fourteen hands two inches;
S. 3(1) def. of prescribed repealed by No. 37/1994 s. 174(b).
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S. 3(1) def. of professional jockey amended by Nos 8503 s. 2, 9671 s. 24(a), 49/1987 s. 5(1)(a)(b), repealed by No. 37/1994 s. 174(b).
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S. 3(1) def. of public interest complaint inserted by No. 2/2019 s. 105.
public interest complaint has the meaning given in section 3 of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012;
S. 3(1) def. of race-course amended by No. 2/2023 s. 3(2).
race-course means land used for race-meetings, and in Division 4A of this Part, includes land used for official trial meetings;
S. 3(1) def. of race-meeting amended by No. 9671 s. 24(a), substituted by No. 37/1994 s. 174(f).
race-meeting means a meeting for the purpose of horse racing, harness racing or greyhound racing;
S. 3(1) def. of Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board inserted by No. 52/2009 s. 6, repealed by No. 37/2018 s. 8(1).
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S. 3(1) def. of Racing Integrity Commis-sioner inserted by No. 52/2009 s. 4(a).
Racing Integrity Commissioner means the Racing Integrity Commissioner appointed under section 37A;
S. 3(1) def. of Racing Victoria inserted by No. 35/2001 s. 3, amended by No. 10/2018 s. 4.
Racing Victoria means the company certified by the Minister under section 3A(1) to be Racing Victoria, by a certification published in the Government Gazette on 19 December 2001;
S. 3(1) def. of registered bookmaker inserted by No. 73/2008 s. 3(1).
registered bookmaker has the same meaning as in the Gambling Regulation Act 2003;
S. 3(1) def. of registered bookmaker's key employee inserted by No. 73/2008 s. 3(1).
registered bookmaker's key employee has the same meaning as in the Gambling Regulation Act 2003;
S. 3(1) def. of regulations repealed by No. 37/1994 s. 174(b).
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S. 3(1) def. of relevant person inserted by No. 77/2013 s. 39.
relevant person means—
a person who attends a race-meeting for the purpose of horse racing in Victoria; or
a person who participates, whether at a racecourse or any other place, in an activity connected with, or involving, horse racing in Victoria or wagering on horse racing in Victoria;
S. 3(1) def. of restricted harness racing meeting inserted by No. 9269 s. 2, amended by Nos 9671 s. 24(d)(i)(ii), 125/1986 s. 4(a)(b), repealed by No. 16/2001 s. 3(1)(c).
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S. 3(1) def. of restricted matter inserted by No. 2/2019 s. 105.
restricted matter means—
any evidence or information given to, or obtained by, the Racing Integrity Commissioner;
the contents of any document produced to, or obtained by, the Racing Integrity Commissioner;
the existence of, or any information about, a confidentiality notice or a requirement under section 37BA(1) to appear before the Racing Integrity Commissioner for examination;
the subject matter of an investigation by the Racing Integrity Commissioner;
any information that could enable a person who has been, or is proposed to be, examined by, or who has produced, or may produce, any document to the Racing Integrity Commissioner, to be identified or located;
the fact that a person has been, or is proposed to be, examined by, or has produced, or may produce, any document to, the Racing Integrity Commissioner;
the fact that a disclosure or related disclosure has been notified to an appropriate entity for assessment under Part 3 of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012;
the fact that a disclosure or related disclosure has been determined under Part 3 of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 to be a public interest complaint;
the fact that the Racing Integrity Commissioner intends to conduct an investigation on a public interest disclosure;
S. 3(1) def. of restricted racing area inserted by No. 2/2023 s. 3(1).
restricted racing area means any of the following areas of land within a race-course—
a track which is being used for racing or training horses or greyhounds;
a space which is being used for—
keeping, saddling, mounting, parading or exercising horses; or
keeping, parading or exercising greyhounds;
a pathway which connects 2 or more restricted racing areas;
a prescribed area of land;
S. 3(1) def. of RV Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board inserted by No. 52/2009 s. 6, repealed by No. 37/2018 s. 8(1).
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S. 3(1) def. of specified race-course inserted by No. 55/2005 s. 3(1)(a).
specified race-course means—
an area of land described in an item in Schedule 2;
an area of land prescribed by the regulations to be a specified race‑course for the purposes of Division 5;
S. 3(1) def. of sporting contingency repealed by No. 16/2001 s. 3(1)(c).
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S. 3(1) def. of spouse inserted by No. 72/2001 s. 3(Sch. item 11.1), amended by No. 55/2005 s. 3(1)(b).
spouse of a person means a person to whom the person is married;
S. 3(1) def. of steward inserted by No. 55/2005 s. 3(1)(a), substituted as Steward by No. 52/2009 s. 4(c).
Steward means a person appointed as such in accordance with the rules of a controlling body or a person so appointed as a Deputy Steward;
S. 3(1) def. of Trotting race repealed by No. 9924 s. 15(a).
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S. 3(1) def. of Victorian Racing Tribunal inserted by No. 37/2018 s. 8(2).
Victorian Racing Tribunal means the Victorian Racing Tribunal established under section 50B.
S. 3(1A) inserted by No. 72/2001 s. 3(Sch. item 11.2), substituted by No. 12/2008 s. 73(1)(Sch. 1 item 50.2).
For the purposes of the definition of domestic partner in subsection (1)—
registered relationship has the same meaning as in the Relationships Act 2008; and
in determining whether persons who are not in a registered relationship are domestic partners of each other, all the circumstances of their relationship are to be taken into account, including any one or more of the matters referred to in section 35(2) of the Relationships Act 2008 as may be relevant in a particular case; and
a person is not a domestic partner of another person only because they are co-tenants.
S. 3(2) amended by No. 50/2015 s. 3(2), repealed by No. 33/2026 s. 64(5).
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S. 3(3) amended by No. 17/1992 s. 6(1), repealed by No. 33/2026 s. 64(5).
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S. 3(4) substituted by No. 9050 s. 2(b), amended by No. 9671 s. 28, substituted by No. 16/2001 s. 3(2).
Save as otherwise provided in this Part, any mixed sports gathering held on any land whatsoever in Victoria shall be deemed to be a race-meeting for the purposes of this Act.
S. 3(5) inserted by No. 55/2005 s. 3(2), repealed by No. 33/2026 s. 64(5).
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S. 3A inserted by No. 35/2001 s. 4.
This provision refers to the regulations (prescribed by the regulations
). Made under this Act:
- Racing (Integrity and Disciplinary Structures) Regulations 2019 · under sections 50ZL and 83OG
- Racing (Public Interest Disclosures) Regulations 2019 · under sections 37T(2)(a) and 68(1)(d)
- Racing (Specified Race-Course) Regulations 2016 · under section 36
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