Bookmaker
Also known as: sports bookmaker, bookmaker manager, race course bookmaker, on course bookmaker, off course bookmaker, betting clerk
About this occupation
Bookmakers (also often called 'bookies', or 'turf accountants') take bets on sports games and other events at agreed upon odds, they calculate odds and pay out winnings. They are responsible for the risk management.
Essential skills and knowledge
- manage work
- keep task records
- mathematics
- display betting information
- carry out end of day accounts
- follow ethical code of conduct of gambling
- manage cash flow
- sports competition information
- assist customers
- maintain customer service
- handle customer complaints
- maximise sales revenues
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators (O*NET 33-9031.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Monitor establishment activities to ensure adherence to all state gaming regulations and company policies and procedures.
- Observe casino or casino hotel operations for irregular activities, such as cheating or theft by employees or patrons, using audio and video equipment and one-way mirrors.
- Report all violations and suspicious behaviors to supervisors, verbally or in writing.
- Develop and maintain log of surveillance observations.
- Inspect and monitor audio or video surveillance equipment to ensure it is working appropriately.
- Review video surveillance footage.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Conventional, Enterprising, Realistic
Top skills: Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening
US median pay: US$43,370 a year (2025), 9,520 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.3)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsVery important (3.7)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsVery important (3.6)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.3)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Security Management Specialists
- Security Managers
- Digital Forensics Analysts
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
- Private Detectives and Investigators
- First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers
- Gambling Managers
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.