IN his widely-read column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published by the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS warns that unless Governments and racing industry leaders do something to stem the arrival of overseas betting agencies the proceeds of their trade will continue to flow off-shore.
Butts calls on those responsible to take some action before it is too late to ensure that like the TABs these massive betting agencies are forced to pay their way and contribute to the industry that they are ‘leeching’ off.
He also wants to see authorities police the rules that relate to on-course bookmakers when it comes to the corporate agencies who evidence suggests only want to bet the ‘mug’ punters and refuse those who are successful.
Here is the Butts column:
GOVERNMENT AND RACING LEADERS ALLOWING CORPORATES TO MILK BETTING RETURNS
THE Queensland Government in particular and racing industry leaders from all states have been accused of sitting on their hands in allowing the unimpeded arrival of the big international betting corporates to such a degree that the overseas agencies have all but taken over – like cane toads.
The latest news is that William Hill, perhaps the best known and biggest of all bookmakers in Britain, if not the world, is about to take the reins of Sportingbet and Centrebet.
It is not news that calls for any rejoicing – certainly not for those who rely on racing for as living.
William Hill are not coming here to enjoy the warmer weather.
And they are certainly not needed in this country which is already overstocked with overseas bookies keen to take our money and run.
WHAT THESE OVERSEAS AGENCIES ARE ROBBING OUR INDUSTRY OF IS ‘QUITE SICKENING’
IT is little wonder William Hill wants to get some of the millions that are being skimmed by their overseas colleagues ‘Down Under.’ When the figures are analyzed it is, frankly, quite sickening.
Last year Sportingbet took over Centrebet. “Which has exceeded all our expectations” beamed a spokesman in London last week adding “Australia now accounted for 70 per cent of group revenues and almost all of the company’s profits.”
It has also been reported that Australians, in six months to January, wagered a staggering $1.17 billion on- line with Sportingbet, returning a profit to the bookmaker of $26.3 million.
By comparison Paddy Power, owners of Sportsbet, took $961 million for a profit of $16.6mn in the six months to June this year.
What percentage of that money could (and should) have been churned through Australian TABs? The profits of which would remain in this country instead of going off shore, mainly to the ‘old sod.’
AN URGENT PLAN NEEDS TO BE DEVISED TO SEE THESE MILLIONS RETINED LOCALLY
OUR leaders and decision makers of all things monetary should not simply hold their head in shame for allowing it to happen.
Racing Ministers of all states, if they are worth their salt or fully comprehend the situation, should rally to devise a plan that might see these millions channeled back into the industry from which these overseas corporates thrive like leeches.
For starters you might ask whether the 1.5 per cent turnover tax, for which the corporates fought tooth and nail against last year, is actually high enough.
Frankly something must be done at Government level as a matter of urgency to stem this flood of money going overseas instead of being ploughed back into our industry. Surely that is elementary.
Sadly our TABs have not and are not doing a single thing to combat them.
The Unitab (or Tatts) website doesn’t even offer website form to the general punting public, let alone make any attempt to compete with the gambling gimmicks that the corporates regularly provide. Tatts really needs a shake up, and with a new CEO it might now try, though it may be a case of ‘the horse has bolted.’
And while our leaders sit back, and whilst most of the industry players cry poor and owners big and small beg for more prizemoney, William Hill offers $830 million for Sportingbet.
It’s just incomprehensible!
AUSTRALIAN RACING DOESN’T NEED THE BOOKIES – THEY NEED OUR RACING
THE thing is the bookies need racing. Racing doesn’t need bookies.
Take Hong Kong – on an ordinary 10 race card the HKJC regularly has a turnover of $HK1 billion ($A136.2mn) with a gross margin of $A22million. Government gets $A16m million and the club takes $A6 million. That’s on an ordinary Saturday or Sunday meeting.
There is no Betfair or licensed bookies in Hong Kong.
Strange that!
THERE ARE 365 REASONS FOR PUNTERS NOT TO BET WITH THIS MOB
There are 365 reasons why you might think twice about betting with one of the too numerous betting agencies that have sprung up in recent months. And this one opened with great fanfare.
Said to be one of the biggest in the UK, this operation only last Tuesday knocked back a $200 bet on Major Rocketman at tote odds in a race at Cluden.
It was a $3.50 chance and the punter, a very well known North Queenslander, wanted $200 on the nose.
After a brief moment the lass came back said: “You can have $40 on it.’’
The punter in question, Cairns bookie Brian Jorgenson, said he nearly dropped the phone!
This is not an isolated case. We hear similar stories every week.
THE CORPORATE AGENCIES ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN BETTING THE ‘MUG’ PUNTERS
THE corporate agencies have their own rules and it seems they only want to bet the ‘mugs.’
Most professional punters bet under ‘assumed’ names – or engage dummies to bet for them – not that they want to, but because, they say, if you become known to be a consistent ‘winner backer,’ the corporates simply don’t want your business.
On course bookies on the other hand are required to bet to lose a minimum of $1000 – no matter what the price.
Is that fair? Of course it is not.
As one former senior staff member of Sportingbet told me: “They want thousands betting in hundreds. Not hundreds betting in thousands.”
C’mon Australian racing and Governments – get real, or as Gough Whitlam so famously said: It’s Time.
RISING STARS OF THE NORTH QUEENSLAND APPRENTICE RANKS ARE FEMALES
SINCE Townsville's two new female apprentices began their riding careers at almost the same time last year, there has been a tinge of rivalry – albeit friendly, certainly not bitter – just natural, healthy competition.
Emma Ljung, apprenticed to leading local trainer Olivia Cairns, got off to a flying start and two weeks ago landed the Bowen Cup – her sixth winner in 21 rides.
Last Saturday at the Charters Towers Amateurs it was Juliet Kuskopf’s turn. After going down in the first to Emma Ljung’s mount, little Juliet bounced back to win on Broke But Lucky and then capped off a most memorable double when she inched out Emma (Wandering Star) aboard the rank outsider More Than Regal in the feature sprint.
There have been a few little frustrations along the way. She took a little longer to hit her straps. But pint-sized Julia was always going to crack it.
Saturday’s double was just reward for her hard work and perseverance. And no doubt there will be many more salutes to the judge ahead.
CASH ATTACK COSTS BOOKIES PLENTY WINNING THE INNISFAIL CUP
FURTHER up the coast the old grey marvel Cash Attack under the welter-weight of 62kg trounced his rivals in the Innisfail Cup.
It was his first start for new trainer Laurel Cullen, the wife of jockey Petersen took over the horse after he returned recently from Brisbane.
Some say the Innisfail Cup was perhaps Cash Attack’s best win. He joined in at the top of the straight and bolted away.
This week he ‘bolted away’ to the paddock for a well earned spell at Bruno Wyberg’s farm at the Burdekin after a strenuous campaign that has seen him win in Brisbane (twice) and at Rockhampton and Cairns, where he took this year’s Cup.
Cash Attack has now won 13 and been placed in 22 of his 47 starts for $172,000 in prizemoney, a real bonanza.
And bookies won’t quickly forget his win on Saturday either. He was backed from $4.90 to start a firm favorite at $2.60 with all 12 bookies declaring it a ‘bad result’
Said one wounded fielder: “Punters from Townsville that I haven’t seen for 20 years turned up and just kept putting it on.”
And they never had one anxious moment!
COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, one of Australia's leading rural newspapers.
TERRY BUTTS can be contacted by e-mailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..