IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer, TERRY BUTTS, highlights how UBET, the supposed savior of racing in Queensland, is a standing joke nationwide.
While South Australia is calling on other states for support in battling corporate bookmaking agencies, UBET is dragging the chain proving far from competitive in its Fixed Odds betting.
Here is the Butts’ column:
UBET ‘A STANDING JOKE’ IN THE AUSTRALIAN BETTING LANDSCAPE
QUEENSLAND’s UBET, supposed saviour of racing in this state, is being well and truly left at the post by the big spending corporates.
Really, Ubet is not even trying to compete with the fixed price betting.
UBET is last to go up (as much as 48 hours in some cases) and usually a point or two under the others. The overseas operators must reckon that betting in Queensland is like taking candy off the kids.
The Melbourne Cup is a classic point. Of the 24 horses listed on Sunday, 23 were ‘unders’ on UBET.
The only ‘overs’ was $61 for Sky Hunter compared to Bet365 ($51).
And then the dividends that are declared by the three TABs..well, we won’t even go there.
UBET is not keeping pace with the gimmicks and incentives offered by the corporates. Punters are being encouraged to shop elsewhere. And they are – in droves.
You might ponder the serious long-term consequences of that (when you consider the deal that was done between RQ and Tattersall’s).
SOUTH AUSTRALIA SEEKS SUPPORT OF OTHER STATES TO FIGHT CORPORATES
SOUTH Australia has urged other states to join them in their concerted fight against the online betting companies.
It comes at a time when Australians are embroiled in what is likely to be a record betting spree for Melbourne Cup week.
Australians are being wooed by the predominantly overseas-owned operators who are spending millions on a bombardment of advertising not seen in this country before.
And what about this?
According to a report in the New Daily all references to gambling advertising were stripped from the recent Government review of the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) into online wagering.
The report said it was done at the behest of commercial television operators.
Honestly, can you believe?
SA’s Independent Gambling Authority (IGA) proposes to ban the betting agencies from offering unsolicited credit to gamblers – as early as next year.
Operators who breached the code would face fines of up to $100,000.
But really - that’s only a day of advertising for the big players. Licence cancellation would be a more appropriate deterrent because they are all fishing from the one pool – Australian punters – and then the corporates pick and choose zooming in on the mugs and barring any punter who they think might have an edge. And this Government allows it.
CHANGES PROMPTED BY ‘QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES’ OF BETTING AGENICES
SA Business Services and Consumers Minister Gail Gago said the changes, especially credit betting, were prompted by ‘questionable practices’ used by sports betting agencies outlined in an August report by Financial Counselling Australia (FCA).
“Some agencies are offering credit ranging from $200 to tens of thousands with no consideration given to the person’s circumstances, their capacity to repay, or their well-being,” Ms Gago said.
She said the effects on gambling addicts by ruthless practices used by legal online sports betting companies were harrowing.
“They market credit as a convenience, but it has the status of a legally enforceable debt, and typically has to be paid back within seven days,” she said.
“Financial counsellors have seen examples of brutal debt collection practices. The banks are not allowed to offer unsolicited credit – all part of the responsible lending legislation that came in a few years ago.
Now you can stop wondering why you see any negative publicity about the corporates in the daily media.
The score is simply: The almighty dollar 1. Morality and ethics nil.
Welcome to the new world, as obscene as it is.
MACKAY RACETRACK THE BEST – TRAINING TRACK ONE OF THE WORST
THE Mackay race track is considered one of the best in the state. But the training track is now rated one of the worst.
Apparently it is so bad that four horses scanned last week by a local vet had the same joint problem, all because of the training track.
Local trainers say the sand has blown away and not been replaced.
Nor has the track manager, Brian Stendl, who was sacked a few weeks ago, much to the dissatisfaction of most trainers.
The good news is Trevor Woodham, who is credited with the resurrection of Home Hill and Bowen tracks in recent times, has now been summoned back to Ooralea.
A CHANGE OF GUARD IS IMMINENT AT CAIRNS TURF CLUB
UP in CAIRNS a change of guard at the club is imminent.
Tom Hedley is certain to be on the new committee but has debunked rumours that he will replace John Piccone the retiring Chairman. “I will be just happy to be on the committee,” said Tom, once the mainstay of the Turf Club.
So Chairman or not, expect some action very shortly on the never-ending track saga from Can-do Tom. Or is it Will-do?
CHIEF STIPE TO THE RESCUE AFTER INGHAM TRACK COMPLAINTS
AND still on tracks. Attention last week was focused on INGHAM that races this weekend.
Following complaints the track was in a mess Chief Stipe Sam Woolaston inspected it last Friday week and immediately ordered equipment from Cairns with Trevor Woodham (Woody) to supervise.
Result is Ingham will be racing on Saturday on a track described by the Chief Stipe as ‘not ideal – but suffice’.
RACES POSTPONED AFTER THIRD OF FIELD DELAYED BY KANGAROO
THE Wallabies couldn’t deliver the Word Cup on the weekend but they were able to hold up the race meeting at Home Hill for 30 minutes.
Wallabies and their bigger brothers are in great abundance in the drought-stricken north and north-west and have been blamed for many things.
But on Saturday it was a world first.
Towers trainer Ben Williams, with a truck load of horses bound for the Burdekin, told stewards he was forced to stop on the way because “I hit a kangaroo.”
Ben had three runners in the first – a third of the field – so stewards rightly put the race back until the trainer and his horses arrived.
MT ISA HAS THE BIGGEST NUMBER OF MELBOURNE CUP DAY STARTERS
MT ISA surprisingly has the biggest number of starters of any other race meeting in the north on Melbourne Cup day.
And will host the biggest party if locally-owned Preferment obliges in the Cup. Here’s hoping for the Huddy’s.
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..
