Claims about telephone betting a media beat-up

22/2/94

Racing and Gaming Minister Max Evans today rejected claims that the introduction of telephone betting had assisted SP bookmakers.

Mr Evans said inquiries undertaken by the Office of Racing and Gaming found no evidence of the existence of illegal bookmaking operations of any significance, let alone operations which used the phone betting facility to establish odds.

The Minister was speaking after the chairman of the Western Australian Turf Club and the president of the WA Bookmakers' Association met with senior officers of the Office of Racing and Gaming to discuss the claims.

Mr Evans said the unsubstantiated allegations were no more than a media beat-up.

"Apart from the fact that there is no evidence of an SP operation of any size in WA, it is also ludicrous to suggest that legitimate bookmakers who pay substantial taxes and fees would help illegal operators to compete with them for the gambling dollar," he said.

"Indeed, I believe the phone betting service will, if anything, help to combat illegal SP operations should any attempt to become established, by providing a legal alternative for SP customers with fixed prices and guaranteed payment.

"Of course, if anyone does have evidence of SP bookmaking, or of SP bookies using the new phone facility, they should inform the proper authorities - but as far as we can establish, the whole story is a beat-up."

Mr Evans said he was delighted that the controls instituted with the introduction of phone betting had proved to be effective.

"I am particularly pleased that this matter has received such wide publicity, because anyone trying to pull a fast one with the new facility will by now be in no doubt that they will not get away with it," he said.

"Similarly, anyone thinking of using the phone bet facility to set odds for an SP operation is now on notice that every call is recorded, and that stewards have been instructed to keep a careful watch on callers who seek a whole range of prices without laying a bet."

Media contact:  Tony Barker-May 481 3244