Six-month trial of extended telephone betting

24/12/93

The State Government has agreed to a six-month trial of telephone betting on racing, trotting and greyhound meetings, Minister for Racing and Gaming Max Evans announced today.

The move follows the introduction of phone sports betting at trotting and greyhound meetings in May this year, whereby bookmakers fielding at the meetings have been permitted to accept telephone bets on outside sporting events.

Mr Evans said the extension of telephone betting to racing, trotting and greyhounds was in response to requests over a number of years from the Western Australian Bookmakers' Association, and had the support of the three principal racing clubs in Western Australia.

It was part of an emerging trend which had seen positive results from the introduction of telephone betting in South Australia and moves to introduce the facility in NSW and Victoria.

"Both the Government and racing clubs have previously resisted requests for telephone betting due to a perceived threat to TAB turnover and on-course attendance, but interstate experience and the operations of telephone betting on sporting events at trotting and greyhound meetings have largely allayed those fears," Mr Evans said.

"Sports bookmakers have successfully operated telephone betting on outside events at trotting and greyhound meetings since May, and this has allowed a thorough practical testing of control provisions.

"However, we must still ensure that any adverse impact on TAB turnover is minimised, as the TAB provides the bulk of funding for the racing industry.  There will be strict controls over telephone betting operations, including a requirement that bookmakers adhere to a minimum bet of $250, or a bet to win a minimum of $2,000.

"This will allow bookmakers to service clients who cannot make it to the track to place a bet, and who do not want to bet with the TAB, while protecting the TAB from an exodus of the small punters who make up the vast majority of its clients."

Regulations to facilitate telephone betting were put in place this week, and a number of country and metropolitan bookmakers from each of the three racing codes are expected to participate in the trial.

"The results of the trial will be used to evaluate the impact of telephone betting on TAB turnover and on-course attendances, and if it proves successful it is likely that telephone betting will become a permanent addition to Western Australia's racing scene," Mr Evans said.

Media contact:  Tony Barker-May 481 3244