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Monday February 6, 2012 -



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GENERAL
Bookies smashed

15:36
Tuesday 3 May

 

 A run of winning favourites in all three football codes in Australia has seen punters get the better of bookies in recent times. No punter was more fortunate than the TAB Sportsbet client who turned $60 into $140,400 on the weekend by landing a 2472/1 10-leg multi.

The winning legs were: Rich -18.5 / Over 180.5 at 3.00; Melb -7.5 / Over 40.5 at 3.25; Nth Qld 1-12 at 3.25; Adelaide Under 39.5 at 2.40; Waratahs 13+ at 1.87; Crusaders -7.5 at 1.85; Warriors 13+ at 1.75; Essendon -62.5 at 1.65; Collingwood Over 39.5 at 1.95 and St Geo Ill 13+ at 1.67.
 

CRICKET
World Cup Shock

11:15
Thursday 3 March

From Betfair

 Cricketing minnows Ireland were backed at the staggering price of 401.00 on Betfair before launching a breathtaking resurgence to defeat their most bitter rivals England at the Cricket World Cup. Punters on Betfair considered England a virtual certainty at match odds of 1.03.

Conversely, Ireland was at 30.00 to win prior to the match. It took just three overs for England to tighten to the shortest possible odds on Betfair of 1.01. They stayed at that price until deep into Ireland’s run chase. More
 

RUGBY LEAGUE
Round 1 Action

11:12
Thursday 3 March

 One TAB Sportsbet customer wasted no time in showing their hand regarding Round 1 of the competition by placing a massive $80,000 wager at 1.38 on Canberra to defeat Cronulla, in Canberra on Sunday March 13. The regular sports punter stands to collect $110,400 if successful. Canberra is now into 1.33 with Cronulla out to 3.00.
 

TENNIS
TAB Sportsbet News

18:45
Thursday 20  January

 

 From TAB Sportsbet today:

"A new Australian record has been set for the biggest ever sports bet - $2.5 million on Rafael Nadal at $1.01 to beat American qualifier Ryan Sweeting in Round 2 of the Australian Open today. The customer will walk away with a $25,000 profit if Rafael Nadal wins today. The customer has said they would donate the winnings to the Queensland Flood Appeal. The previous record bet with TAB Sportsbet was $1.01 million also on Rafael Nadal at the 2010 French Open."

So lets get this straight. A punter with $2.5 million bets a 1.01 shot and pledges to donate the $25k winnings to charity? Why didn't he just donate $25k of his $2.5 million and not risk the lot? TAB Sportsbet have been believable over the years, but this story needs some explanation.
 

GENERAL
TAB Sportsbet News

17:00
Wednesday 29  December

 One TAB Sportsbet customer is not feeling any Christmas cheer after a $250,000 wager on Philadelphia went down this afternoon. The bet was placed moments before the start of the match at 1.11 as underdogs Minnesota, without Brett Favre went on to win 24-14 in one of the biggest upsets of the season.

Meanwhile, TAB Sportsbet list Michael Clarke as the $1.40 favourite to succeed Ricky Ponting as Australia’s next full time Test captain. Clarke, who is Australia’s 20/20 captain, has stood in for Ponting and looks the obvious choice. Brad Haddin, one of the only Aussies to hold his head high during the current Ashes series is next pick at 4.25 with Shane Watson on the 3rd line at 9.00. Victorian captain Cameron White and Australia’s leading runscorer of the series Michael Hussey rate next as 21.00 chances from NSW captain Simon Katich and keeper-in-waiting Tim Paine at 51.00.
 

GENERAL
Huge multi lands

10:00
Tuesday 14  December

 Manchester United's 1-0 win over Arsenal on Monday handed a TAB Sportsbet punter a huge payout for their $50 investment. It was a 10-leg NBA/Soccer parlay at odds of 2855/1. Juventus was in one of his other legs - they scored in the 90th minute to get past Lazio in their Serie A match.
 

GENERAL
Bookie Court Appeal

11:26
Monday 13  December

 Both Betfair and Sportsbet are seeking leave to appeal last months Federal Court ruling on New South Wales Race Fields Legislation. Sportsbet's Matt Tripp has taken another shot at Racing NSW Peter V'Landys in the process. “When it comes to racing, there is no show without betting. Racing New South Wales would rather look after the few than the many, treating punters like second-class citizens, and preferring to instead line the pockets of high-profile owners,” he said.
 

GENERAL
Sportsbet and TAB's in another stoush

19:34
Tuesday 7  December

From Sportsbet

 Sportsbet has said it will fight the NSW State Government’s recent attempt to ban Betbox, their touch-screen terminal from hotels. The recent introduction of amendments to the Unlawful Gambling Act 1998 (NSW), which is about to become law, is designed to prevent Sportsbet and hotels in NSW from operating a Betbox from retail venues in the State of NSW.

 Sportsbet views the action by the NSW State Government to prohibit the operation of the Betbox in NSW is a clear case of discriminatory protectionism, preventing free trade and commerce between the states and territories of Australia, and is designed solely to protect the NSW TAB from interstate competition.
 

GENERAL
Russian Film Review

11:56
Saturday 4  December

 An eagle-eyed OnThePunt reader has spotted a new documentary on the Russian mafia, titled 'Ganavim Ba Hok'. See a trailer here. It's only when we look at the credits that we find a well known tennis player is staring in the film as 'himself'. Surely not!

 

FOOTBALL
Multi punter hits the big one

14:34
Wednesday 24 November

 A small time punter with TAB Sportsbet has hit payday after landing an unlikely three-leg 3671/1 correct score multi in midweek Champions League. The picks were: Real Madrid 4-0 at 51.00; Chelsea 2-1 at 9.00 and AC Milan 2-0 at 8.00. It wasn't all plain sailing as AC Milan through Ronaldinho scored in the 90th minute to win 2-0. The punter collected $110,130 for their $30 investment.
 

CRICKET
Sri Lankan miracle at MCG

22:15
Wednesday 3 November

 

 Sri Lanka's miracle comeback win over Australia at the MCG has seen short-priced layers on Betfair make a small fortune. With Sri Lanka at 8 for 107 chasing 240 for victory, over $236,000 was matched on Australia at 1.01, $490,000 at 1.02 and $669,000 at 1.03 - over $3.3 million at odds between 1.01 and 1.10. At the same time, Sri Lanka were traded at a massive 220 (219/1) for $70 and 200 (199/1) for $189. A record 132 run 9th wicket partnership between Mathews and Malinga was to follow before the final runs were knocked over, with it the fortunes of the short-priced backers.
 

HORSE RACING
More records for Melbourne Cup

18:42
Tuesday 2 November

 

 Melbourne Cup betting turnover records were smashed again, as Australian punters splurged on the 'race that stops the nation'. A record $107 million was wagered with Tabcorp on the race. The breakdown was: $58 million NSW Tote, $40 million VIC tote and $9.3 million (up on $6 million in 2009) TAB Sportsbet fixed odds. Corporate arm Luxbet had $3 million invested. Over $23 million was bet through Queensland-based Unitab.

Betfair wrap: $7.22m was matched in Betfair’s race day market, in addition to $1.17m in the place market and $1.54m in Betfair’s ante post market. This was an increase of 21% on Betfair’s 2009 race day market volume ($5.9m). Some $3m was wagered on So You Think – a rare victory for layers over the champ – at an average price of 3.40. Betfair SP on Americain was 19.52 (10.70 best tote). In excess of $132,000 was matched during the race where Americain reached a high of 24.00 and So You Think a low in red figures.

The winner, Americain, opened in early August at as much as 100/1, before firming from 18/1 into 12/1 after it's Geelong Cup win.
 

HORSE RACING
Sportsbet pay early on Cox Plate

14:27
Monday 18 October

 

 Paddy Power continue to bring the art of publicity-driven early payout's to Australia through their wholly owned Sportsbet brand. Sportsbet have today payed out on So You Think winning next Saturday's Cox Plate even before the barrier draw has been made. The horse is currently around the 1/2 mark in fixed-odds ante-post markets.

“So You Think is clearly our worst result in the Cox Plate, but we think the race is a foregone conclusion and as such we’re happy for our members to enjoy their winnings early,” said Sportsbet’s Chief Executive Matthew Tripp. “As a bookmaker I know there is no such thing as a sure thing in racing, but this horse is about as close as you get. “He has been so dominant this spring and we think the Cox Plate is at his mercy.

 Sportsbet paid out bets totaling more than $250,000 on the Bart Cummings-trained horse, including one of $7,000 at 10/1.
 

GENERAL
Domebet closes

13:01
Thursday 30 September

 Bookmaker Gerry Fitt today advised clients that Domebet has decided not to renew its Victorian Bookmaking License that expires on 30th September 2010. In the email, he advises all clients: "All current bets stand and all clients will be paid in full after the AFL & NRL Grand Finals. To request a payment please login into your account and request your funds."
 

GENERAL
Betfair tops in UK

14:36
Friday 17 September

 EGaming Review report that Betfair is still the most popular sports betting website in the UK, according to data from internet intelligence service Hitwise, covering the six-month period to August 2010. Betfair led the way with 13.8% market share of total visits to UK-facing sports betting websites, ahead of Ladbrokes, with 9.9%, with Bet365 and William Hill Online tied for third on 9.3%.
 

FOOTBALL
From Betfair

15:31
Sunday 12 September

 The draw was backed at an astonishing 999-1 in running on Betfair in the Everton-Man Utd game on Saturday afternoon. There was £17 matched at that ceiling price on Betfair, and the draw was also backed at odds from 699-1 downwards. Unsurprisingly, Man Utd were backed at the minimum odds of 1-100 when leading 3-1 going into injury time, only to concede two late, late goals.
 

RUGBY LEAGUE
Another NRL rort?

18:48
Friday 26 August

 

 The integrity of the sport of Rugby League in Australia has once again been questioned with allegations of a player initiated sting in a match last round. It is believed that Bulldogs prop Ryan Tandy is the player at the centre of an NRL betting investigation on the match between North Queensland Cowboys and Canterbury Bulldogs played last weekend.

As ninemsn reports, "In the early exchanges of the match, Tandy dropped the ball when attempting a quick play the ball, and then seconds later flopped on a North Queensland player forcing a Cowboys penalty right in front of the posts."

Bookmakers around the country were smashed with significant and unusual bets on a North Queensland penalty try being the first scoring option. The price moved from 12.00 into as short at 3.00 before being taken off the board at most if not all betting shops country-wide.

Is Tandy guilty? See him interviewed here.
 

AUSSIE RULES
Bookies fight for publicity

16:22
Friday 6 August

 

 Mainstream media have reported this week that Sportsbet have laid a $500,000 bet on St Kilda at 6.00 winning this year's AFL Premiership. "Clearly this punter thought the price was too good to refuse - he has had an account with us since April, but this is the first bet he's placed," a Sportsbet spokesman said.

Industry speculation however, is that the punter in question may not be legitimate. And given Sportsbet's history in restricting winning punters, it does appear rather odd that the Paddy Power controlled bookie would accept a bet to lose $2.5 million.

Rival TAB Sportsbet today responded by issuing a Press Release titled, "St Kilda $6.50 – Best price in Australia – Friendless at TAB Sportsbet!"
 

BOXING
Bout ends in farce; lands massive plunge

23:31
Wednesday 21 July

 

 The reputation* of the sport of boxing has taken another blow tonight when Paul Briggs dropped to his knees in the opening round of an IBO cruiserweight world title bout against Danny Green in Perth.

From AAP: "Danny Green's IBO cruiserweight world title bout against Paul Briggs ended in farce after Briggs was knocked out just 29 seconds into the first round by a punch that hardly touched him. Briggs stumbled a few steps, dropped to the canvas and was counted out after copping a mere graze to the head from a weak Green left jab that would have hardly fazed a commoner in the street."

Some facts: The "Danny Green Round One" result was backed from as much as 13.00 (TAB Sportsbet) into 1.50 (Centrebet) before the fight. Most bookmakers took the market off the board on the day of the fight. On the day before the fight, a client of one Darwin-based bookmaker wanted to have $30,000 on a Round One knockout at 8.00. TAB affilates of Centrebet are believed to have stood the Round One result for a six-figure sum.

*OnThePunt is no way suggesting that the result of this bout was 100% fixed.
 

GENERAL
World Cup bookie bonanza

22:01
Wednesday 14 July

 

 Just incase you were wondering how bad the World Cup was for punters, European giant Bwin has reported a 40% increase in gross revenue compared to the last major international football tournament, Euro 2008. The company made an average of AUD$1.5 million each day of the World Cup on total turnover of around AUD$520 million. The margin of 9.1% compared favourably to the 8.3% recorded for Euro 2008 and the 6.7% for the 2006 World Cup. The operator also revealed that around 900,000 unique customers placed bets on the platform during the World Cup, of which 213,000 were new clients. Locally, TAB Sportsbet are believed to have had a 16% margin on turnover of $123million on the tournament.
 

WORLD CUP
Betfair create more records

17:22
Monday 12 July

 Betfair punters in more than 50 countries have provided further evidence the World Cup is the biggest sporting event on earth by betting, on average, more than $30 million (AUD) on each of the 64 World Cup matches and trading close to $2 billion (AUD) while the matches were in-play. More than 150,000 customers had a bet on Betfair’s 2,500 World Cup markets. Betfair punters traded over $225 million in the two most popular World Cup markets alone; the World Cup winner’s market and World Cup Final. The World Cup winner’s market attracted more than $160 million, while $66 million was traded in head-to-head betting on the World Cup final between Spain and The Netherlands. More
 

WORLD CUP
TAB Sportsbet holds $123m on WC

15:09
Monday 12 July

 The Soccer World Cup has cemented itself as Australians’ most loved sports betting event, with a record $123 million wagered on the 2010 tournament with TAB Sportsbet. A total of 3.1 million individual bets were placed on the 64 games via TAB Sportsbet’s national network of telephone betting, tab.com.au and its NSW and Victorian TAB retail outlets. Online wagering accounted for almost one quarter of the total turnover. More
 
WORLD CUP
Record $9.5 million TAB hold on WC semi

16:46
Thursday 8 July

 TAB Sportsbet is tipping epic betting interest in Monday morning’s World Cup final after this morning’s Spain v Germany semi-final eclipsed all previous individual event turnover records. Soccer fans wagered $9.5 million with TAB Sportsbet on the Spain v Germany clash, a total which surpasses the holds on AFL and NRL grand finals and the Melbourne Cup (fixed odds). A staggering 90 per cent of the $9.5 million was invested in the 24 hours before kick off. More
 
AUSSIE RULES
Barlow refund at Sportsbet

21:49
Sunday 4 July

 

 Sportsbet has refunded bets on Fremantle's first-year sensation Michael Barlow to win this year's Brownlow Medal. Barlow was the outright third-favourite for the medal at 9.00 behind Gary Ablett Jnr and Luke Hodge before breaking his leg in the dying minutes of Saturday's clash against Port Adelaide.

"We didn't even have him in the market at the start of the season," said Sportsbet's Haydn Lane. "He's been amazing this year and the least we can do for punters who backed Barlow for the Brownlow is refund their bets after the cruel end to his season."

Earlier this season, Sportsbet paid out more than $150,000 in bets on Richmond for the Wooden Spoon after just four rounds. Following the Tigers' win against Sydney this weekend, West Coast are now on the bottom of the ladder. "At the time we thought it was a great idea as Richmond didn't look like winning a match let alone getting off the bottom of the ladder," said Lane. "It looks like that bright idea will now cost us more than $150,000!"
 
GENERAL
TAB punter goes close

21:43
Monday 21 June

 

 One hopes the punter who bet $50 at 1,800/1 on a NRL-AFL weekend multi crushed off a little after a huge last leg payout went under in the dying stages of Monday Night Football. The TAB Sportsbet punter had a potential collect of $90,094 just about in the bag until Newcastle went over line with just minutes to go in a dogged 6-4 win over Parramatta. The bets seven legs were: Hawthorn Under 39.5 at 2.30; Richmond Under 39.5 at 3.60; Gold Coast 1-12 at 3.25; Western Bulldogs Over 39.5 at 3.00; St George Illawarra 13+ at 2.40; Wests Tigers 1-12 at 3.10; and Parramatta 1-12 at 3.00.
 
TENNIS
Schiavone shocks Stosur with 319-1 French Open victory

13:10
Sunday 6 June

 

 Francesca Schiavone was backed at a high of 320.0 on Betfair's tournament winner market on her way to an upset result at this year's French Open.

The Italian beat Australian Samantha Stosur 6-4, 7-6 in the final today to land the second Grand Slam of the year. Schiavone was backed at a high of 6.2 to win the match and 22.0 to do so in straight sets.

The Australian went into the match as a warm favourite after upsetting first and second seeds Justine Henin and Serena Williams earlier in the week. But Stosur had no answer to Schiavone's tenacity putting in a limp display in the second set tie-break as her dream ended at the last stage.

Both players now have two weeks to recharge their batteries before the third Slam of the year - Wimbledon on June 21. Stosur trades at 14.0 for victory in England, Schiavone at 50.0.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Origin wrap from TAB Sportsbet

14:33
Thursday 27 May

 

 Sydney’s diabolical weather can be blamed for a drop in State Of Origin turnover last night but overall interest was still very high at TAB Sportsbet. A total of $3.3m was placed on last night’s match which was down 11% on the corresponding match last year but a staggering 144,461 individual bets were placed on the match, an increase of 5.85% on Game 1 2009. Sydney and the ANZ Stadium precinct was drenched with rain most of Wednesday and then at different stages of the match. 1st Tryscorer betting was up 12.3% on last year with tickets also up 17.2% again highlighting the popularity of this market across the board. LIVE betting was up on last year with just over $250,000 invested during the match including one bet of $50,000 at 1.50 on Queensland.
 
TENNIS
TAB accept record punt

21:45
Wednesday 26 May

 TAB Sportsbet today accepted its largest ever wager with a customer investing $1,000,000 on Roger Federer at 1.01 to win his round two French Open tennis match against Alejandro Falla. The $1m bet was placed with a series of $50,000 investments by a regular customer. The punter would have had some nervous moments when Falla was serving for the first set, but once broken, Federer won a tiebreak and the final result was never in doubt. Last year, TAB Sportsbet accepted an $800,000 bet on Federer winning a Wimbledon match at 1.01.
 
SNOOKER
Aussie on top of world

17:00
Tuesday 4 May

 

Australian’s have been enveloped in snooker fever this morning as 28 year-old Melbourne man Neil Robertson became the first Australian since Horace Lindrum in 1952 to win the Snooker World Championship, prompting punters to wager more on that single match than on last year’s Melbourne Cup.

Betting on the final between the man dubbed ‘the Shane Warne of snooker’ and Scotland’s Graeme Dott reached staggering levels on Betfair, the world’s biggest betting exchange and the only exchange to be licensed in Australia, with $10,348,576 million matched on the epic match-up. Betfair has customers in over 50 countries and more than 1.5 million customers in the UK.

Robertson was matched at a top price of 84/1 on Betfair to win the World Championship prior to launching a stunning comeback to defeat of Martin Gould in their top 16 match, progress to quarter finals. Robertson started the final as the 1.43 favourite to beat Scotland’s Dott, but tumbled into 1.15 after winning the 30th frame of the contest. More
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Storm Shock

16:55
Thursday 22 April

 

 A few well-informed punters will be rather chuffed today after premiership favourites Melbourne Storm were all but assured the 2010 NRL wooden spoon.

The NRL announced that the team rorted the salary cap to the tune of $1.7 million over five years. They were promptly stripped of two premierships and ability to earn any points in the current season.

TAB Sportsbet went 200/1 to 20/1 the Storm for the spoon before betting was suspended just three hours before today’s announcement.

One customer bet $200 at 200/1 to win $40,000, another at 930am bet $125 at prices from 200/1 to 50/1 to win $15,000. Since that point the agency took over $750 at prices from 33/1 to 20/1.

'It got to a stage where punters were willing to take any price about Melbourne," TAB Sportsbet Media Manager Glenn Munsie said. Perhaps surprisingly, Munsie is also reported as saying that he “has been speaking almost daily to NRL officials for updates on the salary cap investigations.” The updates can’t have been too accurate.

Sportingbet Australia chief executive Michael Sullivan said "We took three bets to win $10,000 and another to win $8000 on the Storm for the Wooden Spoon all within 10 minutes of each other this morning."

On the other side, spare a thought for the punter who yesterday bet $10,000 at 1.67 at TAB Sportsbet on the previously bottom of table Sharks winning the spoon.
 
FOOTBALL
1.01 Arsenal collaspe

18:46
Monday 19 April

 

 One of the biggest betting comebacks of all time took place at the DW Stadium, as Wigan beat Arsenal 3-2 - having been backed at a remarkable 799-1 on Betfair.   Yes, no need to adjust your computers – 799-1.  One Betfair customer secured £3 at those colossal odds on Wigan as they trailed Arsenal 2-0 after 80 minutes at the DW Stadium today, with other wildly optimistic punters on the exchange, crystal balls at the ready, also backing Wigan at all rates down from 769-1, too. More than £1m was matched on Arsenal at 1.05 or shorter, with £87,000 at 1.01. More
 
GENERAL
Stawell Gift coup landed

20:23
Monday 5 April

 

 Sprinter Rob Burbidge landed a coup today with his victory in the 129th running of the Stawell Gift sprint race. As he crossed the finishing line to claim the $40,000 winner’s cheque, TAB Sportsbet were paying out over $100,000 after laying the Canberra runner at 30/1. Bets on Burbidge included $150 at 31.00 (top price), $200 e/w at 21.00, $500 at 16.00 and $2,000, $1,200 and $1,000 at 1.15. He was also anchored in various multi’s to win over $85,000. The win wasn't without controversy however. Moments after crossing the line, Burbidge accepted a $5,000 fine for "inconsistent performances". He was reported to have deliberately underperformed in a race last week in order for an improved handicap position.
 
RUGBY LEAGE
Try-scoring bonanza for punters

15:44
Tuesday 30 March

 Rugby League punters across Australia have cleaned up in Round Three NRL after a host of favourites won their respective 'First Try-Scorer' markets. Brett Morris (5.00), Josh Morris (8.00 into 6.50), Folau 6.00 into 5.00 and Tuqiri 9.00 all saluted. TAB Sportsbet laid $200 at 40.00 the Morris brothers double, and $45 treble with Folau at 240/1 for a collect of $19K. And another $20 at 360/1 on the treble with Tuqiri to win $7,200. Brett Morris' price of 5.00 was the shortest price a player has ever been to score the first try at TAB Sportsbet.
 
GENERAL
Site closed

16:56
Thursday 25 March

 Did Betfair's Australian CEO Andrew Twait's have a rival operator's website closed down? About a week ago, Twaits used his blog to rile against illegal operators and their attempts to gain a foothold in Australia. Then, just days later, 888 Poker's Australian Sports domain, 888sport.com.au, was switched to "temporarily unavailable".
 
GENERAL
Oscars betting update

13:45
Saturday 6 March

 

 Betting on the Academy Awards has reached a new level thanks to Costa Rican outfit BetUS. Along with markets on just about every category, punters can now wager on a host of other novelty markets. Predictably, thanking god (or family or the Academy) first is 1.65 favourite for both the best actor and actress winners. The length of speeches can be bet at under or over 45 seconds. And crying (termed by BetUS as crying or tearing) during their speech? The Best Actress winner is as short as 1.40, while the Best Actor is a bigger 3.00 of letting emotions take over. Meanwhile, after it's Bafta win, the Hurt Locker is a narrow favourite over Avatar in the Best Movie category.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Cowboys backed at TAB

16:56
Wednesday 3 March

 

 TAB Sportsbet has taken a $10,000 wager on Nth Qld to win their first NRL Premiership since entering the competition back in 1995. The bet was placed at the odds of 26.00 and is the first serious money placed on the Cowboys since betting was opened on the 2010 season back in December 2009. Nth Qld last made the semi finals back in 2007 and before that in 2005, the year they made the Grand Final beaten 30-16 by Wests Tigers. If successful the customer will collect $260,000 for his troubles. This $10,000 wager puts the Cowboys still only 8th in the order of popularity (in $ terms) for teams to win the Premiership.
 
GENERAL
Betfair Oz stays in Tasmania

16:18
Monday 22 February

 Another milestone in the Betfair Australia story was reached today as the company announced an in-principle agreement with the Tasmanian Government to keep its operations there for a further 10 years. “Today’s announcement is an important step towards providing long-term certainty for Betfair in Australia and its Tasmanian workforce,” said Betfair Australia’s CEO, Andrew Twaits. More
 
GENERAL
TAB Punters land multies

18:45
Monday 8 February

 New Orleans pulled off a Superbowl upset today and there were a few TAB Sportsbet clients with plenty to celebrate. The biggest multi landed was $3,000 at 114/1 collecting $340,000 on New Orleans into Federer and Serena in the Oz Open, Spain in Davis Cup, Whincup in the V8's, Australian in the Four Nations Rugby and Bute in an IBF boxing bout.

New Orleans started the season at 25/1 before going off in the Superbowl at 7/4. Indianapolis traded as short as 1/5 when they shot to a 10-0 first quarter lead.

Two more $45 multies landed at the TAB, collecting $61,000 and $10,500 respectively. One involved New Orleans into the winnners (Westwood and Townsend) of two golf tournaments - not even the toughest bookie would deny that punter.

And to top things off, another punter landed a multi with Basketball, NHL and Soccer - $500 at 229/1 for a cool $115K collect. TAB Sportsbet also held: $55,000 New Orleans +4.5 at 1.95; $5,000 New Orleans 13+ at 9.00; and $23,360 Under 10.5 Points in 1st Quarter at 1.75. (Score was 10-0).
 
TENNIS
Punters sweat on shorties

10:10
Tuesday 19 January

 TAB Sportsbet are doing huge Australian Open business on some short-priced favourites. One customer outlaid a whopping $557,000 on Nadal at 1.01 to beat Aussie Peter Luczak in Round 1. There were some nervous moments for the customer as Luczak led 5-3 and served for the 1st set. Nadal drifted to 1.08 when Luczak served for the set. The customer made a profit of $5,570 on the match. Other Big Bets in Round One - $100,000 Roddick at 1.04 and $100,000 Clijsters at 1.01.
 
FOOTBALL
Shock of the decade

23:46
Monday 11 January

 

 Some are calling it the biggest ever football shock. Mali pulled off a stunning fightback to draw 4-4 with Angola after trailing 4-0 with 11 minutes left in the opening game of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Angola traded at the minimum price of 1-100 on Betfair when 4-0 up (£168,467 matched at odds of 1-100) after 78 minutes. The draw was backed at the maximum price of 999-1 (£37 matched at 999-1). Mali went on to score 4 goals in the final 11 minutes to level the match at 4-4 to create one of the biggest betting shocks ever, in any sport, let alone football.
 
GOLF
Tiger Markets

22:31
Friday 4 December

 

 It's been a big week for Tiger Woods and Irish bookie Paddy Power aren't offering the world number one golfer any respite from the spotlight with their latest markets:

Gillette to discontinue Tiger Woods' sponsorship deal before 2011: 3/1
Elin Nordegren to enrol in anger management classes before 2010: 25/1
Tiger to score more birdies than any other golfer in 2010: 66/1
Elin Nordegren to enter Women's LPGA Tour event in 2010: 500/1

Cost of Divorce Settlement (Applies to official settlement decided in court)

Under $100 million: 1.33 (1/3)
$100-$500 million: 2.75 (7/4)
Over $500 million: 21.00 (20/1)
 
GENERAL
Sports Betting News

18:00
Tuesday 1 December

 

 John Daly might have lost 50 kilograms but he remains a favourtie with punters despite his horrific record in Australia. TAB Sportsbet have moved Daly from 100/1 into 50/1 after laying bets of $1000 and 5x $100 at the larger quote.

Meanwhile, UNiTAB Limited, part of the Tatts group of companies, have announced that they now offer their own non-aligned fixed price race, sport and entertainment service known as ‘TattsBet’. They previously used odds supplied by TABCORP's TAB Sportsbet. Retail punters in Queensland, Northern Territory and South Australia will use the new service along with punters from other jurisdictions at the online offering.
 
GOLF
Tiger Update

19:30
Friday 13 November

 Friday: Sportsbet are so certain Tiger Woods is going to career away for an unchallenged victory in the Australian Masters, they have paid out all bets on Tiger Woods with two rounds remaining. “Tiger is clearly our worst result, and despite being only a few strokes ahead, we think the Australian Masters is a foregone conclusion,” said Sportsbet's Chief Executive Matthew Tripp. Meanwhile, TAB Sportsbet report: Tiger Woods started Round 2 at 6 under and 1.65. Support has been strong for Tiger with $25,000 at 1.57 during his round today and $25,000 at 1.65 last night. The biggest bet on Tiger was $50,000 at 2.30 during Round 1. Tiger has accounted for 75% of the total hold on the winner market today. The most popular player behind Tiger today has been James Nitties. Tiger’s 4 birdies today paid: Hole 1 - 1.57 Hole 2 - 5.75 Hole 6 - 2.50 Hole 12 - $2.20.

Thursday: TAB Sportsbet has slashed the price of Tiger Woods winning the 2009 Australian Masters from 2.50 to 1.75 after the world Number 1 opened with a 6-under 66 today. Woods started the day as a 2.50 favourite and attracted one wager of $50,000 at 2.30 after he had birdied 2 of his opening 5 holes (12th & 14th). His price really tumbled in as he attacked the front nine recording 5 birdies in the first 8 holes and in fact touched as short as 1.50 before drifting to 1.75 after his only bogey of the day on the Par 4 9th. Other bets on Tiger today included $10,000 at 2.15, $5,000 at 2.10 and $12,000 at 1.60.

Wednesday: TAB Sportsbet report that they have have been "solidly" laying Tiger Woods to win this week's Australian Masters. The biggest bet has been $20,000 at 2.60. The TAB will be betting live on individual hole scores each of Tiger's round takes place.
 
HORSE RACING
Melbourne Cup Carnival

18:00
Thursday 5 November

 If you wondered how corporate bookmakers did on the Melbourne Cup, then Centrebet's turnover figures might give you an idea. After the main TAB's announced single-digit growth, Centrebet have announced a massive 28% increase in Melbourne Cup turnover and a 44% lift on the Cup Day card at Flemington with just under 200,000 bets processed.
 
HORSE RACING
Melbourne Cup Carnival

12:21
Thursday 29 October

 

 Sportsbet report of a large amount of bets placed ahead of the Victoria Derby. “We’ve taken a large amount of bets since the barrier draw,” said Sportsbet's Haydn Lane, “Yet from speaking to some of the big punters, they’re waiting to see how the track will rate after the first couple of races before getting stuck in. In the Derby, second-favourite Rockferry is currently our single worst result. He was a sure thing beaten in the Geelong Classic and the extra trip and wide track should suit him to a tee.  Shamoline Warrior has won his last two in dominant fashion and is a deserved favourite, but personally I think he’ll have to bring out his very best to hold out Rockferry.”
 
FOOTBALL
UEFA Upsets

11:57
Wednesday 21 October

 Match Day 3 of the UEFA Champions League has proved to be a good one for the bookies with only three of the eight favourites managing a win so far. Barcelona were shock losers overnight in Group F going down 2-1 to Russian club Rubin Kazan. Rubin Kazan paid 21.00 with TAB Sportsbet, in one of the biggest upsets in recent memory. Barcelona were expected to score an easy win paying 1.08.

In other big upsets Lyon 4.65 beat Liverpool 1.75 and Unirea Urziceni 4.65 were too good for Rangers 1.72. Arsenal 1.45 were held to a draw by AZ Alkmaar, while Inter Milan 1.35 could only manage a draw against Dynamo Kiev. These results provide welcome relief for bookies after a horror start to the English Premier League season which saw just four draws in the first 66 matches.
 
HORSE RACING
Cox Plate Update

20:08
Monday 19 October

 TAB Sportsbet can report brisk betting today for Saturday's W S Cox Plate with just on $75,000 invested so far today (Win Only as at 5pm). Best supported has been favourite Whobegotyou with one bet of $20,000 at 2.40 and smaller bets totalling another $10,000 taken today. More
 

Big Bets Today

 

$20,000 Whobegotyou at 2.40 (no change)

$10,000 Speed Gifted at 9.00 (now 7.50)

$5,000 Manhattan Rain at 18.00 (now 15.00)

$1,000 Rock Kingdom at 26.00 (now 21.00)
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
NRL Wrap

20:11
Thursday 8 October		 TAB Sportsbet report that the 2009 NRL Grand Final became the biggest sporting event that the company has ever covered with a total hold of $9.527m which represented a 40% increase on the 2008 decider. All facets of the business saw huge growth.
 
FOOTBALL
Man Utd backed a 119/1 in injury-time thriller

02:05
Monday 21 September		 Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United were backed at a colossal 119-1 on betting exchange Betfair before their late, late show at Old Trafford on Sunday. United, pre-match 8-13 chances, drifted out to 119-1 on Betfair before Michael Owen’s winner in the sixth minute of injury time. Before Owen’s winner, scored beyond the allocated four minutes of stoppage time, the draw was backed at the minimum price of 1-100 on Betfair. Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin commented: “It was an unbelievable match, with incredible betting patterns to suit; the Betfair punters who backed United at three-figure prices have probably struck the bet of their lifetimes.”
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Premiership Moves

19:21
Sunday 13 September		 In a dramatic market upheaval, TAB Sportsbet has installed Melbourne Storm as the new 2009 NRL Premiership favourites at 3.25. Melbourne easily accounted for Manly on Friday night and subsequent losses by Gold Coast and St George Illawarra has seen them progress to Week Three of the Finals with a home game. They were as much as 6.00 before playing on Friday night. Parramatta , who gain a home semi next week against Gold Coast, are now challenging for favouritism at 3.50 after being as much as 101.00 after Round 19.
 
GENERAL
New product

15:37
Tuesday 1 September		 Betfair has announced the introduction of its Australian ”multiples” betting product, “Aus Multis”, in conjunction with Australian sports betting provider, Sports Alive. The product will provide Betfair customers worldwide the ability to place fixed odds multiple bets through Sports Alive directly from their Betfair accounts. More
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Late plunge on Bulldogs lands

23:19
Monday 24 August		 The Bulldogs landed the money with a solid 28-4 win over the lowly Roosters in Monday night league action. One customer at TAB Sportsbet invested $220,000 on the Bulldogs at 1.10 to win. The same agency accepted line bets of: $25,000 Bulldogs -17.5 at 1.80; $24,000 Bulldogs -17.5 at 1.85; $20,000 Bulldogs -17.5 at 1.80; $19,268 Bulldogs -17.5 at 1.70; $12,000 Bulldogs -17.5 at 1.80; $10,000 Bulldogs -17.5 at 1.70; and $8,000 Bulldogs -17.5 at 1.80. The Bulldogs were also backed to win the Premiership during the week with one bet of $17,000 at 5.00. The Dragons remain atop the table and the betting market at 3.40.
 
CRICKET
England regain Ashes

09:55
Monday 24 August		 England were matched at a high of 7.00 on Betfair to win the Ashes whilst looking set for a First Test defeat at Cardiff. Monty Panesar and Paul Collingwood were the two main heroes for England in saving that one but England were always in control from the first morning at the Lord's Test onwards and never dipped beneath that price of 7.00. Australia were matched at a low of 1.39 during that same afternoon in Cardiff and the drawn series traded at just evens prior to the start of the final Test. More
 
GENERAL
Parlay punter falls at last hurdle

12:31
Tuesday 18 August		 A multi bettor at TAB Sportsbet has narrowly fallen short of setting a record odds payout. The punter wagered just $20 at 4645/1 on a 10-leg football multi. The first nine legs all saluted with just a draw required in last night's Dundee United versus Harts Scottish League match. It wasn't to be as the home team cruised to a 2-0 win. So $93,100 went begging, but we hope that the punter layed off some of his potential payout.
 
GOLF
Bookies rejoice another Major dog

12:41
Monday 17 August		 Bookmakers are popping the champagne corks after another big-priced underdog won a golf major championship. Korea's Y.E. Yang became the first Asian to win a major today, coming from two shots behind unbackable favouirte Tiger Woods. Yang was matched at the maximum 999/1 (£168 matched) with Betfair while TAB Sportsbet went 250/1 pre-tournament. And the Korean was as much as 24/1 on Betfair before the final round. The TAB laid one bet of $1,800 at 16/1 on Yang. Woods traded as low as 1.16 when holding a four-shot lead in the third round and it was the first time he has relinguished a 54-hole lead in a major.

It is worth noting that the 37 year-old Yang had defeated Woods previously in a head-to-head battle at the HSBC Champions in China in 2006. Meanwhile, Irish bookie Paddy Power were made to pay for one of their famous PR moves, after they paid out Woods backers after two rounds.
 
AUSSIE RULES
 Rich punters paid out

17:07
Thursday 13 August		 Punters who backed Daniel Rich to win the AFL Rising Star award with Sportsbet are already in the money despite the winner not being announced until September 2nd. The Darwin based company is so convinced that Rich will win that it announced today it would settle all bets placed on the young Brisbane recruit.

“We believe Daniel is across the line so we’ve decided to pay our customers now instead of waiting. The punters have a keen eye for young talent with Rich being well supported with all punters from his original opening quote of 11.00. We are standing Rich for close to $50,000” said Matt Tripp CEO of Sportsbet.
 
AUSSIE RULES
Hawthorn plunge on the mark

13:59
Friday 7 August		 The smart money this week for Hawthorn to defeat St Kilda has proved spot on the mark after St Kilda today named a team minus five of their star players for the Saturday afternoon clash. Nick Riewoldt (concussion), Leigh Montagna (elbow), Brendon Goddard (knee), Lenny Hayes (back) and Steven Baker (knee) will all miss for the 18-0 unbeaten Saints.

In what looks to be one of the most sensational betting moves in AFL history, Hawthorn have gone from 3.50 early in the week to as short as 1.65 favourite at time of writing. St Kilda are 1.31 out to 2.15. It is believed that the AFL's integrity officer has contacted bookmakers and started an investigation on how the information was leaked and who was betting. Markets More

UPDATE: Further moves in the St Kilda vs Hawthorn market after defender Sam Fisher was the latest to pull out of the Saints line-up. Further doubts remain over Nick Del Santo. Best prices at 1400 AEST Friday: Hawthorn 1.64 (Sports Alive) from 3.70 and St Kilda 2.60 (Sportsbet) from 1.31. Collingwood have also been specked from 2.16 into 1.90 following the withdrawl of Adelaide's Nathan Bock.
 

CRICKET
Punters like the draw

20:20
Thursday 29 July

 The draw has been backed into odds-on territory ahead of the Third Ashes Test starting Thursday at Edgbaston. At time of writing, Centrebet, Sportsbet and Bet365 currently offer a best 1.90 about the Draw. Australia are a standout 3.25 (Sportingbet UK) to bounce back with a win. England's chances of back-to-back wins has drifted noticably in the last few days. Australian bookies offer the best prices about England with IAS Bet currently offering a best 5.40.

TAB Sportsbet report of laying the following wagers: $15,000 DRAW @ $2.30
$12,000 ENGLAND @ $5.00
$22,000 AUSTRALIA OVER 385.5 RUNS (1st Inns) @ $1.90
$22,000 P.HUGHES UNDER 34.5 (1st Inns) @ $1.90
$11,000 R.BOPARA UNDER 32.5 (1st Inns) @ $1.90
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Titans all the rage in home state clash

15:17
Friday 23 July		 League punters have plunged on the Gold Coast Titans to beat the injury-hit Brisbane Broncos tonight. TAB Sportsbet today accepted a bet of $195,000 at 1.20 on the Titans. Centrebet report of bets including $15,000 at 1.26, $5,000 at 1.23, $3,000 at 1.20 and $2,500 at $1.20. “There’s been even bigger damage at the Line which has blown out from an opening – 4.5 to – 14, with the Broncos run-on side falling apart at the seams,” Neil Evans said. “Recent line bets include $5,000 (-8.5) at 1.91, $10,000 (-10.5) at $1.91 and $2,500 (-10.5) at 1.91.

The Titans who have never started favourite against Brisbane are now into 1.16 (from 1.48). Brisbane who opened 2.65, have drifted to 5.00.
 
GOLF
1500/1 to 1/10 goes Watson before choke

04:22
Monday 10 July		 In what some suggest would have been the greatest achievement in the history of sport, 59-year old Tom Watson has fallen agonisingly short of winning his sixth British Open title – 34 years since he first won the Old Claret Jug back in 1975. He started the tournament at 1500/1 with Paddy Power, BoyleSports and Australia’s TAB Sportsbet. Irish bookies Paddy and Boyle were paying each way to 7th and 8th respectively, while the TAB went to just 5th. Just over $3,000 was matched at the maximum 999/1 on betting exchange Betfair.

Watson was trading at as low as 1.11 on Betfair teeing off on the final hole with a one shot lead over Stewart Cink. Only needing a par to secure the win, he was 1.30 needing an up and down from the back edge of the green and then 1.61 to win with an 8-foot putt. The putt didn’t get close, and at the start of the four-hole sudden death playoff, Watson was out to 2.44 with Cink trading at 1.70.

The playoff was totally one-sided with Cink gaining an early lead at the first hole and never looking back. Cink was matched at a best 319/1 pre-tournament at Betfair, with most of the betting done between 250.00 and 270.00. Bookmakers offered a general 150/1.

The record for the oldest winner of a major championship remains with Julius Boros who won the 1968 PGA Championship at the age of 48. One punter won’t be happy about that fact, having placed $200 on Watson at 400/1 with TAB Sportsbet during the opening round.
 
CRICKET
First Ashes Test Update

20:30
Tuesday 7 July		 Shop around. That's the message if you want to get the best odds in First Ashes Test between England and Australia. With news that Australian paceman Brett Lee will miss the opening match due to injury, England have firmed up noticably in the past 24 hours.

At the time of writing (2030 AEST Tuesday), the Draw is the favoured result in the First Test, trading at 2.50 with a host of bookies including William Hill, Expekt and Stan James. Ashes holders Australia are all the way out to 3.25 with Sportingbet (UK), while hosts England can be bet at a best priced 3.30 with Sportingbet Australia.
 
TENNIS
Federer breaks Sampras record

03:31
Monday 6 July		 It was another marathon final at Wimbledon with Roger Federer beating Andy Roddick 16-14 in the fifth set and in doing so breaking Pete Sampras' Grand Slam record. It was Federer's 15th Slam win and 60th ATP title. An astonishing record AUD$108 million was traded on the match odds alone with Betfair. From Betfair: "Roddick will forever wonder what may have happened had he converted one of the four set points he held in the second set tie break - a point at which he traded at 1.58 on the exchange, a low in the match. With Federer facing a potential two set deficit, the Swiss was available at 2.72."
 
FOOTBALL
999/1 USA fall short

11:45
Monday 29 June
 		 The USA fell at the final hurdle in their bid to cause arguably the biggest tournament upset in football history against Brazil in the final of the Confederations Cup tonight, having been backed at the maximum odds of 999-1 on betting exchange Betfair. And when they sensationally led 2-0 at half-time, they were 1-3 favourites on Betfair to win the Cup. More
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Origin II Update

19:13
Tuesday 23 June

UPDATED		 A TAB Sportsbet customer has placed some added pressure on both whistleblowers Shayne Hayne and Tony Archer along with video referees Bill Harrigon and Tim Mander in tomorrow night's Origin II by investing $700 on a "Penalty Try" being the first try scored in the match. The bet was placed by a Qld customer at the odds of 150/1 and will return $105,700 if that result occurs. In other Origin betting news today the largest bet taken on the match so far is $75,000 at 1.65 on Qld. NSW have some support with a bet of $30,000 on the Blues +12.5 at 1.38.

Meanwhile yesterday, TAB Sportsbet accepted their biggest wager ever - a successful $800,000 punt on Roger Federer winning his first round Wimbledon match at 1.01.

UPDATE (25th July): The hold not as big as Game 1 but TAB Sportsbet report that $4.48m was bet on Game 2 which represented a 22.2% increase on last year. This takes the total Origin hold so far to $9.57m with one match remaining. Interest is still high with over 172,000 individual bets taken which is up 26.6% on Game 2 last year. NSW interest has been incredible with the holds up 34.5% and tickets up 28.3% from Game 2 last year. Interstate (non NSW) customers have had a big Origin so far with winning results (for them) on both matches following Qld victories. NSW were the subject of a huge plunge yesterday firming up from 2.40 to 2.10 by game time with Qld drifiting from 1.55 to 1.73.
 
TENNIS
Firm pays out on Federer - before a ball is served

02:06
Monday 22 June		 Following in the footsteps of their new majority owners Paddy Power, Sportsbet have announced an early "PR" payment on Roger Federer winning Wimbledon. The move is costing the company in excess of a "five-figure" sum. “With Nadal’s withdrawal, we are so sure that the Swiss master will take out this tournament that we don’t see any point waiting for the final result. We expect Federer to land his historic 15th grand slam tournament to make him the most successful tennis player ever, potentially without dropping a set” said Matt Tripp, CEO of Sportsbet.

The move follows yesterdays announcement that the company would refund all monies wagered on Rafael Nadal after he withdrew from the tournament due to a knee injury. On the tournament eve, Federer is trading at 1.91 with Betfair. Andy Murray is a clear-cut second fave at 3.90 with Novak Djokovic at 16.50.
 
GENERAL
Friday Briefs

13:13
Friday 19 June		 AFL: TAB Sportsbet have trimmed Melbourne 4.50 into 4.00 today after accepting a $50,000 wager. Sportingbet Australia still offer 4.40 about Melbourne, while Paddy Power and Stan James offer a best-priced 1.29 Essendon in tonight's match at Docklands.

TENNIS: Rafael Nadal's Wimbledon price is out to 10.00 at Betfair after he lost an exhibition match to Lleyton Hewitt. He has traded as low as 2.52 and as high as 19.50. Uncle Toni was quoted as saying, "At the moment it's very difficult to play at Wimbledon, his knees are not good, he cannot bend. This is his first match, we wait." Roger Federer is trading at 2.00 to win back-to-back slam titles.
 
FOOTBALL
Man Utd drift on Ronaldo exit

04:03
Friday 12 June		 Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Real Madrid has had a major impact on the football betting markets for next season. Manchester United drifted out to 9-4 on Betfair to win the 2009-10 Premiership as the news broke today (they have been backed as low as 11-8) and are currently trading at 21-10. United have also drifted to 13-2 to win the Champions League. And Real Madrid are into 11-2 second favourites for that competition, having been matched as high as 16/1.
 
TENNIS
Nadal uncertainty

12:33
Wednesday 10 June		 As speculation mounted that Rafael Nadal was about to announce that he was pulling out of Wimbledon, the Spaniard was a bit vague as to how his prospects are. "I will give 200% to be at 100% for the most important date in world tennis. I will not go out and play on any court, let alone Centre Court at Wimbledon, if I am not 100%," Nadal said.

 Betfair report: A few weeks back when all was rosy in the Nadal garden, the defending champion traded at just 2.50 to successfully defend his title. As Federer comprehensively beat Nadal's conqueror in the final of the French Open on Sunday afternoon and the extent of Nadal's injury was unknown, the world number one was trading at 6.00 for a repeat of Wimbledon glory. But as speculation grew this afternoon that his injury would keep him out of the tournament altogether, he drifted to odds of 18.00 with over £5,000 traded at 11.00.

Nadal is now back into odds of 5.30 as fans, punters and his rivals wait with baited breath for him to make a final decision about whether he's fit to play after all. Roger Federer is the clear favourite at 2.30 to win the Wimbledon crown he lost in such dramatic circumstances last year with Andy Murray next in the betting at 6.80.
 
GENERAL
Weekend winners...and losers

20:13
Sunday 7 June		 A TAB Sportsbet punter has taken away over $65,000 from a $150 multi bet on the weekend AFL action. The client picked the correct 20-point margin in four games - Carlton 1-19 at 5.00, Port 20-39 at 4.25, St.Kilda 40-59 at 4.25 and Adelaide 1-19 at 4.50. The bet was $150 at 446/1 (after 10% bonus) for a collect of $67,050. Other weekend action from TAB Sportsbet follows...

Sport Amount Selection Price W/L
Tennis $ 50,000.00 Kuznetsova $ 3.00 Won
Soccer $ 91,500.00 Belarus $ 1.05 Won
AFL $ 20,000.00 Fremantle +26.5 $ 2.10 Lost
AFL $ 20,000.00 Fremantle +15.5 $ 3.00 Lost
NRL $ 15,000.00 Manly -10.5 $ 1.80 Won 
NRL $ 20,000.00 Nth Qld -8.5 $ 1.90 Won
NRL $ 20,000.00 Nth Qld 13+ $ 2.35 Won
NRL $ 2,000.00 M Robertson Last Try $ 13.00 Won
NRL $ 3,000.00 John Williams First Try $ 13.00 Won
AFL $ 10,000.00 Nth Melb 1st to 25 $ 4.25 Won
AFL $ 20,000.00 Nth Melb +15.5 $ 5.00 Lost
AFL $ 30,000.00 Nth Melb +39.5 $ 1.95 Lost
AFL $ 50,000.00 Sydney $ 3.00
NRL $ 40,000.00 Warriors $ 1.70 Lost
AFL $ 30,000.00 West Coast +39.5 $ 2.05 Won
AFL $ 20,000.00 West Coast +15.5 $ 5.00 Lost
AFL $ 10,000.00 West Coast 1st to 25 $ 4.25 Lost
 
GENERAL
Sportsbet to takeover IASBet

23:12
Wednesday 3 June		 A new goliath has emerged from the consolidation in the Australian sports betting industry. Sportsbet (51% owned by Paddy Power) has agreed to acquire International All Sports Limited (IAS Bet), the company which was the target of a failed takeover attempt earlier this year by rival Centrebet. The Sportsbet cash offer is valued at 0.60 per share, 10 cents about the previous closing price. Centrebet were offering between 0.28 and 0.33 per share in their offer.

Mark Read and the IAS Bet board have unanimously recomended to their shareholders that the transaction proceed subject to any new offer. It is antipated that the takeover will be finalised within 3-4 months.

Whether punters have anything to gain from the takeover remains uncertain. What is certain is that bookmakers across Australia are increasingly cutting off winning punters and introducing a strategy of only welcoming losers. Good for business maybe, but reduced competition is unlikely to change this trend.
 
TENNIS
Nadal loses first match at Roland Garros

02:12
Monday 1 June		 Swede Robin Soderling has done the impossible and become the first player to defeat four-time champ Rafael Nadal at the French Open. The clay-king Nadal had won his last 32 sets in a row at Roland Garros and had never even been pushed to five sets in his 31-0 run at the venue. But all that changed on Sunday.

Nadal started the match as a best-priced 1.02 (1/50) with traditional bookies. Soderling was 33.50 at Pinnacle but as much as 48.00 (47/1) was traded pre-match at Betfair. Over $500,000 was matched on Nadal at 1.02 and a further $2.3 million at 1.03. All up, $12.18 million of the $36 million traded on the encounter was matched on Nadal between 1.02 and 1.10.

Punters at Betfair weren't giving up on Nadal in a hurry. When he broke Soderling early in the fourth set while down 2 sets to 1, he was into 1.22 with Soderling out to 5.30. At 3-all when Soderling broke back it was 1.65/2.50 and entering the 4th set breaker it was 1.69/2.42. Even after losing the opening point on his serve in the breaker, Nadal was still a 1.83 favourite to win the match. The rest is history as Soderling raced to a 6-1 lead before winning the breaker. Roger Federer is now a 2.40 title fave at Betfair after previously trading as high as 16.50.
 
GENERAL
Paddy's buy into Oz

18:31
Thursday 14 May		 Paddy Power's often-rumoured expansion into the Australian sports betting market has finally eventuated after the Irish firm purchased a majority 51% stake in Matt Tripp's Sportsbet.

The deal is expected to fetch Sportsbet founders a windfall in excess of $58 million. Paddy Power has agreed to pay $48.5 million upfront for their 51% stake, plus an extra $10 million should 2009 performance targets be met. Paddy Power will also have the option to acquire the remaining 49% holding in 2012-13. Matthew Tripp will remain as CEO.

After the purchase, Paddy's also now have a relevant 20% interest in another Northern-Territory based operation, IAS Bet. Sportsbet expects to turnover $956 million in the year ending June 2009.

Sportsbet Acquisition Presentation (Paddy Power)
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Origin Update

18:22
Tuesday 26 May		 Game One of Rugby League's showpiece State of Origin series is set to be staged in Melbourne next Wednesday and Queensland have been the subject of early support. A TAB Sportsbet client today placed $150,000 at 1.55 on the Maroons winning their fourth Origin series in a row. The TAB moved Queensland's series price into 1.47 with a general 1.50 still available. They go a best 1.60 about Queensland in Game One. Sportsbet meanwhile, offer 2.45 about New South Wales and have posted a line of +4.5 points.
 
AUSSIE RULES
Punters hopes ride on Wallace

22:40
Tuesday 19 May		 A punter has taken the Richmond board's decision to keep on embattled coach Terry Wallace as a sign that the season isn't over just yet. The punter walked into a TAB in Western Australia at 8:17am and placed $50 on Richmond winning the 2009 Premiership at 1000/1.

 
TENNIS
Russian punter admits to attempting to fix a tennis match

15:38
Thursday 14 May		 In what has to be the most startling article ever written on the tennis match-fixing issue, a Russian gambler has outed himself as an attempted and probable future match-fixer. Dmitry Avilov has admitted to approaching #169-ranked Ekaterina Bychkova four months ago in Thailand.

These revelations are sure to set off a new round of media frenzy ahead of the French Open and Wimbledon Championships. But given that "Mr. Avilov says he first began to consider fixing a match during a tournament in Budapest last year", he looks to have well and truly missed the match-fixing boat when it set sail around 3-4 years ago. It all comes across a bit amateurish, but it should send another warning sign to tennis authorities.

A Tennis Gambler Looks for a Fix (Wall Street Journal)
 
GENERAL
IAS bid expected

13:01
Wednesday 13 May		 International All Sports (IAS Bet) today announced that is has entered into an agreement to sell its Canbet business to a British Virgin Islands-based company for $1 million. Perhaps of more significance in their ASX release, IAS also announced that "the Board of Directors has agreed to release all companies currently bound by standstill obligations". This appears to clear the way for Centrebet to put in a new offer for IAS Bet. It had previously been forced to wait 12 months after having privileged information as part of the previous sale process. OnThePunt understands that the Northern-Territory licensed Sportsbet are also interested in buying IAS Bet.
 
AUSSIE RULES
AFL Update

14:56
Tuesday 12 May		 Seven rounds before they do battle, Centrebet has opened a head-to-head market on unbeaten AFL heavyweights Geelong and St Kilda – with the Cats a 1.67 favourite and the Saints 2.20 outsider. The looming showdown has all the hallmark build-up of last season when bookies bet three months ahead of the much-anticipated Geelong-Hawthorn clash at the MCG in late July. Meanwhile, Fremantle are a slight favourite with most bookies ahead of their Subiaco clash with Hawthorn on Friday night. Sportsbet go a best 1.95 about the Dockers while Centrebet offer 2.00 on last years Premiership team Hawthorn. TAB Sportsbet today accepted a $40,000 wager on Hawthorn at 2.05.
 
AUSSIE RULES
Cats backed

17:28
Saturday 2 May		 A Sportsbet client has placed $500,000 on Geelong to beat Melbourne tomorrow at odds of 1.05. He stands to win $25,000 Geelong have now firmed into 1.01 with Sportsbet pushing Melbourne’s price out to a best-priced 21.00 from 14.50. Pinnacle still offer 1.04 about Geelong.
 
AUSSIE RULES
1/100 Magpies salute (UPDATED)

18:35
Monday 27 April		 Collingwood traded at the minimum 1.01 before conceding three goals in the final four minutes to lose the Anzac Day blockbuster against Essendon. Over $30,000 was traded at Betfair on Collingwood at 1.01 (1/100). The Magpies started the match as a 14-point favourite.

*Update: A Centrebet client is all smiles after backing the Round Five AFL card at 140/1. He won just under $70,000 for his $500 bet. Meanwhile, Geelong has firmed to a 2.20 flag favourite with after it’s demolition of the Lions, with rampant St Kilda (5.25) threatening to steal the second line from Hawthorn (5.00) after its unbeaten start to the season. And Geelong star Gary Ablett has become the earliest ever odds-on Brownlow Medal favourite.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Penrith Plunge

13:55
Thursday 23 April		 Doubts over Gold Coast Titans co-captain Luke Bailry has caused a plunge on Penrith. Money at TAB Sportsbet is not only strong for them in their Monday Night Football clash with Gold Coast but also to make the Final 8 in season 2009. The plunge was led by a $50,000 wager at 5.00 for Penrith to make the final 8. They currently sit outside of the 8 on four points and meet competition leaders Gold Coast on Monday Night. In that Monday night match Penrith have been the subject of a plunge as well. Bets of $40,000 at 2.05 and $20,000 at 2.00 were taken on them to win the match along with $20,000 at 1.85, $5000 at 1.80 and $3,500 at 1.75 all on the Panthers at the +2.5 point line. Bets taken yesterday include $6,000 and $5,000 at 1.85 +2.5.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Another blow for Manly

15:18
Tuesday 21 April		 TAB Sportsbet has eased Manly in this year's NRL Premiership from 7.00 out to 9.00 following the news that Brett Stewart will be out for a period of 8-12 weeks as a result of a knee injury requiring surgery this Friday. Manly has won their last 2 matches with Stewart in the side after losing their first 4 matches with Stewart under suspension. Stewart picked up the injury in Saturday night's win over Souths. He had been in great form scoring 5 tries in his opening 2 matches. Brisbane are now outright premiership favourites at 6.00 from St George Illawarra 6.50 and Melbourne at 7.00 despite those 2 sides losing their round 6 matches last weekend. Gold Coast are next at 7.50 with Manly at 9.00. TAB Sportsbet took a bet this morning of $2950 at 9.00 on Manly shortly after the news was released.
 
TENNIS
Another tennis fix? Unlikely

EDITORIAL

01:57
Friday 17 April		 Various media outlets (The Age and Crikey) are reporting of suspicious betting patterns in the Igor Andreev vs Martin Vassallo Arguello tennis match from earlier in the week at Monte-Carlo. Having followed the scoreboard (it was a non-TV match) and in-running market on Betfair, OnThePunt admits that the betting patterns were a little unusual, but to us, it looks a little premature to allege a fix in this one.

Given the limited in-running action (around AUD$2 million which is quite typical of a Masters Series event) and no distinct pre-match movement, the patterns most likely reflect an injury concern more than anything. The punters doing most of the complaining in this one appear to be those who had an interest on the short favourite Andreev.
 
GENERAL
Beasley banished for four years

19:34
Friday 3 April		 The fall from grace for Victorian bookmaker Simon Beasley is complete after the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board handed down a four year disqualification and a fine of $50,000. Beasley eventually pleaded guilty to charges of failing to record more than 1800 bets valued at more than $4 million. The majority of these "off the record" bets have been attributed to close friend and racing identity Andrew McManus.

Beasley, a former Footscray forward, became one of Victoria's most successful bookies with his turnover growing to more than $60 million in just six years after he began fielding in 2002. His suspension reportedly includes being banned from entering any racetrack or training facility in Australia as well as prohibiting owning or betting on horses. The ban will take effect from midnight, allowing his horse Husson's Lightning to race at Moonee Valley tonight.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Storm backed

13:24
Friday 3 April		 Melbourne Storm have firmed into outright favouritism for the 2009 NRL Premiership with TAB Sportsbet after a customer invested $26,000 on them this morning at 6.00. The Storm have contested the last 3 NRL Grand Finals winning in 2007. They opened as a 4.50 chance for the 2009 season behind 2008 premiers Manly (4.00) before drifting to as much as 6.50 after going down 16-14 to Brisbane in Round 2. The bet of $26,000 is the largest single investment taken on Melbourne this year but still sees them behind Nth Qld, St George Illawarra, Brisbane, Newcastle and Bulldogs in terms of dollars taken to win the premiership. Melbourne are now 5.50 favourites from Brisbane 6.00 with defending premiers Manly, still looking for their first win of 2009, out to 7.00.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Parra all the rage

18:07
Wednesday 1 April		 TAB Sportsbet customers were quick to pounce on Parramatta, who take on Sydney Roosters, in early Round 4 betting this afternoon. Sydney Roosters were allocated 2.5 points start in Friday night's match at SFS with punters thinking this isn't enough considering they have conceded 92 points in their opening 2 matches at that ground. Bets of $30000, $14000 and $10000 were all placed on Parramatta -2.5 at 1.90 One customer also plonked $6000 on the Eels to win the premiership this year at 2100. They remain unchanged at that price.
 
AUSSIE RULES
Round One Moves

14:24
Thursday 26 March		 Bet numbers are now running neck-and-neck with Centrebet ahead of tonight’s big AFL season opener, but Richmond is well fancied to upset Carlton. Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said Carlton punters had fought back with the Blues holding favouritism at 1.82, while Richmond firmed today from 2.10 to 2.00 after another surge of big money. “We had one Melbourne punter have $7,000.00 on the Tigers at 2.05, and a regular from Sydney unload $10,000.00 on Richmond at the + 5.5 Line price of 1.91. The Tigers are now in to 1.87 at the Line,” Evans said. Richmond has been steadily backed from an opening price of 2.25 over a week ago, as a record amount of money is set to be traded on the first-up clash.

In other betting news, punters continue to pile into the Cats, meaning Hawthorn could start the longest head-to-head price first-up for the reigning premier in decades! “Bet numbers are running 12:1 the Cats way, with one punter unloading $20,000.00 at 1.40,” Evans said.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
What economic downturn?

17:58
Thursday 19 March		 The sports betting industry is immune to the current economic downturn if TAB Sportsbet's turnover figures for Round One of the NRL are anything to go by. Single ticket turnover was up 12.7% with Multi turnover up 22.1%. Numbers of single tickets up 3.3% and multi tickets up 18.7% when compared to Round 1 in 2008. A staggering total of just under $6m was invested via 180,000 individual bets through their network (cash, phone and internet).

But not all of the money has stayed in the bag recently. A regular multi (parlay) player landed a massive payout after taking a 6-leg ticket combining NBA and Tennis and in the process turning a $206 investment at the odds of 432.34 into a return of $89,064. For the record his bet included the following: Chicago +2.5 v Boston, Under 194.5 points in Cleveland v Orlando, Detroit +5.5 v Dallas, WTA Total games 21-26 Safina v Craybas, Total games 27+ Ivanovic v Penetta and Set betting Bammer 2-0 v Hantuchova.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Punters stick with Cowboys

15:56
Tuesday 17 March		 A North Queensland Cowboys supporter was still impressed with their efforts against Brisbane on Friday night after placing $50,000 on them to take the 2009 NRL Premiership. If the Cowboys can take their first NRL title since entering the competition in 1995 the customer will pocket a cool $600,000. This wager continues the run of large bets placed by TAB Sportsbet customers on the 2009 competition including $45,000 at 23.00 on Newcastle and $20,000 at 23.00 on Gold Coast. Other interesting premiership wagers taken so far this week include $5000 at 21.00 on Bulldogs and $3000 at 9.00 on Warriors. Manly and Melbourne continue to fight out title favouritism at 5.50.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
NRL Round One action

16:43
Wednesday 11 March		 TAB Sportsbet punters have been waiting with baited breath for Round One of the NRL and they certainly launched into it when line markets were released today. In a matter of 5 minutes, over $120,000 was invested by eager customers. The biggest bet was taken for the opening match of 2009 with $55,000 at 1.90 placed on St George Illawarra (+8.5) against Melbourne on Friday night. Another bet of $6000 at 1.85 was taken shortly after. A new look Bulldogs outfit faces premiers Manly on Saturday night and punters were quick to rally to the Dogs after Manly suspended Stewart. Bets of $22,000 at 1.90 and $6,000 at 1.85 were placed at the line of +6.5.
 
AUSSIE RULES
Club B&F betting first

10:52
Wednesday 11 March		 For the first time AFL fans can bet on who they think will be their Club Champion before a ball has been bounced in the 2009 Premiership season. Sportsbet has opened up markets on all 16 AFL Clubs on who will win their respective club Best & Fairest. The top nine players from each team are listed at fixed odds together with an “any other player option” for punters who are looking for a player to be a surprise winner. We're assured that the market will be taken down at some point during the season, but we're tipping that a few club officials wont be able to resist a punt on this one.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Titans find support

17:08
Friday 6 March		 TAB Sportsbet has accepted a series of bets on the Gold Coast Titans in this season's NRL competition. One customer has placed $20,000 on the Titans at 23.00 to win the Premiership as well as $10,000 at 5.00 to make the top 4 and $5000 at 26.00 to win the Minor Premiership. If all bets are successful the return is $640,000. Following the bets Gold Coast are into 17.00 to take the title. Bets also taken today include $5000 at 41.00 on Newcastle to be Minor Premiers and wait for it $5,000 on Brisbane at 41.00 to win the Wooden Spoon.
 
CRICKET
Punters look to profit in Pakistan

18:24
Tuesday 3 March		 Within minutes of news of the terrorist ambush on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan hitting the wires, punters were clamouring to back the draw in the second Test underway in Lahore. Despite the likelihood that the match will be abandoned, TAB Sportsbet accepted draw bets of $8300 at 1.30, $8900 and $2000 at 1.28 before taking the match off the board at 1.20. Betfair suspended betting with the draw into 1.06.
 
GENERAL
Tuesday Briefs

12:40
Tuesday 3 March		 High-profile Victorian bookie Simon Beasley faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines after pleading guilty to two improper practice charges under the Australian Rules of Racing. Racing Victoria stewards say that he concealed about 1450 bets of about $6.5 million in turnover between 2006 and 2008 as well attempting to destroy evidence relevant to a stewards' inquiry.

Meanwhile, in the freak show that is the race to win the seat of Beaudesert in the Queensland State Election, Centrebet have opened up controversial independent Pauline Hanson at 6.50. Liberal-National Aidan McLindon is a 1.50 favourite followed by Labor's Brett McCreadie at 2.40. Former AFL full forward Warwick Capper stood at 41.00 before failing to complete the necessary paperwork to eliminate himself from the race.
 
GENERAL
Sportsbet make IASBet play

23:24
Monday 23 February		 Sportsbet have become a major shareholder in IAS Bet after spending around $2 million in acquiring just over 10% of the company. This comes three weeks after Centrebet launched a hostile takeover bid for IAS Bet. The status of that bid is uncertain however after IAS Bet have refused to release Centrebet from confidentiality and standstill obligations agreed to as part of last year's sale process. IASBet last traded at 0.345, up from 0.16 when the Centrebet takeover bid (0.33 per share) was launched.
 
AUSSIE RULES
Demons plunge

18:34
Thursday 19 February

UPDATED

 It could only happen in a pre season match but TAB Sportsbet report that a customer has placed $30,000 on 2008 Wooden Spooners Melbourne to defeat 2008 Premiers Hawthorn in a Pre-Season Cup match to be played in Tasmania on Saturday. The bet was placed only a matter of moments after the market was opened this afternoon at the odds of 3.15 with a potential return of $94,500 to the customer if the Demons are successful. The Demons are now into 2.90 after Hawthorn announced that up to nine of it's Premiership players will be missing, including star forward Lance Franklin.

UPDATE (Friday 20 February 12:00): TAB Sportsbet has just accepted a further $20,000 on 2008 Wooden Spooners Melbourne to defeat 2008 Premiers Hawthorn in their 1st round NAB Cup clash in Launceston on Sunday. The customer took the price of 2.90 which followed a bet of $30,000 at 3.15 on the Demons yesterday. This takes the total invested so far on Melbourne to $58,000 with only $543 being placed on Hawthorn.
 
AUSSIE RULES
Footy's Back!

13:45
Friday 13 February		 A TAB Sportsbet customer has placed their faith in the Fremantle Dockers by whacking $50,000 on them to make the Final 8 of season 2009. The price taken was 2.00. Fremantle has only made the finals twice in the club's history - back in 2003 losing to Essendon in the Elimination Final and 2006 when they progressed to the Preliminary Final before going down to eventual premiers Sydney.
 
FOOTBALL
Hiddink fave for Chelsea job

12:18
Tuesday 10 February		 Guus Hiddink is the early favourite to replace Luiz Felipe Scolari as Chelsea manager following his shock dismissal today.  Betfair customers make the Dutchman 10-3 to land the post this time around, having been hotly tipped to take the position instead of Scolari last summer.

Another name reported to be on the shortlist to replace the Brazilian is former boss Avram Grant, who was sacked at the end of last season despite guiding the club to the Champions League Final.  Punters clearly think a return for Grant is unlikely, however, and make him 16-1.  A more likely destination seems to be Fratton Park, with the Israeli 12-5 favourite to be the next Portsmouth manager following the sacking of Tony Adams this morning. More
 
AUSSIE RULES
Footy's Back!

19:00
Thursday 5 February		 TAB Sportsbet has marked Collingwood as the 1.65 favourite with home team West Coast the 2.10 outsider in Saturday night's Pre Season opener. In overall Pre-Season Cup betting Collingwood are 13.00 and West Coast, who attracted a wager of $5000 at 18.00 this week are now into 15.00 to take the Cup. Other sides well supported to win the Cup that no team wants to win have been: Geelong $4300 at 7.00, Brisbane $1000 at 14.00, Essendon $800 at 26.00, Fremantle $700 at 7.00 and Carlton $500 at 12.00.

Meanwhile, IAS Bet have launched a handicap market on the 2009 AFL Minor Premiership. Port Adelaide (+38 points), Richmond (+30 points) and West Coast (+48 points) are favoured at 10/1 ahead of all other teams at 12/1, including defending champions Hawthorn (+6 points) and finalists Geelong (+0 points).
 
TENNIS
In-running coup hits Zagreb

00:58
Tuesday 3 February		 Less than 24 hours after the brilliance of the Australian Open final, the sport of tennis looks to be once again tarnished by a betting scandal. An in-the-run coup appears to have been landed by several Betfair punters in the course of the Guillermo Canas versus Antonio Veic match in Zagreb on Monday.

Canas started a prohibitive favourite as short as 1.11 but after going up a break in the first set his price notably drifted. And after winning the first set he was all the way out to 7.00 (6/1). The Croatian wildcard Veic meanwhile, went from 7.40 into 1.10-1.14. He stayed at that price range after winning the second set.

Most notably, over AUD$1.1 million (of AUD$3.08 million on the match) was traded on Veic between 1.06 and 1.20 before he was even up a break in the final set.

OnThePunt understands that the Betfair integrity unit are looking into the match and at least one bookmaker has notified ATP VP Gayle Bradshaw of their integrity concerns. Other bookmakers spoken to by OnThePunt called the match "a blatant rort" and "totally bent".
 
TENNIS
Rafa upsets Federer again

00:27
Monday 2 February		 Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer produced another Grand Slam final epic on Sunday night and once again it was the Spaniard who came out on top in five grueling sets. The swings in the match made it a traders dream - AUD$50.8 million was matched at Betfair. A summary of the in-running action follows.

After dropping serve in the opening game, Federer had already drifted from 1.64 to 1.92. He was back into his starting price after immediately breaking back, but when Nadal served out the opening set 7-5, the Spaniard was now a 1.57 favourite. When Federer bounced back to take the second set, he was back into 1.68.

The pivotal moment in the match came at 4-4 in the 3rd set with Nadal serving at 0-40. At this stage, Federer was a 1.34 favourite with Nadal at 3.70. But Federer could not take his chances and went on to lose the tiebreak. Nadal was now into 1.57. But another swing of momentum came when Federer sealed the fourth set.

At the start of the final set, Federer was still a 1.73 favourte with Nadal at 2.34. With Federer serving at 1-2 and after four hours on the court, both players were trading at 2.00 (even money). But it was Nadal who went on to break and trade at 1.40 and go right to the wire.
 
TENNIS
Fed and Rafa meet again

02:14
Saturday 31 January		 Roger Federer is a 1.70 (Victor Chandler) favourite to win a record-equaling 14th Grand Slam title in Sunday night's Australian Open final. He will play long time rival Rafael Nadal (2.41 Pinnacle), who outlasted countryman Fernando Verdasco in a five hour marathon semi final in which over AUD$54 million was traded at Betfair. It will be their first meeting on a hardcourt at a Grand Slam.
 
TENNIS
New CEO must deal with gambling

12:32
Tuesday 13 January		 As the ATP announced that it had chosen a new CEO, it appears that he has a lot to do when it comes to cleaning up the sports image when it comes to gambling. Remarkably in the current climate, the Sydney International tournament has been allowed to accept a major sponsorship from the TABCORP owned, Northern Territory licensed Luxbet. And OnThePunt can also reveal that a spectator was forcibly removed from the Brisbane tournament last week for transmitting information via mobile phone. The person was believed to be simply trading the match in the run.
 
AUSSIE RULES
Rumours of Drug scandal deepen

11:41
Wednesday 7 January		 UPDATE: TAB Sportsbet last night laid another bet of $50,000 on Geelong at 3.10. They are now into 2.95

Some of Australia's biggest punters have launched into Geelong winning the 2009 Premiership. The move comes amid rumours sweeping betting circles that a star AFL player could be suspended after failing a third drug test. TAB Sportsbet report of a bet placed on Geelong last week of $50,000 at 3.40. The agency moved the price into 3.10, but 3.40 is still available at Flemington Sportsbet. Melbourne, West Coast and Fremantle have been the least supported teams at TAB Sportsbet with less than $1000 invested.
 
GENERAL
Recession odds ease

21:55
Wednesday 17 December		 Centrebet report that scores of bets have been placed on Australia NOT going into recession after some encouraging statistics were released. Centrebet's Neil Evans said the 5.50 opening price on no recession had been snapped up by "optimistic" punters, and the price had shortened down to 4.20. The odds-on favourite of Australia falling into recession had eased from 1.12 out to 1.20. Evans said bets from $2 up to $1,000 had been placed, comprising 98 per cent of bet numbers. "Nothing really at all yet from Yes backers, especially after the Treasurer joined the debate boots-and-all," Evans said.
 
GOLF
Oz Open update

22:16
Wednesday 10 December		 Australian Open Golf Update from TAB Sportsbet: Most popular player Geoff Ogilvy with bets today including $4000, $2000 (twice), $1500 and $1000 at 7.00. New US PGA Tour player James Nitties has been backed to win over $200,000 with one bet alone of $1500 at 67.00. He is now into 51.00 Brendan Jones is also popular at odds with bets of $1000 and $500 at 51.00. One very smart (?) TAB Sportsbet customer is predicting some average opening rounds from Peter Lonard by placing $4000 on him to miss the cut this week at the odds of 6.50.
 
FOOTBALL
Another last gasp EPL winner

10:58
Monday 8 December		 Aston Villa were matched at odds of 440 (439-1) on Betfair to beat Everton in what must surely go down as one of the most hectic two minutes of inplay football betting ever on Betfair, not to mention the history of the Premiership.

With less than a minute of stoppage time left, Aston Villa were trading at odds of 1.04 (1-25), with the draw trading at a high of 26 (25-1). Everton defender Joleon Lescott, a childhood Villa fan, scored his second of the match to level the scores but with just enough time to re-start the match, Villa’s Ashley Young found a gap in Everton’s defence to run through and score a last-gasp winner. More
 
GENERAL
Punter strikes gold with 150/1 multi

10:58
Monday 8 December		 A customer from the Elizabeth Street TAB in Sydney would be happy with himself this morning after jagging a collect of almost $150,000 on this (bet placed 10.20am on Thursday) for $1,000 at 149.05 (148/1). The 10 leg multi covering no less than seven sports or leagues follows: Adelaide United to defeat Wellington in A-League at $1.55; Geoff Ogilvy to win Australian PGA at $5; AC Milan to defeat Catania in Serie A at $1.25; Boston -12.5 against Indiana in an NBA match at $1.70; Under 199.5 Points in an NBA match between Orlando and Minnesota at $1.75; Arsenal to defeat Wigan in the EPL at $1.30; Manchester United to defeat Sunderland in the EPL at $1.15; Under 218.5 Points in an NBA match between Cleveland and New York $1.70; Under 28.5 Goals in the Thursday matches played in the NHL at $1.85; Tennessee to defeat Cleveland in the NFL today at $1.10.
 
GENERAL
NSW thrown in ad bombshell 

16:42
Wednesday 3 December		 Just when advertising restrictions in Australia were starting to increase competition and create a more even playing field between the TAB's and bookies, the New South Wales Government has thrown in a bombshell. They have introduced amended legislation that prohibits bookies from offering free bets or other inducements within their advertising.

The legislation reads: "Licensed wagering operators are not permitted to publish gambling advertising that “offers any credit, voucher or reward as an inducement to participate, or to participate frequently, in any gambling activity (including as an inducement to open a betting account)”. Betfair are believed to be the first to act on the legislation, even restricting "free bet" online advertising from NSW users.
 
GOLF
Daly fave to make cut at Oz Masters 

13:01
Tuesday 25 November		 TAB Sportsbet has listed the human headline John Daly as a 1.55 chance to successfully make the cut at the Sportsbet Australian Masters starting Thursday at Huntingdale. He has been made a 2.40 not to make the weekend rounds. Daly comes to Australia fresh from a tournament best 9-under par 62 in the final round of the Hong Kong Open in which he finished tied for 17th, six shots behind the winning score. Robert Allenby heads the betting to win the tournament at 9.00 from Stuart Appleby (11.00), Peter Lonard (14.00), Tim Clark (17.00) and John Senden (19.00).
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Aussie all the rage to ease to World Cup win 

16:22
Thursday 20 November		 TAB Sportsbet are asking if there any New Zealand punters out there? They agency report that it has been impossible to write any bet of note for them in Saturday night's Rugby League World Cup final. Australia has been 1.14 into 1.11 for the match with a string of big bets taken for the Kangaroos.

Bets of $36000, $20000 (twice) and $11250 at 1.14, $45000, $12500, $10000, $7500 and $5000 at 1.13 as well as $50000 and $21000 at 1.11 were taken this week. It hasn't stopped there with bets of $10500 and $7500 at 1.50 for Australia 13+, $17000 at 1.60 for an Australian try as first scoring play along with $5000 at 1.90 for Australia -18.5. On the other hand, New Zealand are yet to attract a bet of more than $500 in any of the 9 markets open on the match.
 
HORSE RACING
Betfair Park slow to take on 

11:01
Friday 14 November		 The most controversial sponsorship in the history of Australian Racing is apparently taking a while to get through to the industry. The Melbourne Racing Club announced yesterday that Sandown Racecourse will be known as Betfair Park for the next three years.

Racing Victoria are still naming the track 'Sandown Hillside' but they acknowledge Race 6 as the 'Betfair Sandown Guineas'. As expected, its still 'Sandown' and 'Sandown Guineas' on the lists at the TABCORP totes. Even the TABCORP-owned, NT-licensed Luxbet refuse the mention Betfair, starting today's client email with the following: "The quality racing continues in Melbourne this weekend with the venue being Sandown for the Sandown Cup and Sandown Guineas." And to some surprise, even Betfair are still using 'Sand' as a track abbreviation at time of writing.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Fiji handed massive start 

19:08
Thursday 13 November		 TAB Sportsbet has assigned Fiji a massive +50.5 point line for their RLWC semi final against Australia on Sunday. Fiji are priced at 33/1 to win the match and one intrepid fan plonked down $500 on the Fijians as soon as markets were posted. This match is another chance for the Kangaroos to rack up a score after defeating England 52-4 and PNG 46-6 at their last two starts in the World Cup that just about no one gives a toss about.

Australia has been solidly backed to win the match by 1-36 points and also 37-42 points in the winning margin market. Bets of $5000, $2550 and $1500 at 4.25 to win by 1-36 were taken as well as one bet of $4000 at 5.50 on the 37-42 margin. TAB Sportsbet customers are a little divided in early action at the line with bets of $4800 at 1.90 on Fiji +50.5 and $8550 at 1.90 on Australia -50.5.
 
CRICKET
Clarke a Captain fave 

19:32
Wednesday 12 November		 With Ricky Ponting's tenure looking increasingly shaky, Centrebet has opened the next Australian Test Captain market with young gun Michael Clarke a hot 1.20 favourite to be the next in line. Retired leg-spinning great Shane Warne has "come from nowhere" and is a 26.00 chance. Middle-order batting anchor Mike Hussey is an 8.00 shot, with opener and NSW veteran Simon Katich a 9.00 hope, and current Test keeper Brad Haddin priced at 13.00.
More
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Punters takes the 1/200 

16:00
Friday 7 November		 A Sydney punter has wagered $100,000 on Australia at $1.005 (1/200) to beat Papua New Guinea in the World Cup Rugby League match this weekend, and stands to win just $500. Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said incredibly, only two bets had been placed on Australia at the shortest-price that can be given, with another Sydney punter betting $50 to win 25 cents. PNG is 21.00 to win the match, but the 1.91 Line has Australia conceding 49.5 points start. Australia is a heavily backed 1.12 favourite to win the hopelessly lopsided World Cup, with the Kiwis at 7.50, and England now a friendless 13.00. New Zealand is a heavily backed 1.67 favourite on Centrebet to beat England (2.28).
 
HORSE RACING
Melbourne Cup Wrap 

15:35
Tuesday 4 November		 Bookmakers have landed a dream result in the Melbourne Cup after the Bart Cummings-trained Viewed (33/1 out to 40/1) won the two-mile classic by a nose. Luca Cumani's Bauer (20/1) finished second, with C'est La Guerre (25/1) third.

TAB Sportsbet report that the 2008 Melbourne Cup has become the all-time record holding sporting event with a fixed-odds total hold of $9.11m. This represents an 11% increase on the 2007 Cup and takes it past the 2007 and 2008 AFL Grand Finals. The two largest bets on Viewed were $4,500 and $2,500 at 41.00.

Totalisator figures were flat compared to 2006, the last year that equine influenza was not a factor. Victorian TAB customers wagered $36.5 million on the Cup, compared with $33.1 million in 2007 and $34.6 million in 2006. In NSW, punters wagered $51.2 million on the Melbourne Cup, up from $45.2 million last year but down from $52.9 million in 2006.

Almost $6m was traded on the race at Betfair, including around $50,000 while the race was in progress. Some $25,000 was traded in the last 200 metres as winner, Viewed, and Bauer went to the line together. Punters thought runner-up Bauer was going to get to the line though. Bauer traded as short as 1.56 and amazingly, the last bet struck on Viewed before the exchange suspended their in-running market on the race was at 11.00. More
 
HORSE RACING
Melbourne Cup Update 

14:35
Monday 3 November		 Mad Rush is maintaining narrow Melbourne Cup favouritism with just 24 hours until the running of race that stops the nation. All ten bookmakers and exchanges surveyed by OnThePunt are offering exactly 4/1 (including Betfair after commission) about the Damien Oliver mount. With concerns about a firm track easing, previous favourite Septimus is just a point further back at 5/1 (IAS Bet). TAB Sportsbet has just accepted one of its largest bets since Saturday evenings barrier draw with the Aidan O'Brien trained Honolulu backed to win $300,000 with a bet of $12000 at 26.00. Since the opening of business today customers have placed $400,000 worth of Win Only investments on the Cup up until 1.30pm. The TAB also report that money is arriving today for Nom Du Jeu ($2K at 9.00) and Barbaricus ($1K at 18.00).

Related Articles:
 Huge betting splurge expected for Melb Cup Herald Sun
Profound Beauty firms in Melb Cup betting Australian
Punters In A Mad Rush SportingLife
NSW punters in $100million plunge on Melb Cup Daily Tele
 You can bet on the Cup while they're still running SMH
 
HORSE RACING
Mad Rush attracts support 

18:04
Sunday 2 November		 The Luca Cumani trained Mad Rush (5.00) is the new TAB Sportsbet favourite for Tuesday's Melbourne Cup as punters shy away from Septimus (5.50). Strong support today continues for Profound Beauty as she is now into 8.00 followings bets today of $8000, $5000, $3000 and $2000 among many others. The total invested on the mare today is $54000 in a total race total of $385,000 (up to 5.30pm).

Most popular runner today has been Mad Rush with $66000 invested from Profound Beauty $54000, Nom Du Jeu $40000, Zipping $35000, Barbaricus $25000 then Septimus $21000 and Moatize $16000. Other bets of note today have been $5000 at 26.00 on Honolulu, $5000 at 21.00 on Barbaricus, $3000 at 18.00 on Zipping and $1000 e/w at 71.00 on Newport.
 
HORSE RACING
All The Good not looking good 

23:20
Thursday 30 October		 Betfair's betting exchange proved again tonight it was the best market barometer of major international races, when a leg injury to Caulfield Cup winner, All The Good, sent shock waves through Cup betting on the exchange. News that All The Good is sore in his right foreleg and has undergone X-rays to ascertain the extent of the damage prompted the Godolphin stayer to drift to an in incredible 300.00 for the Emirates Melbourne Cup on Betfair, before settling at a more sober 60.00. More
 
FOOTBALL
Rednapp's Tottenham produces miracle 

14:34
Thursday 30 October		 Tottenham scored twice in the dying moments to give new boss Harry Redknapp a stunning 4-4 draw at north London rivals Arsenal today. Action at Betfair:

-£821,346 (AUD$2m) is matched at the minimum price of 1-100 on Arsenal on Betfair when they lead 4-2
-Draw drifts to 399-1 on Betfair, with £24 being placed on the draw at that price (though one punter gets 50p at 799-1!)
-Tottenham equalize in the last of four injury time minutes to level it at 4-4

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin commented: “There have been bigger-priced upsets in this Premiership season – for example, Hull were backed at 599-1 on Betfair when they were 1-0 down against Arsenal in this campaign. “But I have rarely, if ever, seen so much traded at the minimum price of 1-100 – and that team losing. “It seems that the Gunners are prone to shooting themselves in the feet.”
 
HORSE RACING
Derby fave in the red 

18:27
Saturday 25 October		 Outstanding gelding Whobegotyou will start deep in the red in next Saturday’s VRC Derby at Flemington after an easy win in today’s AAMI Vase at Moonee Valley. The Mark Kavanagh trained son of Street Cry is now into 1.75 for the Derby. He was 2.20 prior to today’s event with Eskander’s Betstar. Recent Norman Robinson Stakes winner Pre Eminence is the second favourite at 7.00, just ahead of Larry’s Never Late at 8.00. Buffet, who ran second to Whobegotyou today was 51.00 into 17.00 for the Derby, while Carnero drifted from 10.00 to 17.00. Betstar racing manager Michael Horne had no doubts about who he thinks would win the Derby. “Why bother with a market,” Horne said matter of factly. “How will they beat the favourite?”
 
GENERAL
Another bookies goes 

09:50
Saturday 18 October		 Lasseters Sportsbook (Lasseters Corporation Ltd) ceased operation as of Friday evening. It is believed that no buyer could be found for the business after the Singapore-based parent company decided to stop funding the loss making Sportsbook. Lasseters' online casino site ceased operation in early October after nine years of operation.

Operating Officer Brian Gordon said on their website, "It is important to note that whilst you will not be able to bet, you will still have access to your Lasseters account to withdraw your funds. From the staff here at Lasseters Sportsbook this is a very disappointing day. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude for your custom."
 
HORSE RACING
Australian first at Betfair go in the run 

12:06
Thursday 9 October		 Betfair today announced it would begin offering regular “in-running” betting on Australian horseracing. From this Saturday, Betfair punters will be able to bet live, online on Australian horseracing while a race is in progress. To begin with, in-running betting will be offered on all Group races in Australia. Made possible by its unique, dynamic person-to-person exchange platform, live in-running betting has transformed the betting landscape in the UK and Europe. Offered with great success on European markets by Betfair for some years, in-running betting activity now accounts for some 18% of all money traded on UK horseracing.

For the first time, Australian punters will have the ability to bet after they jump and right up to the winning post, creating a completely new aspect of horseracing and bringing excitement to the Australian betting landscape that did not exist previously. More
 
GENERAL
Betfair launch more legal action 

16:54
Friday 3 October		 Betfair today issued proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia challenging the validity of decisions by Racing NSW (RNSW) and Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) to impose a 1.5% turnover fee for all wagering operators wishing to cover NSW thoroughbred and harness races. The proceedings in the Federal Court are brought under section 92 of the Constitution, alleging discriminatory conduct in interstate trade and commerce. Betfair succeeded in a separate section 92 action against the Western Australian government earlier this year.

Betfair’s Director, Corporate and Business Affairs, Andrew Twaits, said: “We’re happy to pay a fee to the NSW racing industry on all our wagering revenue but the turnover fee imposed by Racing NSW and Harness Racing NSW is highly discriminatory. “The fee equates to around 60% of our gross revenue but less than 10% of TAB’s revenue. Both RNSW and HRNSW are fully aware that it’s impossible for us to compete on those terms. They’ve left us with no option but to challenge the validity of their decisions.
More
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Storm attract support 

16:50
Friday 3 October		 TAB Sportsbet reports that the push for Melbourne in Sunday's NRL Grand Final continues this afternoon to make it three straight days of Storm popularity. As at 4pm Friday, of the $122,000 invested today in the head to head market Melbourne attracted $83,500 of the money with Manly only $38,500. Melbourne firmed into 2.00 from 2.10 this morning with Manly drifting out to 1.80 from 1.70 This represents the original market posted on the Grand Final with TAB Sportsbet on Saturday night.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Kangaroos Halfback 

17:27
Wednesday 1 October		 Lasseters have opened a market on who will be the Kangaroos halfback for Australia’s first match in the rugby league World Cup against New Zealand on October 26. Lasseters has installed grand final combatants Cooper Cronk and Matt Orford at 5.00 and 13.00 respectively. Test incumbent Jonathan Thurston is the red-hot favourite at 1.10. “Thurston is the pea for the job but it may be a case of out of sight, out of mind,” says Lasseters’ Gerard Daffy. “Cronk and Orford get the final chance to impress on Sunday.” Manly goes into Sunday’s NRL decider at ANZ Stadium as 1.80 (Pinnacle) favourites to win its first premiership since 1996 while Melbourne is listed at 2.18 (Domebet) to add to its 1999 and 2007 titles.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Grand Final Update 

18:48
Tuesday 30 September		 For the first time since late Saturday night when TAB Sportsbet began betting on Sunday's NRL Grand Final, their customers have supported Melbourne in preference to Manly. Money for Manly ran steadily at rates of up to 3:1 but with the defending premiers Melbourne reaching 2.10 late yesterday, punters were happy to step into those odds. In the quietest day's trading since opening, TAB Sportsbet has held only $47,000 on the match today (as at 6.15pm) with Melbourne attracting $28,000 and Manly $19,000.
 
FOOTBALL
Hull in upset of year 

17:26
Sunday 28 September		 Hull City were backed at a massive 600.00 (599/1) with Betfair as they came from a goal down to beat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and record one of the biggest shocks in Premier League history. After being held to a half time 0-0 (backed at 4.70), Arsenal took the lead after the break through a Paul McShane own goal. But Hull struck back with a goal of the season contender from Geovanni in the 62nd minute before Daniel Cousin headed the winner two minutes later. Arsenal surged forward, William Gallas hit the bar and Kolo Toure fired wide when he should have scored, but Hull held on for a 1-2 scoreline which was backed at a high of 700.00. Arsenal have now slipped to fourth in the table and 7.60 to win the Premier League.
 
GENERAL
Betfair Australia 

15:01
Friday 26 September		 The Betfair Australia business, half owned by Crown Limited, lost $3 million in the 12 months ending June. Crown has invested around $30 million in the joint-venture with Betfair UK, Crown's annual report shows. The report also states that advertising restrictions in mainland Australia are still limiting patronage growth.

Revenue grew 13 percent to $23.1 million with registrations up 94 percent, funded accounts up 62 percent and active customers up 43 percent in June 2008. Betfair Australia employs 100 people in Hobart and Melbourne.
 
HORSE RACING
ACT allows TOTE odds betting

12:42
Friday 26 September		 New wagering regulations announced by the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission today will allow ACT licenced corporate bookmakers to compete more effectively with interstate wagering operators. The new regulations pave the way for ACT operators to offer “tote” odds to clients on horse racing, harness racing and greyhounds.

The major benefactor of the change will be Sports Acumen. The ACT-based bookie will expand its product to include Best Tote & SP, Best Tote, Middle Tote and a range of other tote based derivatives. To mark the release of the new product, Sports Acumen will be offering its customers the “best tote” on all horse racing meetings commencing Saturday 4 October and running until Caulfield Guineas Day, Saturday October 11.

 Sports Acumen and Global Sportsbet also announced that the odds of Melbourne Cup runners from Europe have been doubled for the next three days. That means punters can get Irish stayer Septimus (2nd fav) at 12/1 (max. bet $50).
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Manly backed

16:14
Tuesday 23 September		 Manly have been the subject on big support ahead of their Saturday night Preliminary Final clash with the Warriors. TAB Sportsbet have accepted a $250,000 wager on Manly at the odds of 1.42. The customer stands to win $105,000 for their investment. As a result Manly are into 1.36 with the TAB and the Warriors out to 3.00. The New Zealand TAB still offer 1.45 about Manly, while Pinnacle go 3.32 the Warriors in a very competitive market. Centrebet also advise of a $20,000 bet on Manly at 1.42 earlier today.
 
ELECTIONS
State-by-State USA markets

12:47
Tuesday 23 September		 The American states of Colorado, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Virginia could hold the key to who takes power in the White House, according to Centrebet who has released their markets for every U.S. state going to the polls, as well as special party and leader break-out markets. Centrebet media chief and political analyst Neil Evans said this was the most comprehensive assessment of an American presidential contest in history, and punters would take to the state-by-state assessment with a "fine tooth comb.

"There's obviously a lot of cut-and-dried states on both the Republican and Democratic sides, but Nevada looks the biggest melting pot, with both parties priced at 1.87, while the Republicans are 1.77 to win crucial Virginia and the Democrats right in the hunt at 1.99." In New Hampshire, the Democrats are a 1.58 favourite ahead of the Republicans at 2.30, Ohio has the Republicans a narrow 1.74 favourite against the Democrats (2.03), while the Democrats are a narrow 1.70 fancy to win Colorado against 2.10 for the Republicans. Wyoming is considered the safest Republican seat at 1.005 (1/200), with the Democrats at 15.00! More
 
FOOTBALL
AFL & NRL Finals Update

10:47
Monday 22 September		 Manly have firmed up from 3.10 to 2.75 with TAB Sportsbet to win this season's NRL Premiership as doubts increase over Melbourne's captain Cameron Smith and a possible judiciary charge from Saturday night's win over Brisbane. Manly were priced at as much as 3.25 on the weekend with one bet of $50,000 taken at that quote. Melbourne retain top spot at 2.10 but have eased out from 1.90. Warriors sit on the 3rd line of betting at 6.50 with Cronulla the outsider at 7.50.

*Update: Following the match review committee charging Melbourne pair Cameron Smith and Jeremy Smith the Storm has drifted out to 2.25 in premiership betting and Manly firms into 2.65. Cronulla and Warriors remain the outsiders at $6.50 each.

Early match markets: Friday night sees Melbourne at 1.50 with Cronulla 2.50. Saturday night Manly are at 1.42 with Warriors at 2.75.

Meanwhile, despite reports to the contrary, defending champions Geelong are attracting support in a 5:1 ratio ahead of their Grand Final clash with Hawthorn. TAB Sportsbet go a best 1.45 about Geelong while Domebet are offering 3.05 Hawthorn. Sportingbet is reported to have accepted a bet of $400,000 on Hawthorn at 2.90.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Markets down on Brisbane controversy

10:36
Monday 15 September		 Centrebet has suspended all NRL premiership betting after police began an investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving three Brisbane Broncos players on Saturday night. Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said the entire NRL season could swing on the Broncos-Storm blockbuster this weekend, so the market was taken down until police completed investigations into an incident in the toilet of a Fortitude Valley venue on Saturday night. At the time, the Storm had lost favouritism for the first time this season, at one stage out to 3.15 behind new premiership favourite Manly (2.85) before a flurry of money late last night pushed the Storm back in to 2.90.
More
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Manly take over NRL favouritism

19:47
Sunday 14 September		 Manly are the new NRL Premiership favourites after the Warriors created history in becoming the first 8th placed team to defeat the minor premiers in the first week of the semi finals. Melbourne have lost the favourites tag for the first time since markets were posted on the 2008 title in late 2007. Manly are now 2.85 and earned the week off after defeating St George Illawarra last night and will now meet the winner of Warriors and Sydney Roosters to earn a place in the 2008 Grand Final. Melbourne drifted from 1.85 to 3.25 and must now defeat Brisbane, in Brisbane on Saturday night to then meet Cronulla the following week. TAB Sportsbet's 2008 NRL Premiership market is: Manly 2.85, Melbourne 3.25, Brisbane 5.00, Cronulla 6.50, Warriors 11.00, Sydney Roosters 21.00.
 
AUSSIE RULES
Dogs backed

15:10
Friday 12 September		 TAB Sportsbet has this afternoon accepted a $70,000 wager on the Western Bulldogs at 1.72 in their clash against Sydney tonight. Overall support for both sides was steady but with this bet the Bulldogs have firmed into 1.60 with Sydney drifting to 2.30. This bet was quickly followed by another of $8000 at 1.65.
 
POLITICS
Turnbull favoured to lead

15:11
Thursday 11 September		 Following Peter Costello’s decision to remain a backbencher Lasseters has Malcolm Turnbull as a hot favourite to be the federal Liberal leader by the end of 2008. “There’ll be denials from within the party but you can bet Malcolm Turnbull will be working the phones to see if he has the numbers to take over,” says Lasseters’ Gerard Daffy. “We can’t officially scratch Peter Costello’s name until the day he walks out the doors of Parliament House for the final time, but Mr Nelson’s days appear numbered.” Daffy added. Lasseters has Mr Turnbull as 1.40 to be the leader of the Coalition on January 1, 2009 with Dr Nelson next in line at 2.75. Outsiders include Julie Bishop, Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey.
 
HORSE RACING
Wide open market for Manikato

17:06
Wednesday 10 September		 Here De Angels and Kaphero share favouritism in the first market issued today by Betstar for Australia’s first Group One of the new season – Saturday’s Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley. The proven Moonee Valley winners share the top line of betting at $5.50 in a very wide open betting affair. Betstar's racing manager Michael Horne said the market for the race was extremely tough to frame. “It’s very difficult to find a favourite,” Horne said. “It’s one of the toughest I’ve had to frame for a Group One for some time.” Horne said the expected firm track helped promote some runners, while wide barriers saw the chances of others lessen. “Kaphero, who is racing so well, is a query at the 1200 metres in this class,” Horne said. “I’m expecting Here De Angels to improve back on top of the ground.” “Absolut Glam is the smoky. She is drawn perfectly and you can tie in the form through Bel Mer – who has drawn the car park in the Manikato.” “The emergencies Red Element and Sunburnt Land both have winning chances if they get a run.”
 
GENERAL
Another rate cut favoured

20:17
Tuesday 2 September		 On the back of today’s decision by the Reserve Bank to cut official interest rates for the first time in almost seven years, Lasseters has opened a market for next month's decision. “We had a huge response to our market and punters were on the money, backing the cut of a quarter of a percent from $1.50 into $1.15 ahead of today’s announcement,” Lasseters boss Gerard Daffy said. Looking ahead, Lasseters has installed another cut of 25 basis points by the RBA in October as its 1.30 favourite (Centrebet go 1.22), falling in line with economic forecasters predicting a further decrease. “I’m expecting a similar response from punters ahead of next month’s decision but I think the RBA may exercise caution, so the value may be in rates staying the same,” Daffy added.
 
FOOTBALL
Storm and Cats set to belt bookies.. again

17:52
Tuesday 19 August		 Melbourne (NRL) and Geelong (AFL) are on the verge of putting the cleaners through bookies for a second straight season with both odds-on to win their respective competitions. “I’ve been in this caper for a long time and I can’t remember when the same two teams have been favourites for almost two complete seasons,” says Lasseters’ Gerard Daffy. The Cats are a red-hot 1.45 to win the AFL flag which is the shortest price for a team with two rounds left of the regular season. The Storm are priced at 1.90 to win the NRL title. “In both competitions the Cats and Storm have managed to fight off a few challengers during the season and I reckon they’ll find another gear come finals time,” Daffy added.
 
FOOTBALL
Pinnacle Sports get even more competitive

14:03
Sunday 17 August		 Pinnacle Sports are on a mission to give soccer punters the best odds anywhere on the planet, launching 101% Asian Handicaps, as part of the Pinnacle Price Advantage (PPA) - their new concept in soccer betting.

Every Friday at 1pm (GMT), Asian Handicaps will be priced to just 101.23%, total goals to under 101.96% and Threeways (1X2) to 102%. Prices at this level will be available for the English Premier League and German Bundesliga 1.

This promotion will be repeated every Friday, and will apply to Italian Serie A and Spanish La Liga, when those divisions start later next month. The PPA reduced margins will also be available 8 hours before kick-off of midweek fixtures from the featured leagues, and the UEFA Champions League.
 
TENNIS
Historic final produces record turnover

14:05
Monday 7 July		 Rafael Nadal's dramatic Wimbledon final has smashed all tennis turnover records with betting exchange Betfair. By the end of the four hour, 48 minute hour marathon, £49,137,328 (AUD$101 million) was traded on the match odds market alone - most of it while the match was in progress.

This is believed to represent a record volume for any single event traded at Betfair. The previous record was £35m for an Ashes Test in 2005, where trading levels were high while £30m was traded on last year's Wimbledon final between Federer and Nadal. Overall Betfair turnover on Wimbledon was in excess of AUD$1.2billion, up from $943million last year.

In the see-sawing classic, Nadal traded at 1.13 when a break up in the third set and 1.07 in the fourth when holding an advantage in the tie-break. He started the game as the 2.36 underdog with the Swiss world number one the 1.71 favourite. Those odds were nearly replicated at the opening of the fifth set, with Federer 1.78, Nadal 2.26.
 
GENERAL
TAB passes $1 Billion

15:45
Thursday 26 June		 TAB Sportsbet today announced that it had achieved AUD$1 billion in annual sales across Australia for the first time. TABCORP operate TAB Sportsbet on behalf of all Australian TABs, offering Fixed odds sports betting products in more than 4,000 outlets across Australia, as well as through telephone and online betting. For the the biggest single events in 2007/08 and the most popular sports for TAB customers, see below.

BIGGEST EVENTS BY SALES (2007/08): 2007 AFL Grand Final $8.4 million; 2007 Emirates Melbourne Cup (fixed odds) $7.1 million; 2007 NRL Grand Final $6.0 million; 2008 State of Origin – Game 1 $3.9 million.

SPORTS BY SALES (2007/08 to June 16): Soccer $164.4 million; Rugby League $155.6 million; AFL $142.1 million; Cross Sport $122.7 million; Tennis $107.5 million; Thoroughbred Racing (fixed odds) $97.7 million; Basketball $73.1 million; Cricket $36.2 million; Rugby Union $25.7 million; Golf $17.9 million.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Sharks go for a betting 'Bird' bath

21:18
Monday 25 August		 Lasseters Sportsbook reports Cronulla has drifted in betting to win the NRL premiership this afternoon following the Sharks’ decision to stand down international Greg Bird indefinitely. Despite defeating rivals, the Sydney Roosters 20-nil over the weekend and wrapping up a top four berth Cronulla’s price is at 15.00 (out from 12.00) following developments today. “We haven’t seen a dime for the Sharks all year and now with Bird unlikely to play again this season, they’ll be friendless in the lead up to the finals,” says Lasseters’ Gerard Daffy. Melbourne remains odds-on (1.75) to win back-to-back premierships.
 
AUSSIE RULES
Saints backed for $100K

12:45
Monday 25 August		 TAB Sportsbet opened its markets on AFL Round 22 today and within two minutes a customer placed $100,000 on St Kilda at 1.15 to defeat Essendon in the final match of the regular season on Sunday. The Saints are now into 1.12 with Essendon out to 5.25. Premiership favourites Geelong have been posted at an all-time record short quote of 1.01 for their match against West Coast on Saturday.
 
OLYMPICS
Huge turnover on games

15:22
Thursday 14 August		 Turnover on Olympic betting has exceeded all expectations according to Centrebet's Neil Evans. "So far, we have turned over an incredible near $8 million - with around $1.7 million being traded just in live betting," Evans said.

A VIP punter today missed out on winning over $50,000 after plonking nearly $100,000 on Eamon Sullivan to win gold in the 100m freestyle at 1.53. Sullivan was piped by second favourite Alain Bernard. Meanwhile, a bold Sydney punter wagered nearly $100,000 on the US Dream Team to win a basketball group match at the price of 1.002 (1/500)! He won $178 for putting a near $100k on the line, but, of course, the result was never in doubt.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Dogs new spoon faves

13:34
Wednesday 13 August		 Lasseters Sportsbook reports the Bulldogs are the new favourites (1.40) to take out the NRL wooden spoon following their weekend loss against fellow battlers North Queensland. “With Thurston back for the Cowboys and a winnable game against the Titans coming up this weekend I think the spoon will be on its way to Belmore,” says Lasseters’ Gerard Daffy. The Bulldogs are the fourth favourite this season to ‘win’ the spoon after Canberra, Souths and North Queensland. Meantime, Melbourne is 2.10 to win a second straight NRL title. Lasseters is also still taking bets on whether or not runaway Bulldog Sonny Bill Williams will fulfil his dream of representing the All Blacks at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
 
OLYMPICS
Soccer gold a race in two

11:43
Thursday 31 July		 A TAB Sportsbet customer believes that Argentina are good things to take the Gold Medal in the Mens Soccer competition starting Sunday August 10th. The regular sports punter placed $40,000 on the Argentina side at the odds of 3.25 standing to collect $130,000 if they are successful. Betting on the Soccer Gold Medal has been strong with another bet of $16,000 on Brazil at 4.00 so it looks already that people are narrowing the competition down to the top two sides. Such is the domination of these two teams that only just over $500 has been placed on all of the other 14 sides taking part and Australia are responsible for $200 of that.

*Check back to OnThePunt from next Friday and every day throughout the Beijing Olympics as our guru offers up a daily best bet.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
TAB customers spend up

16:29
Wednesday 13 August		 TAB Sportsbet customers just seem to love Wednesday's, the day that NRL markets are opened. In under 3 hours of business this afternoon just over $200,000 has been invested on Round 23 of the NRL. Most popular side has been the in form Newcastle in their match against Canberra on Sunday with bets of $20,000 at 2.50 to win the match along with a string of wagers at the +5.5 point line including one of $50,000 at 1.90.

Warriors are very popular at home on Saturday against Cronulla with bets to win the match of $28,000 and $13,000 at 1.70 as well as $15,000 and $11,000 at 1.90 in the -2.5 point line market. Sydney Roosters have been backed to bounce back after last week's loss to Parramatta and they receive a healthy +14.5 point line from Melbourne on Friday night. Bets of $15000, $11000 and $10000 at 1.90 came before $10000 and $5000 at 1.85.

The only other match to have some early betting is the Nth Qld v Gold Coast affair with one bet of $11,000 at 1.90 on the Cowboys -7.5 but I'm sure punters are waiting to see whether Jonathan Thurston and Scott Prince will both, either or neither will play.
 
OLYMPICS
Punters spend up on Games

20:53
Sunday 10 August		 TAB Sportsbet customers have embraced the Games by investing over $2m in the first four days of competition. Media manager Glenn Munsie reports: "we have already achieved approx 15% of our total budget for the Games and there has really only been 2 full days of competition. The interest is phenomenal.  Betting on individual events has surpassed our expectations with customers willing to invest on all of them. There has been Basketball, Soccer and Volleyball matches for instance that have held over $200,000 in each match and even tonight a customer had $70,000 on Argentina to defeat Australia in the Soccer at 1.25. All we have to do now is get some results, although Stephanie Rice was on of our better ones today when she took Australia's 1st Gold in the 400 IM."
 
OLYMPICS
Betting hots up ahead of Beijing

18:43
Tuesday 29 July		 Swedish punters with Centrebet have plunged into a little-known Dutch swimmer to upset Australia’s golden girl Libby Trickett in the final of the women’s 50m freestyle at the Beijing Olympic Games. Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said the equivalent of nearly $5,000 AUD in SEK currency had arrived for the Netherlands’ Marleen Veldhuis from 5.50 down. She is now quoted at 4.25 to take the gold medal, with one punter outlaying the equivalent of $2,000. Under-pressure Trickett remains the easing 1.50 favourite. Trickett has also drifted from 1.33 to 1.42 in the 100m freestyle, after African-born Brisbane schoolgirl Cate Campbell was backed from 5.50 into 5.00, including a near $1,000 stake from Sydney’s east. More
 
TENNIS
Federer shocked in Toronto

11:55
Thursday 24 July		 Roger Federer has followed up his agonizing Wimbledon defeat with a shock loss in his first match at the Toronto Masters. He was playing Giles Simon, who was fresh off the Indianapolis title last week yet available at as much as 23/1 before the match. But after Federer raced away with the first set 6-2, he was all the way out to 79/1 ($33 matched) on Betfair. At the same time, $129,000 was traded on Federer at the minimum 1.01 and a staggering $2.178 million between 1.01 and 1.05.

Federer, who was undefeated in Toronto having won the title in 2004 and '06, was twice up a break in the final set and even had a point to go up 4-1, but it was all Simon from there on. The world number one, who amassed no less than 51 unforced errors, faces losing his number one ranking next week in Cincinnati.
 
AUSSIE RULES
Cats set to pounce on Hawks

19:45
Tuesday 22 July		 Raging odds-on AFL Premiership favourite's Geelong are a best-priced 1.45 (Sportsbet) to beat Hawthorn in Friday night's blockbuster. This is in contrast to the 1.80 being offered in June when the Hawks form looked decidedly more impressive that what they showed in a loss to St Kilda last week. Hawthorn were just 2.00 to win the fixture five weeks ago but now go into the match at 3.00 (TAB Sportsbet & Domebet).

"We took several thousand straight away on the Cats late yesterday and again this morning, including one stake of $3,000 from a Melbourne punter - all at 1.40. My how some of those Geelong backers must have wished they got on at 1.80 when the price was there," Centrebet's Neil Evans said. "In the last month, the Cats have put their foot down and reminded everyone they are far and away the team to get past - and have stormed into a raging 1.72 premiership favourite."
 
GOLF
Open Update

23:04
Tuesday 15 July		 Tiger Woods absence from the year's third golf major means it is 12/1 the field for the 2008 British Open starting Thursday. Sergio Garcia is the man punters have made favourite at 12/1 with Betfair. Ernie Els is on the second line at 16/1 with Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood (both 19/1) also looking to take advantage of Woods injury-enforced layoff. Defending champion Padraig Harrington currently trades at 29/1.

Speaking of the Irish, bookmakers Paddy Power and BoyleSports are offering a very attractive incentive for the Open - they are paying out on seven places (unlike the 4 or 5 at most Australian bookies). Meanwhile, the big punters at TAB Sportsbet are backing the following:

$20,000 @ $1.85 ON GOOSEN V CABRERA HD X HD
$20,000 @ $1.90 ON KARLSSON V CINK HD X HD
$20,000 @ $1.93 ON KIM V ROMERO HD X HD
$6,000 @ $1.90 ON ELS V MICKELSON HD XHD
$5,000 @ $2.10 ON ADAM SCOTT WIN ROUND 1 3-BALL

$6,000 @ $19 ON LEE WESTWOOD WIN
$3,000 @ $11 ON SERGIO GARCIA WIN
$2,000 @ $151 ON FREDERIK JACOBSEN 
$2,000 @ $67 ON ANDRES ROMERO WIN
$2,000 @ $67 ON JUSTIN LEONARD WIN
$2,000 @ $67 ON HUNTER MAHAN WIN
$2,000 @ $31 FREDERIK JACOBSEN FINISH TOP 5
$1,500 @ $101 ON GRAEME MCDOWELL WIN
 
CYCLING
Evans in the red after taking Yellow

18:05
Tuesday 15 July		 Lasseters Sportsbook report that Australia’s Cadel Evans has shortened as favourite to win the 2008 Tour De France after claiming the leader’s yellow jersey following the tenth stage. Evans, the 3.25 pre-event favourite is now at the odds-on quote of 1.70 to become the first Australian ever to win the world’s most prestigious and gruelling road cycling race. “People in Australia fail to understand what an achievement it is to have an Aussie leading this event,” says Gerard Daffy. “Punters from all around the world want to back our boy.” Lasseters is offering punters the chance to win big on this year’s Tour with a trip to France up for grabs. Just place a minimum $20 bet on any of the 21 stages for your chance to win.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
$190K bet at TAB

15:35
Friday 11 July		 A TAB Sportsbet customer has placed a $190,000 Multi on Sydney Roosters, Brisbane and Melbourne all being successful in their respective NRL Round 18 matches at the odds of 1.53. Sydney Roosters meet Gold Coast tonight at the SFS with Brisbane hosting Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday. Melbourne travel to Campelltown Stadium on Monday night to play Wests Tigers. If all 3 teams win the customer will collect $290,700 a total win of $100,700 on his/her investment. Only last week a TAB Sportsbet customer had $150,000 on the Manly/Melbourne Multi to collect $220,500.
 
GENERAL
Firms launch legal action against NSW

17:55
Thursday 10 July

From Betfair		 Betfair and Sportingbet Australia today issued proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia challenging the validity of laws in NSW that prevent interstate licensed wagering companies from advertising in the State. “We believe the laws are protectionist. What’s more, they’re depriving racing clubs and other stakeholders of a natural revenue stream in the form of advertising and sponsorship,” said Andrew Twaits, Betfair’s Director of Corporate and Business Affairs.

Michael Sullivan, CEO of Sportingbet Australia agreed. “We believe this legislation is fundamentally flawed and it contradicts the spirit of business in Australia by restricting fair and open trade between the states,” he said. “At a fundamental grass roots level, the NSW advertising ban against interstate wagering operators stops the punter from seeing the full picture,” said Mr Sullivan. The NSW government is, for the first time, asking all interstate TABs, bookmakers and betting exchanges to pay for the right to cover NSW racing. More
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Origin breaks turnover records

13:57
Thursday 3 July		 TAB Sportsbet reports that Origin 3 broke all records last night. A total of $4.46m was invested on the match by TAB Sportsbet customers beating the old record of $3.99m held in Game 1 of the 2008 series. The 2008 series held a total of $12.1m which was a staggering increase of 34.5% on 2007. The sales growth across the 2008 series is 26% NSW, 78% Vic & 40% Interstate. Ticket growth is 27% NSW and 61% Vic. The most significant market increases from Game 2 were Channel 9 Man of the Match up 25% and 1st score type up 68%. In the two hours leading up to kick-off last night TAB Sportsbet customers invested just over $2m. The larger bets included $55,000 at 1.90 on Queensland -3.5 and 2x $50,000 at 1.65 on Queensland to win.

Meanwhile, Lasseters have installed Queensland as a 1.55 favourite to win the 2009 State of Origin series following its third consecutive series victory last night at ANZ Stadium. “The Blues have lost their heart and soul in Danny Buderus, while the Maroons look to be creating a dynasty given their impressive young backline,” says Lasseters’ Gerard Daffy.
 
TENNIS
Muzza in SW19 marathon

15:43
Tuesday 1 July		 A staggering £24.5 million (AUD$51.2 million) was traded with Betfair as Scot Andy Murray staged a remarkable Fourth Round Wimbledon comeback against Richard Gasquet. With the Frenchman serving for the match at 5-4 in the 3rd set, he traded at 1.01 (£23K) and 1.02 huge (£890K) with Murray out to 74/1 and 499/1 the tournament. After completing the five-set rescue, Muzza trades at just 24.00, behind Federer (1.81) and Nadal (2.86).
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Cowboys new Spoon faves

16:16
Tuesday 24 June		 Nth Queensland are the new TAB Sportsbet favourites for the NRL 2008 Wooden Spoon following their 8th successive defeat at the hands of Melbourne on Saturday night and Souths win over the Gold Coast last night. The Cowboys, who opened on the 2nd line of betting at 8.00 to win the Premiership now find themselves at 2.10 to take the spoon this year. They actually went up at 41.00 at the start of the season for the spoon before drifting to a best price of 81.00 and then started tumbling in over the last 5 weeks.

It doesn't look like getting any better for the team as they will meet Souths, at Dairy Farmers Stadium, on Saturday night and will go into the match as outsiders. Souths defeated them 28-24 back in round 8 this year. The Bunnies also defeated them on both occasions in 2007.
 
BOXING
Fenech to finally avenge defeat

16:12
Tuesday 24 June		 Betting agency Lasseters Sportsbook has Jeff Fenech as a 1.45 favourite to avenge his 1992 defeat against Azumah Nelson (2.65) in tonight’s non-title fight in Melbourne. “Poor old Azumah looks about as fit as me, so I suspect it’s nothing more than a free holiday and a top up for his retirement fund,” says Lasseters’ chief bookmaker Gerard Daffy. “We installed Fenech as a 2.10 outsider six weeks ago but after the unflattering photos released of Azumah, not one dollar has been bet on the Ghanaian former world champ.” The rivalry between the two great fighters re-ignites following a controversial draw in 1991 in Las Vegas and Nelson’s eighth round knock-out victory over Fenech in Melbourne in 1992.
 
FOOTBALL
Another shock at Euro 08

17:56
Saturday 21 June		 More than £140,000 was wagered on Croatia to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2008 at odds of 1.01 (1-100) on Betfair last night before a dramatic last minute comeback by opponents Turkey. With seconds to go Croatia appeared to have made it to the last four courtesy of an Ivan Klasnic headed ‘decider’. At that point Turkey were backed at an enormous 130.00 (129/1) on the exchange to go through to the semis but a deflected Semih shot somehow found its way to the back of the net with the whistle poised between the referee’s lips. The extra-time draw was also backed at 130.00 for £157. Turkey then went on to take the ensuing penalty shootout as a host of Croatian players missed the target. There are now a handful of Betfair customers sitting on bets at odds of 1000.00 (999-1) for Turkey to win the competition. The Turkish face Germany next and are currently 14.00 (13-1) to lift the trophy.
 
HORSE RACING
Betfair shoppers get better price

17:32
Wednesday 18 June		 Australian punters got the better of their international counterparts overnight when backing Haradasun at 6.00 on Betfair’s betting exchange to win the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. The price represented nearly 100% better value than what was available with Australian TABs. After losing his position mid-race, Haradasun was matched on Betfair at a staggering 54/1 on Betfair’s in-running market. A total of over $5 million was matched on the race. More
 
FOOTBALL
Turkey fight back

13:17
Monday 16 June		 Turkey produced a thrilling fight back to beat Czech Republic and qualify for the quarter-finals of Euro 2008. Betfair report on the in-running betting:

Czechs are backed at a low of 1-50 on Betfair at 2-0 up (£304k matched at 1-33 alone) in the second half; Turkey drift to 289-1 (£55 matched at that price) on Betfair and draw to 41-1; At this stage, the Czechs were backed at 1-100 on Betfair to qualify from the group, and Turkey matched at 89-1 to go through; Turkey pull a goal back on 75 minutes Cech makes a mistake and Turkey equalize on 87 minutes courtesy of Nihat; The draw is backed at 1-10 on Betfair; Nihat scores the winner on 89 minutes; The correct score of 3-2 Turkey was matched at 279-1 (£17 matched at top price alone).
 
AUSSIE RULES
Buddy sends markets into turmoil

21:36
Saturday 14 June		 Hawthorn forward Lance "Buddy" Franklin has sent AFL futures markets into a spin tonight after he was reported for striking Adelaide's Michael Doughty. He was well in contention for the Brownlow and a short-priced favourite to win the Coleman medal for the league's leading goal kicker. Alan Eskander's Betstar bet 1.90 on whether Franklin will or wont be suspended.
 
FOOTBALL
Euro 2008 sets trading records

15:19
Saturday 14 June		 Betfair report that Thursday's match between Germany and Croatia saw an unbelievable £22,948,364.46 traded on the 90-minute market alone. That made it the biggest football match in Betfair’s eight-year history, by some distance. The previous biggest football match odds market on the exchange was the Argentina-Mexico game in the 2006 World Cup, which saw £21,238,326.48 in traded volume. More
 
FOOTBALL
Asian punters lose big on Euro 2008

03:17
Wednesday 11 June		 Punters in gambling-mad Asia have been the big losers over the first three days of Euro 2008, according to figures released by Betfair. They may not be represented in the tournament, but account holders from the UK and Ireland are £2million pounds in profit on Betfair's Euro 2008 markets. World Cup champs Italy have taken their home supporters down with their team. Home fans of The Azzurri are down £½million after Italy's 3-0 loss to the Dutch. According to the report, "Betfair punters from the rest of the world are also showing a lack of knowledge about European football, down almost £2million, with Asia performing particularly badly". More
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
QLD tipped to level series

13:54
Tuesday 10 June		 Punters have not been swayed by Darren Lockyer’s injury-enforced absence from the second State of Origin clash tomorrow night continuing to pile into Qld to square the series, believing the new-look Scott Prince-Jonathan Thurston combination will fire at home. Centrebet's Neil Evans said a surge of money had arrived today for the Maroons at 1.62 to hit back at Suncorp, including several bets at $10,000 from both sides of the border. “Bet numbers for NSW are rivalling Queensland, but all the big-money interest is on the home side. Even without Lockyer, they’ll be very hard to beat, and some of the ‘smartest’ punters in the land are on them for a fortune." More
 
AUSSIE RULES
Buddy to get close to ton

18:45
Thursday 5 June		 With Hawthorn forward Lance "Buddy" Franklin in the news this week for all the wrong reasons, Eskander's Betstar have decided to put a "positive" spin on the issue. The NT-based bookie has framed a market on how many goals Franklin will kick in the 2008 Home and Away Season. A bag of 100+ goals sits at 3.50 while a 1.90 line has been framed at 94.5 goals.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Dell 7/4 to score on Dragons Debut

15:27
Wednesday 4 June		 Lasseters Sportsbook has opened a number of specials to celebrate Wendell Sailor’s much awaited return to the NRL with St George Illawarra. “There’s plenty of interest on both sides of the border on how Wendell goes in his return to the game, especially since it’s against his old club,” says Lasseters’ chief Gerard Daffy. Lasseters has Sailor at 2.75 to score a try against Brisbane on Friday night. Punters can also bet on how many tries he’ll score this season as well as how many matches he’ll play. The Dragons are listed at 1.33 to topple the Broncos minus its Origin stars in the Round 13 encounter at WIN Stadium. Lasseters has ‘Big Dell’ at 7.00 to return to the Origin arena.

To score against Brisbane in Round 13:
2.75 Will score 1.40; Won’t score
Total NRL games played 2008 (regular season):
1.70 Under 9½; 2.05 Over 9½
 
TENNIS
Nalbandian blows it again!

22:24
Thursday 29 May		 A David Nalbandian collapse has dished up the first 1.01 (1/100) shot to lose at this year's French Open. The fragile Argentine led two sets to love at 6-3 6-4 when those offering 1.01 on betting exchange Betfair were duly matched by layers to the tune of $280,000. A staggering $1.18 million was matched between 1.01 and 1.10. At the same time, Frenchman Jeremy Chardy traded at a best 120.00 (119/1). Nalbandian lost the last three sets 6-2 6-1 6-2 to give some backers a nightmare result.
 
AUSSIE RULES
Undefeated Hawks edge towards title favouritism

23:35
Sunday 25 May		 Unbeaten Hawthorn has nearly drawn level with flag favourite Geelong at the top of the market with Centrebet after a spectacular shock round of AFL action. Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said the Hawks, who struggled all day to get past lowly Melbourne, is the only team left with the perfect 36 points, and has shortened from 3.20 into 2.85 to win the Premiership, with the Cats drifting alarmingly from 2.20 to 2.65 after the shock 86-point collapse to Collingwood on Friday night. More
 
GENERAL
Friday Briefs

10:35
Friday 23 May		 On the back of news that Tabcorp are seeking a NT-licence to start up their own internet-phone operation, two more Victorian bookies have bitten the dust or reduced their operations. Kathryn Read told her clients that she has suspended trading of Readbet "due to the lack of promised bookmaking reforms being implemented by the Victorian regulators".

Meanwhile, Rod Cleary has dumped sport from his Vicbet operation and is now back to racing only.

Racing Victoria Ltd yesterday slashed its staff by 20%, involving 35 jobs, in a $6 million cost-cutting exercise.

 Lasseters are tipping Russia (5/2) for Eurovision glory ahead of this weekend's final in Belgrade. “It’s rare for an outsider to come up trumps in this competition and based on my experience the winner will generally come from one of the top half dozen in the market,” boss Gerard Daffy said.

Irish firm Paddy Power were hit with their biggest ever money-back refund this week when they pledged to refund losing bets on the Champions League final if Cristiano Ronaldo found the back of the net anytime over the 90 minutes. The bookie refunded AUD$2.5 million in wagers.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Origin Man of Match questioned

19:09
Thursday 22 May

OTP Editor		 The annual State of Origin rugby league series always proves a hit with punters - but the winner of Game One's "Channel Nine Man of the Match" had some punters and bookies scratching their heads. NSW five-eighth Greg Bird (10/1) got the nod ahead of the likes of Gasnier, Wallace, Cooper and Fitzgibbon. The Australian selectors vote for the man of the match award.

Fair enough some might say, its the opinion of four blokes who have had a bit to do with Rugby League over their time and it is just that - an opinion. But here's the stinger. Within the betting industry, the Channel Nine Man of Match award has a bit of a reputation for being a touch on "dodgy" side over the years. And now we find out that several bookies laid three players before the jump - all to significantly high wagers. The players were Buderus, Hodges and Greg Bird.

At least one bookmaker is believed to be seeking clarification from authorities citing integrity concerns and is refusing to pay out on the market.

The Australian selectors voting on the award were Bob Fulton and Bob McCarthy from NSW and Les Geeves and Des Morris from Queensland. "What Greg Bird did shows he can handle pressure on a consistent basis," Fulton said after the match. Fellow selector Bob McCarthy agreed: "Greg Bird is made for Origin." Bird didn't rate a mention in the best five of many pundits, but of course it's just an opinion!
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
TAB break Origin betting records

17:54
Thursday 22 May		 TAB Sportsbet held a record $3.99m on Origin game One - a 20% increase on 2007. NSW sales were up 17% on Game 1 last year, Victoria up 27%. First Try-scorer betting was up 39% on last year with Anthony Quinn collecting at 13/1. NSW customers placed 102,767 individual bets on last nights game which represented a 21% increase on last year. Largest bet was $50,000 on Queensland at 1.75. Interest was strong at half time with NSW firming from 1.45 into 1.42. Biggest bet line taken was $22,500 at 1.90 on NSW -5.5. In total over $100,000 was taken at half time in head to head and line betting.
 
GENERAL
TAB goes to NT for new online licence

16:41
Tuesday 20 May		 TABCORP (TAB Sportsbet) has sent a shudder through State governments in Australia today after announcing plans to apply for a Northern Territory sports wagering licence.

Victoria and New South Wales governments have often been accused of being archaic with their regulatory measures placed on bookmakers. Several operators have gained licences in the Northern Territory to avoid restrictions placed on what they can and cant bet on and to reduce taxes.

Now that the biggest operator has taken the step of running a stand alone online/phone business out of NT, state ministers are expected heed the wake up call and act fast to protect their tax incomes.
 
TENNIS
Corruption report lands

12:13
Tuesday 20 May		 The long-awaited report in possible corruption in tennis has been handed down - and it must be said the findings are mixed. On one hand the authors of the report suggest that tennis is "neither systematically nor institutionally corrupt" but on the other hand, they have found that 45 matches need "further review" and that tennis is "potentially at a crossroads". They go on to say that the intelligence available "indicates that there is sufficient cause for concern about the integrity of some players and those outside tennis who seek to corrupt them".

When it came to examining Betfair account holders, they said the following: "Patterns of suspected betting activity have been noted on 27 accounts in two different countries and there are emerging concerns about some players which would warrant further attention".

An appendix in the report also reveals, that in excess of £1.6 billion was matched on the Grand Slam events in 2007 with betting exchange Betfair.

Tennis Tennis betting inquiry picks out 45 suspect..
Suspect betting patterns are linked to 45 tennis..
Review of Integrity in Professional Tennis (PDF Report)
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Cashed up NRL punters splurge $200K in 20 minutes

15:34
Wednesday 14 May		 Cashed up TAB Sportsbet have bet up on NRL Round 10 matches for this weekend by investing over $200,000 in a 20 minute betting frenzy this afternoon. A total of 4 matches have been the focus of all attention with Parramatta v Sydney Roosters, Cronulla v Brisbane, Manly v Nth Qld and St George Illawarra v Melbourne taking all the early investments. First match on the hit list was Cronulla v Brisbane with bets of $30,000 at 1.65 on the Sharks quickly followed by another of $15,000 at 1.60 then bets on the -3.5 line of $6,000 at 1.90, $10,000 at 1.85 and $10,000 at 1.80.

Manly were popular in their match against Nth Qld on Saturday night at a line of -8.5 with bets of $10,000 and $5,000 at 1.90 then $10,000 at 1.85 and another $10,000 at 1.80. Friday night's Parramatta v Sydney Roosters clash was last on the list with a bet of $30,000 on the Eels at 1.90 with a line of -5.5. Last bet taken in this onslaught was a $20,000 Multi of Parramatta and Manly at 1.99. St George Illawarra was then attacked with bets of $20,000 at 1.65 to defeat Melbourne and $25,000 at 1.90 at the line of -3.5. This has been the busiest Wednesday betting action all year at TAB Sportsbet who regularly hold over $5million in each round of NRL.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Bookie suspends coach market

19:44
Tuesday 13 May		 Sportingbet Australia suspended their market on the first NRL coach to sacked today after a plunge on North Queensland's Graham Murray. According to AAP, "Sportingbet Australia suspended their market after five new accounts were opened this morning with each punter wagering between $1000 and $4000 on Murray to be the first coach sacked in 2008."

Murray has already been told that he wont have the job in 2009, but there is now speculation that he wont last the season.
 
AUSSIE RULES
Demons notch up first win

20:49
Sunday 4 May		 Several Aussie Rules punters have been left reeling as bottom placed Melbourne posted a shock win against Fremantle. Trailing by as much as 51 points shortly after half-time, the Demons were matched at 1.01 on Betfair before staging their remarkable comeback. More than $5,000 was matched on Melbourne with the exchange at 1.10 or less. Centrebet laid a bet of $10,000 at 1.04 on Fremantle at quarter-time. Meanwhile, West Coast, premiers just two years ago, are expected to vie for favoritism with Melbourne for this year's wooden spoon.
 
TENNIS
Bookie reports suspicions to ATP

22:24
Wednesday 30 April		 Just days ahead of the handing down of a much awaited report into corruption in tennis, an Italian bookmaker has expressed concern to the ATP over two results over the past few weeks. Matt Scott covers the case in the Guardian newspaper.

But OnThePunt can reveal that the player in question is world #122-ranked Argentine Juan-Pablo Brzezicki. The bookmaker contends that investigation is warranted regarding two significant bets. These were set bets placed on Oscar Hernandez to beat Brzezicki two sets to one in Houston and Pablo Cuevas beating Brzezicki two sets to love in Barcelona. Both were winners.
 
TENNIS
Federer on rollercoaster in Monte Carlo

15:11
Thursday 24 April		 Roger Federer nearly cashed in his chips at the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday before grasping victory from an almost impossible position against Spanish journeyman Ramirez Hidalgo. After starting the match at 1.06, Federer was backed into odds of 1.01 (200K traded) on Betfair after seizing the first set 6-1. But the wheels came off the Fed Express afterwards as his price took a rollercoaster ride on the Betfair match odds market. At 5-1 down in the third set, the world number one was backed for £180 at 15.00, with his Spanish opponent - available at 100.00 after the first set - down to 1.05 ($2K traded) on the exchange. But the pressure clearly told on Hidalgo who couldn't close out and eventually went on to lose on a tiebreak.

Federer has been backed at a high of 40.00 on the win market but now trades as the 7.40 second favourite behind Rafael Nadal, who is available to back at 1.76.
 
AUSSIE RULES
Cats and Hawks flying high

18:46
Monday 21 April		 Centrebet has taken the unique step of opening up a Round 17 AFL blockbuster market 95 days before it is scheduled to be played. Already heavily backed to win a second straight flag, Geelong has opened a 1.45 favourite away to high-flying and fellow unbeaten Hawthorn (2.75) in a Friday night special on July 25 that will do some way to determining who goes on to late September glory. After being massively backed against Sydney on the weekend, more money for the Cats this morning has seen them shorten to 2.10 to win the flag, while Hawthorn is now at 5.00 on Centrebet. No other side is in single figures, with St Kilda on the third line at 12.00 ahead of the Swans at 13.00.
 
GENERAL
Virtual football betting

14:31
Monday 21 April		 You may have noticed our new sponsor, football1x2 - they run a virtual soccer betting site with over 40 leagues including English Premiership, A-League, La Liga and Seria A. The virtual teams mirror their real-life counterparts and are updated regularly to reflect form; a fixed odds engine generates the results. Matches are played every 90 seconds and a season lasts an hour. It’s easy to hedge/ play a system due to the large variety of odds combinations available. Play for fun to try the game or bet for real. Click here to play now.
 
GENERAL
TAB prices now available to Betfair punters

From Betfair

18:22
Monday 7 April		 TOTE Tasmania has entered into an agency agreement with Betfair that will provide it with access to Betfair’s global customer base of more than one million punters. The arrangement is anticipated to add tens of millions of dollars to The TOTE’s annual turnover. TOTE Tasmania Chief Executive Officer Craig Coleman said the increased turnover would ultimately benefit the Racing Industry through increased returns from 2009/10. More
 
GENERAL
Betfair win court battle

From Betfair

12:36
Thursday 27 March		 In a judgement handed down this morning, the High Court of Australia has struck down the anti-betting exchange laws enacted by the Western Australian government in late 2006. The laws operated to prevent people in Western Australia from using a licensed betting exchange. They also operated to prevent a licensed betting exchange from offering markets on Western Australian races. In a unanimous decision, the Court declared that the laws were invalid because they contravened section 92 of the Commonwealth Constitution – the provision that guarantees free trade across State boundaries. More
 
HORSE RACING
Sebring Favourite for Slipper

From Betstar

14:57
Tuesday 15 April		 After drawing perfectly in barrier six, the Gai Waterhouse trained Sebring has firmed into clear favouritism for Saturday’s $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill. Eskander’s Betstar has marked Sebring at 5.50 – in from his pre-draw quote of 8.00. Augusta Proud, who like Sebring is by Vinery Stud stallion More Than Ready, is the second elect for the Slipper at 9.00 after drawing the coveted inside barrier. The unbeaten winner of six was at 11.00 before the draw and had her price cut to 9.00 after coming up with the gate one. All American, the runner-up in the Blue Diamond Stakes earlier this year, is the third favourite at 10.00, just ahead of barrier draw drifters Related and Von Costa De Hero (both were 8.00 to 11.00 after tricky draws).

Update From TAB Sportsbet (17:00 16/04/08): TAB Sportsbet has accepted a wager of $10,000 on Melbourne filly Burgeis to win Staurday's AAMI Golden Slipper. The bet was placed at the odds of 23.00 with the customer standing to win $220,000 if the horse is successful.
 
GOLF
Immelman 329/1 on Betfair

16:32
Monday 14 April		 Trevor Immelman was matched at a high of 330.0 on Betfair to win the US Masters with only Tiger Woods at 2.00 (backed pre-tournament) touching evens or lower at any stage on the market. Immelman went into the final round as the 2.50 favourite and touched 3.15 after making bogey at the first but never looked back after that. The winning nationality (South African) traded at 10.00, winning score -7 or lower traded at 3.50, Tiger Woods touched 3.20 for a Top 5 finish while Stewart Cink touched 18.00.
 
TENNIS
Bwin fire back at French Tennis

14:44
Friday 11 April		 Austrian online gaming giant Bwin Interactive have fired back at the French Tennis Federation by lodging a defamation lawsuit with a Paris court this week. Bwin filed the complaint in reaction to statements made by the FFT earlier in the year. After launching legal action against Bwin, Ladbrokes and Betfair, the FFT made comments saying that these company pose ethical risks for the sport of tennis.
 
GOLF
Tiger eased out and backed

15:13
Thursday 10 April		 TAB Sportsbet this afternoon has accepted a bet of $80,000 on Tiger Woods to win the US Masters, starting tonight at Augusta. The bet was taken at the price of 2.45 with the customer standing to win $116,000 if Tigers claims another Green jacket. Woods had been easy in the market all week drifting from an opening quote of 2.00 to his price of 2.45 today despite the fact he was still responsible for nearly 30% of all monies invested on the winner market. He is now into 2.30 with TAB Sportsbet to take the Masters. Betfair trade at 2.40/2.42.

Another TAB Sportsbet customer has bet $30,000 at 6.00 on Tiger to win exactly 3 Majors in 2008. Tiger's dominance in world golf is shown by the fact that him winning either 3 or all 4 Majors this year as the only options punters are interested in with 2 bets of $2,000 at 13.00 on him to complete the Grand Slam.
 
AUSSIE RULES
33/1 on Demons overs according to Global

15:50
Tuesday 2 April		 Global Sportsbet have announced that it will buy one hundred and twenty three (123) memberships from the Melbourne Football Club if they can create the upset of the century and beat Geelong on the weekend. Global Sportsbet has bet $1000 at odds of 34.00 (most likely at Sportsbet) on the Dees which will return $33,000 worth of memberships (at $270 each) to the Melbourne Football Club. Global’s Head Trader Mal Polson said “The 33/1 is way over the odds and we think the Demon’s will come out and show something this week. “We have Melbourne at 15/1 and believe there will be plenty of interest in backing them if they get over that mark.”
 
AUSSIE RULES
Demons get 12 goal start

12:46
Monday 1 April		 Lasseters Sportsbook has given Melbourne 73½ points start in Sunday’s AFL clash against Geelong at Skilled Stadium. The Cats are 1.03 in head-to-head betting with the Demons outsiders at 13.00. “There’s a lot of talk in Australian Rules circles about this being a record but my memory stretches back to when Fitzroy and Sydney were getting towelled up every week,” says Lasseters’ Gerard Daffy. More
 
GENERAL
Now you can bet on rainfall

21:07
Sunday 30 March		 Centrebet is opening up a world first to the nation's punters to allow them to back which state will receive the greatest rainfall for the month of April. Centrebet's media chief Neil Evans said no-where in the world can punters bet on a State of Origin (State v State/Province v Province/County v County) style rainfall market. "It's the most pure, untarnished and open market alive .... everyone's an expert, mums and dads might end up knowing more than the Meteorological weather experts," Evans said. More
 
FOOTBALL
Friday Update

16:07
Friday 28 March		 TAB Sportsbet customers have thrown in for a big win on Nth Qld tonight against Brisbane on the back of news that Karmichael Hunt is out and captain Darren Lockyer is in huge doubt for the Broncos. Nth Qld has firmed up from as much as 2.65 this morning to be now 2.10 and at the line of +6.5 is in from 1.90 to be 1.55. Bets on the Cowboys at +6.5 today include $20000 @ 1.85, $7000 @ 1.70, $5000 @ 1.70 (twice).

Meanwhile, another customer has placed $137,500 on Hawthorn to make the Final 8 in this season's AFL competition. The bet was placed this afternoon at the odds of 1.22 with the customer standing to win $30,250 if Hawthorn qualify for the finals.
 
FOOTBALL
Sick Socceroos still faves

23:03
Tuesday 25 March		 Despite missing key personnel through injury the Socceroos are still 2.05 favourites with Lasseters Sportsbook to down China (3.50) in tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier in Kunming. Australia’s stocks for the match have been severely weakened with Tim Cahill, Josh Kennedy, Scott McDonald, Brett Emerton and Mile Sterjovski all watching from the sidelines. “They’re going to find it tough at altitude and with the recent spate of injuries I reckon we’ll be fortunate to escape with a draw against the Chinese,” says Lasseters’ chief Gerard Daffy.

 Lasseters also has a market on which city will host the 2018 World Cup. Australia is at the juicy odds of 26.00 which has them on the sixth line of betting behind England (1.53).
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Storm shorten; Dogs ease

14:03
Tuesday 18 March		 Following the opening round of the NRL Melbourne has firmed in premiership betting (3.40 into 3.25) while the Bulldogs have drifted to (34.00 from 26.00) after a capitulation against the Eels. Betting agency Lasseters Sportsbook also reports the serious shoulder injury suffered by Souths halfback Craig Wing has had an impact, with the Rabbitohs’ price easing from 21.00 to 31.00. More
 
HORSE RACING
Hussler all the rage

13:59
Tuesday 18 March		 TAB Sportsbet has today accepted a bet of $12,000 on Weekend Hussler to win this year's Doncaster Handicap at the odds of 4.00. The Ross McDonald trained 3yo was allotted 57.5 kgs yesterday when weights were released for the Group 1 feature to be raced on April 26. Weekend Hussler tightened into a dominant 3.40 favourite after the bet was taken.
 
HORSE RACING
Bookies salute Gold Cup winner

15:13
Saturday 15 March		 British bookmakers were able to toast the Gold Cup victory of Denman after stable mate Kauto Star was heavily backed to retain his crown. The race had been billed as a match between the pair but, punters only had eyes for Kauto Star, who was sent off 10-11 favourite after trading at around Evens for most of the day. A staggering £10.1 million (AUD$22 million) was traded on the race win market at Betfair.

Ladbrokes laid one bet of £200,000 to a high-rolling Kauto Star supporter as industry predictions of a record-breaking betting race were proved accurate. Meanwhile, Paddy Power believed the Gold Cup result caused a £2million swing in their profits.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Money for Cowboys

12:48
Wednesday 12 March		 TAB Sportsbet's punters have warmed to the North Queensland Cowboys in Friday night's opening NRL match against Gold Coast. Despite the fact they will be without main playmaker Jonathan Thurston bets of $20000, $10000, $4000 and $1500 were taken on the Cowboys at 2.20 followed by one bet of $5000 at 2.15 when the price trimmed up. The market is now Gold Coast 1.67 Nth Qld 2.15 The two Queensland sides will open the Titans new home ground Skilled Park, Robina with a 7.30 kick off (local time) ie 8.30pm AEDT.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Thurston favourite for Dally M glory

19:46
Monday 10 March		 Betting agency Lasseters Sportsbook has become the first bookmaker to take bets on the Dally M Player of the Year ahead of this weekend’s start to the NRL centenary season. “For years AFL punters have been able to back the winner of Brownlow Medal but NRL fans have missed out when it comes to the Dally M awards,” says Lasseters’ chief Gerard Daffy. North Queensland’s Jonathan Thurston is the early favourite (6.50) with Lasseters despite the fact he’ll miss the first month of the competition due to off-season shoulder surgery. Lasseters also has a market open on who will be named Dally M Coach of the Year with Melbourne’s Craig Bellamy (3.50) tipped to win the award for the third straight season.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Round One NRL Markets out

18:02
Wednesday 5 March		 Despite being the best-backed side to challenge Melbourne’s NRL supremacy, the Nth Qld Cowboys have opened a 2.05 outsider with Centrebet away to the Titans in the opening round. Centrebet has taken the unique and bold stance of opening round one head-to-head prices more than a week out from the whistle, and believe the Cowboys – despite being a well-supported 8.50 hope to land the title – are facing an uphill battle at the Gold Coast’s new Skilled Park without playmaker Jonathan Thurston. More
 
CRICKET
'Punter' Ponting's 1.01 slip up

From Betfair

10:27
Saturday 1 March		 Australia were matched at 1.01 for £76k and 1.02 for £237k at Betfair when in cruise control chasing Sri Lanka's modest total of 221 in the last of the group matches of the CB series.

With Gilchrist scoring 83 off just 50 balls, well supported by Chris Hopes who contributed with 28, Ricky "Punter" Ponting' s side were matched at Betfair's minimum price, with Sri Lanka touching 80.0. But the wickets of Gilchrist and Hopes brought about a middle-order collapse that rivaled England's recent woes in the ODI game with Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds dismissed for ducks and Ponting (1), Hussey (5) and Haddin (7) all going cheaply. More
 
CRICKET
Hyderabad IPL Favourites

17:57
Thursday 21 February		 Lasseters Sportsbook has installed Hyderabad as an early favourite to win the inaugural Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket competition which starts in April. Following last night’s player auction where Hyderabad payed top dollars for Australians Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist they top the betting (4.00) ahead of Mumbai (4.50).

“Hyderabad has gone for explosive hitters at the top of the order which augers well in a competition that will be mostly dominated by the batsman,” says Lasseters’ Gerard Daffy. Chennai who outlaid the most money for India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni are considered to be on the next line of betting at 5.00 and Shane Warne’s Jaipur are the outsiders at 13.00. “Punters may exercise caution when betting on teams which include current Aussie players, because some won’t be available at the business end of the tournament,” Daffy added.

2008 INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE - WINNER: 4.00 Hyderabad; 4.50 Mumbai; 5.00 Chennai; 7.00 Kolkata; 7.00 Mohali; 8.00 Bangalore; 9.00 Delhi; 13.00 Jaipur.
 
TENNIS
Punters splurge on Oz Open

15:20
Thursday 31 January		 The tennis match-fixing saga has done little to dampen the appetites of punters with Australia's two biggest bookmakers reporting record turnover on the 2008 Australian Open. If anything, the crackdown by tennis authorities on dodgy behavior appears to have given punters the confidence they need to bet on the sport.

 TAB Sportsbet held $19.7 million on the tournament (up 26.7% on 2007). The bookie's mobile facility was controversially booted out of the venue but Victorian bettors notched up a massive 40% increase in turnover.

Thanks to the failure of both tournament favourites Roger Federer and Justine Henin, TAB Sportsbet revenue was up a staggering 93% on 2007. But the big punters were behind eventual winner Djokovic in the final. Bets included $105k and $100k at 1.44, $100k at 1.52, $100k at 1.50 and numerous wagers of between $40k and $60k taken on him in a total of $1.1m in the head to head market.

Meanwhile, turnover on the Open at Centrebet topped $8 million for the first time (vs. $7.7 million in 2007). Around $400k was held on the Djokovic-Tsonga final, and about $150k on the Sharapaova-Ivanovic showdown.
 
FOOTBALL
179-1 Barnsley leave Rafa red-faced

11:22
Sunday 17 February		 BARNSLEY wrote their names into FA Cup betting folklore with an amazing 179-1 victory at Anfield today. A goal at the death away to Liverpool brought the Tykes back from 1-0 down to embarrass their Premier League opponents with a 2-1 win. And that strike ensured the Barnsley backers who took odds of 179-1 in-running on Betfair for an away victory would be counting big winnings on Saturday night.

Having gone down to a Dirk Kuyt strike in the first half Barnsley fought back with an equaliser after the break. But they saved the drama until the very last minute and Brian Howard’s 20-yarder landed another big win for long-shot backers – the 2-1 scoreline was backed at 99-1.
 
GENERAL
Update from TAB Sportsbet

18:07
Friday 15 February		 TAB Sportsbet will be hoping St Kilda can still triumph in tonight's NAB Cup clash with Richmond after the Tigers were backed from 2.30 outsiders into 1.50 favourites after Saints coach Ross Lyon named a 'spare parts' lineup last night. St Kilda went up as 1.55 popular picks but are now out to 2.40. Some of the bets taken for Richmond are: $5000 @ 2.30; $5000 @ 2.15; $4000 @ 2.10; $5000 @ 2.05; $5000 @ 1.95; and $5500 @ 1.53.

"The first 2 bets came as soon as markets were released yesterday but when sides were named and omissions added to the original St Kilda 28 the money really came strong for the Tigers," TAB Sportsbet Media Manager Glenn Munsie reported this afternoon. "That's the way of pre season footy, at least now we have someone to cheer for."

Meanwhile, a customer placed $50,000 on Adam Gilchrist to score the most runs for Australia in their One Day match against Sri Lanka this afternoon. The bet was placed when Gilchrist was 55 not out with Australia sitting at 2/92 after losing Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting. The odds of the bet was 1.28 so the customer will collect $64,000 if successful.
 
AUSSIE RULES
Fremantle backed for Top-Eight

19:02
Tuesday 12 February		 TAB Sportsbet accepted its largest individual bet so far for the 2008 AFL season this morning when a Western Australian customer placed $100,000 on the Fremantle Dockers to make the final eight of this year's competition. The bet was placed at the odds of 1.35 and it forced the price into 1.30 which is on the 2nd line behind defending premiers Geelong. Fremantle finished the 2007 season in a disappointing 11th position, 2 wins away from 8th spot.
 
MOTORSPORT
V8 Market

13:53
Friday 8 February		 TAB Sportsbet has listed 2007 V8 Supercar Series Champion Garth Tander as a 3.75 favourite to go back-to-back and take the 2008 Series driving under the HRT banner which he joined recently. Vodafone's Craig Lowndes is next pick at 4.00 with Ford Performance Racing's Mark Winterbottom rounding out the top-3 at 5.50. Lowndes' team-mate Jamie Whincup is 7.00 with only 2006 Series winner Rick Kelly and multiple Series winner Mark Skaiffe, both 8.00, the only drivers rated under 17.00.
 
RUGBY LEAGUE
Bennett still 14/1 NRL coach of year

15:46
Wednesday 6 February

Lasseters Sportsbook has opened its market on the NRL Dally M Coach of the Year, with departing Brisbane mentor Wayne Bennett rated a 15.00 chance to end his career with the Broncos on a high.


Melbourne’s Craig Bellamy is the early favourite (3.50) to win the award for the third consecutive year. Roosters coach Brad Fittler is second in betting (6.00) ahead of Manly’s Des Hasler (9.00).


“Wayne Bennett has shown in the past he has an ability to galvanise his players but he’ll need something special this year,” says Lasseters’ Gerard Daffy. “Fairytales in sport don’t often come true.”  More
 
AUSSIE RULES
Hawkins tipped for AFL Rising Star

13:26
Friday 1 February		 Sportsbet have opened the first market on the AFL's 2008 Rising Star award with Geelong’s Tom Hawkins the current favourite. Hawkins also started 2007 as the Rising Star favourite but was eased through the season by coach Mark Thompson. With a year under his belt and the retirement of Nathan Ablett, he is expected to play a more dominant role for the reigning premiers.

The Bulldog’s Andrejs Everitt, who played only eight games last year and Ricky Petterd, who’s season was restricted to nine games due to a punctured lung are both expected to make bigger contributions to their respective clubs and are equal second at 7.00. 2008 number 1 draft pick Mathew Kreuzer sits third at 9.00. “We had such a great response to this market last year that we felt we would be letting footy fans down if we didn’t do it again” said Phil Hannah GM Sportsbet.

Rising Star Award, Sportsbet go: Tom Hawkings Geel 4.00, Andrejs Everitt WB 7.00, Ricky Petterd Mel.7.00, Mathew Kreuzer Carl. 9.00, Trent Cotchin Rich. 8.00, Lachlan Hansen Kang. 12.00, Mathew Leuenberger Bris. 12.00, Scott Gumbleton Ess. 12.00.
 
CRICKET
Its all under according to one 20/20 punter

21:52
Thursday 31 January		 TAB Sportsbet have gone too high with their individual batmen totals in Friday's 20-20 match according to one of it's clients. The punter has outlayed $67,000 betting that all six batsmen fail to reach the totals set in the Over/Under Runs markets. The bets are:

$12500 @ $1.80 on G Gambhir Under 28.5 runs
$12500 @ $1.80 on A Gilchrist Under 32.5 runs
$12000 @ $1.80 on R Ponting Under 34.5 runs
$10000 @ $1.93 on S Tendulkar Under 32.5 runs
$10000 @ $1.93 on V Sehwag Under 28.5 runs
$10000 @ $1.93 on A Symonds Under 30.5 runs
 
TENNIS
Jo-Wilfred storms into final

12:24
Saturday 26 January

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is set to cause one of the biggest betting boilovers in recent memory, should he be victorious in Sunday’s Australian Open final, after being matched at a whopping 1000.00 (999/1) on the Betfair exchange.

Despite being ranked only just outside the seedings (38), Betfair punters deemed the Frenchman’s chances unlikely enough to see a significant $368 traded on the four-figure price in early markets.

 

Following his unexpected semi-final victory over no.2 seed Rafael Nadal, he is now 4.50 to win the tournament; nearly $600,000 has been traded on the final debutante. More than $8 million has been matched on the market.

Meanwhile, Centrebet's Neil Evans says: "We found one punter, who certainly doesn't play with a lot, spread around a series of bets on rank long-shots before the Open began! He put $25 on Tsonga to win the tournament at 1001.00. As the price started to shorten, he put some more on - another $25 at 801.00 - and then one final $25 stake at 601.00." He now stands to win $60,000 for outlaying just $75.00 if Tsonga beats either Federer or Djokovic on Sunday night.

 

Tsonga at Betfair:

Highest price to win tournament: 1000.00

Amount traded at 1000.00: $368

Current price: 3.45

Total traded on Tsonga: $592,083

Total market volume: $8,056,035
 
TENNIS
Federer pushed to the limit

21:24
Saturday 19 January		 With his number one ranking on the line, Roger Federer survived a classic 3rd round encounter with Janko Tipsarevic. Before the match, Federer was trading at 1.01 with both Betfair and bookies, although William Hill did offer 1.02. Almost $300K was matched at 1.01 pre-match.

When Federer found himself 2 sets to 1 down, he was trading in the 1.45-1.50 range and over $4.7 million had been matched on Federer between at 1.05 or less. Then at 6-all in the fifth set, he was still a 1.40 favourite. But when he broke at 8-all he stormed into 1.03 before duly holding serve. Over AUD$27 million was traded on the marathon match.

Federer started the match at 1.65 win the title. He drifted to as much as 2.46 in the run, but is back to 1.75 to win his next four match and claim a fourth straight Australian title.

Betfair: Federer escapes in epic contest
 
TENNIS
Grosjean gags another one

18:34
Saturday 19 January		 James Blake followed in Casey Dellacqau's footsteps on centre court today defying massive in-play odds to beat Sebastien Grosjean and advance to the fourth round. At one stage during the contest Blake was matched at 35/1 with Betfair. Down and seemingly out at a number of stages during the game, Blake reversed his fortunes much to the displeasure of short price backers on Betfair. Such was Grosjean's grip on the game, Betfair punters had plunged him in to 1.02 (1/50). More
 
TENNIS
Night of upsets at Oz Open

02:55
Saturday 19 January		 Australian Casey Dellacqua caused the boilover of the tournament and rewarded in-play punters who backed the Aussie at a whopping 47/1 on Betfair during her come-from-behind victory over Amelie Mauresmo. Dellacqua, the 5.20 pre-match outsider, was all but written off by punters who had backed Mauresmo into almost unbackable odds during the first set. When the the French champ won a tight opening set 6-3, Betfair punters had her the overwhelming 1.02 (1/50) favourite - more than $100,000 was matched on her at the price. Dellacqua who at the same stage had slipped out to huge match odds was also matched at 999/1 in the tournament winners market. But the Aussie regrouped to win the second set 6-4 and redress the odds imbalance.

In a tense final set the players traded favouritism. Dellacqua raced to a 3-1 lead in the decider only to lose the next three straight games. When Mauresmo broke to lead 4-3 the French woman was again backed for big money at odds-on. Dellacqua, however, wasn't to be denied making a mockery of her big in-play price by sweeping the final three games of the match to take the final set 6-4. More than $10m was matched on the market. Dellacqua is now available at 149/1 to win the tournament.
 
TENNIS
6-0 does it for TAB diehards

10:00
Wednesday 15 January		 TAB Sportsbet, the bookie punted out of this years Australian Open, fired back by offering a special on the event yesterday. 5/1 was offered if there was a 6-0 set in either of the Williams v Yan or Federer v Hartfield matches on the Day 2 Night session. The special was open for betting at 6pm last night and was well received selling out in just under 6 minutes. The special was offered to the first 1,000 customers allowing ONLY $10 bets. Customers were left to cheer Federer as Williams won her match 6-2, 7-5. Federer didn’t leave punters waiting long as he won his first set 6-0 and went on to win the match in easy fashion.
 
FOOTBALL
Shearer 209/1 into 9/2 for Newcastle job

16:38
Saturday 12 January		 Harry Redknapp was being backed at 2-11 on Betfair to get the Newcastle manager’s job. And the original 6-4 favourite on the market, Alan Shearer, had drifted to 209-1, with one Betfair punter placing £12 on him at that colossal price. But when Shearer declared this evening that he would take the job if offered it, the Betfair market went mad – with Redknapp drifting to evens (currently trading at 8-11) at one point and the former England and Newcastle striker shortening into 4-1. Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin commented: “This is a crazy market, and one that has now seen just shy of £4m traded on it in just over 48 hours.”
 
CRICKET
33/1 Australia make it 16 in a row

18:44
Sunday 6 January		 Australia were trading at 33/1 on betting exchange Betfair just before Michael Clarke took the first of his three wickets to seal a remarkable record-equaling 16th test in row against India. At the same time, the draw was being matched at 1.02 (22K) with Australia needing three wickets with as few as two overs remaining. Just under $300,000 was traded on the draw at 1.05 or less and over $27 million was traded on the match with Betfair.
 
FOOTBALL
Christmas cracker at the Bridge as 1-33 Chelsea chuck away chance of a win

17:43
Thursday 27 December		 Chelsea forgot the festive cheer when letting down their backers on Boxing Day – the Blues were trading at 1-33 on Betfair before conceding a penalty in the 91st minute to draw 4-4 at Stamford Bridge. In an amazing match Avram Grant’s men clearly looked as though they’d been at the Christmas port when going down to two first-half goals. At that point they hit 13-1 on the exchange with Villa trading at 4-11.

But somehow Chelsea managed to pull themselves back into it, a late penalty before the break was followed by two goals early in the second half to take a 3-2 lead. That made the Blues the in-running choice for punters at 1-20. More
 
GENERAL
Another Aussie bookie goes under

11:27
Friday 20 December		 The competitive Australian bookmaking scene has claimed another victim this week, with the closure of the Canberra-based Portlandbet. Parent company Marginbet advised the ASX on Tuesday that "gaming operations have been discontinued".

The company said that all outstanding bets will be honoured and that balances can be withdrawn in the normal manner. Portlandbet incurred a net loss of $960,000 in the year up until its closure, including a $122,000 loss on bookmaking.

News of Portlandbet's closure comes as another Canberra-based bookie severely cut down its operation. The Malaysian-based owners of Betworks have decided to offer betting on Soccer only.
 
GENERAL
Punter has Aussie 20/20 win for 100K+

12:13
Tuesday 11 December		 A TAB Sportsbet customer will be glued to the coverage of tonight's 20/20 match between Australia and New Zealand from the WACA as a $152,100 result can come his/her way if the Aussies can win. The Australians are the final leg of a 4 leg multi-parlay with the first 3 already decided and successful. They were: New Orleans over Seattle in the NBA yesterday (91-88); Over 224.5 in the NBA match yesterday between the LA Lakers and Golden State (it was 236 points); Mundine to win his WBA Super Middleweight bout by Knock Out last night (he did in Round 4).

The client stands to win $113,100 after placing $39,000 at 3.90. Australia are 1.35 to win tonight's match with TAB Sportsbet.
 
YACHTING
Wild Oats favoured for hat-trick

16:41
Friday 14 December		 Centrebet has opened record-holder Wild Oats XI a hot 1.72 favourite to become the first yacht to win the Sydney to Hobart three times in succession in 60 years. Equipped with a new 45-metre high black carbon race mast, after a dismasting off Italy in September, Wild Oats XI is Centrebet's clear odds-on favourite for line honours, but the Commonwealth challenge is poised to strike in what looms as a classic battle between the leading 30-metre maxis from Boxing Day. Centrebet's media chief Neil Evans said the great UK hope City Index Leopard is on the second line at 3.50, ahead of Kiwi maxi Maximus (6.50) which left Auckland Harbour yesterday- with Melbourne-based Grant Warrington's Skandia next at 8.00. More
 
HORSE RACING
Fallon 16-1 for Seventh Jockey's Title Following Trial Collapse

12:20
Sunday 9 December		 Bookmakers William Hill have installed Kieren Fallon as a 16-1 shot for next year’s UK Flat jockeys Championship following the news that the race-fixing trial against the six time champion jockey has collapsed. The Irishman was banned from riding in Britain pending the result of the trial, but now that the trial has ended, the 42 year old can reapply for his British jockey’s license.

Fallon has already won fifteen British Classics including four 1000 Guineas, four 2000 Guineas, four Oaks, and three Derby’s, and William Hill have opened up a market on how many British Classics the county Clare man will win next season. They offer odds of Even money that he wins one classic, 5-4 that he wins none, and 5-1 that he wins two or more British Classics next season.

The British bookmaker also make Fallon a 6-1 chance for next years Irish Flat Jockey’s Championship.
 
GENERAL
Punter lands giant parlay

16:44
Thursday 6 December		 A Centrebet client is celebrating today after pulling off a bold five-leg multi bet that won him nearly a quarter of a million dollars. The punter - one of Centrebet's biggest and most commited players - took Gold Coast Blaze in the NBL at 1.30 into Inter Milan (SerieA) at 1.30 into the Qld Bulls in the Ford Ranger Cup at 1.53 into Phoenix Suns (NBA) at 1.38 and the Detroit Pistons (NBA) at 1.39.

"He outlayed $60,000 and the five-legger came off, but not without a few butterflies, meaning he collected around $300,000.00. "He's one of our biggest multi clients, and he's pulled off a beauty here," Centrebet's Neil Evans said. "But he almost didn't make it, the NBA legs were the first two and one almost went under, before he got past the weather in the one-day domestic cricket at the GABBA, the Blaze got home by 11 points in the NBL, and finally Inter Milan smashed Lazio 3-0 to finish it in some style."
 
RUGBY LEAGE
TAB Opens spoon market

16:43
Thursday 6 December		 The Canberra Raiders are the 3.50 wooden spoon favourite for the 2008 NRL season. TAB Sportsbet open their market tomorrow (Friday). The Gold Coast Titans are on the second line at 5.00 with Newcastle the only other team at single figures (7.00).

 
TENNIS
Gonzo stuns Federer backers

09:55
Tuesday 13 November		 The match-fixing allegations continue to surface, but attention has turned back to the court where Roger Federer has been upset by Fernando Gonzalez in Shanghai.

Federer started the match at 1.05 (1/20) with Gonzalez available at as much at 18.00 (17/1). Shortly after Federer cruised through the first set, he was matched at as short as 1.01 on Betfair with a small amount traded on Gonzalez at 95.00 (94/1). Almost $1 million was matched at 1.02 and $1.6 million at 1.03. $4 million of the $14 million traded on the match was on Federer between 1.01 and 1.05.
 
Federer came into the match with a 10-0 head-to-head record against Gonzalez. It was the first round robin match Federer has lost at the season-ending Masters Cup and the first time he has lost back-to-back matches in 4 1/2 years.
 
TENNIS
Davydenko saga deepens

14:16
Friday 9 November		 Progress on the investigation of Nikolay Davydenko and alleged match-fixing has reached a sensational stage with reports today that the Russian "refused to volunteer records of all telephones owned or used by him when asked to do so under the ATP's anti-corruption rules".

The latest report in Friday's Guardian (Davydenko wife questioned in tennis probe) reveals that investigators also flew to Frankfurt to interview Davydenko's wife and brother. The Russian's lawyer has pleaded for the investigation to stop until December 31. "Nikolay is under economic and mental pressure. He has done everything he could; he and his wife and brother have talked to the investigation. Now they have been investigating for four months they have the names of the accounts of everyone who has bet on this," he said.

Also in the report, is new information about just who stood to profit from Betfair's voided market on the Davydenko-Vassallo match in Poland.

"Immenga (Davydenko's lawyer) claimed the ATP's investigators had told him that among the account-holders to have bet against Davydenko in the match against Vassallo were nine people based in Russia. He said the nine stood to make £725,000 from Davydenko's failure, adding that another two account-holders whose location was not known had increased that figure to £3.3m."
 
TENNIS
Match Fixing latest

00:48
Tuesday 30 October

OTP Editor		 Undercover police called in to look out for suspicious..
The Guardian, Monday 29th October

 Not a single match from a European Masters Series event has appeared on the list of 140+ highly suspicious matches over the past five years but it hasn't stopped tennis authorities sending out the French undercover cops at the Paris Masters this week.

According to the Guardian, "Officers specialising in gambling from the Renseignements Généraux, the intelligence service of the French police, have been given full accreditation to roam incognito among the stands and corridors." Bit late to find the fixers hanging around tournaments we think. Now they are targeting people "caught placing a bet on the internet". What a mess.

Meanwhile, we had our first suspicious match since the now infamous Davydenko-Vassallo incident at St Petersburg last week. Dimitry Tursunov, after starting the match at 1.18, was still being backed at 1.20 when down a set and a break. Prices were reportedly "influenced by the actions of a single high-rolling punter". That's one way of putting it!

And just on the weekend, Brazilian weekly Istoe reported that two of their players have been offered money to throw matches. Now we can add Flavio Saretta and Marcos Daniel to the list which already includes the likes of Tursunov, Goldstein, Llodra and Tipsarevic - at least they are the players with the balls to come forward. Saretta was offered 100,000 euros to throw a first-round match at the French Open against Potito Starace last year while Daniel was offered $20,000 to lose his first round match against Nicholas Massu in Acapulco.
 
RUGBY UNION
Deans unbackable for All Blacks job

13:47
Wednesday 28 November		 Lasseters has opened a market on the next coach of the All Blacks following the announcement that four candidates have been short-listed for the job. Crusaders coach Robbie Deans is considered a near certainty ($1.05) to succeed Graham Henry after ruling himself out of the running for vacant Wallaby position late last month. "Robbie Deans has proved himself over a number of years with the Crusaders and also previously as an understudy to John Mitchell," says Lasseters’ bookmaker Gerard Daffy. More
 
ELECTIONS
Oz poll a day away

03:47
Friday 23 November		 A day out from the election and Labor are maintaining their strong favouritsm. There has been very little movement in the betting markets over the last three days as the table below shows. The major dailies are publishing conflicting polls today, but the poll of the punters and bookies is saying that Howard's reign is almost over.
 
BOOKIE LABOR COALITION
21/11 22/11 23/11 21/11 22/11 23/11
1.22 1.22 1.22 4.15 4.15 4.15
1.24 1.23 1.23 4.20 4.25 4.25
1.23 1.25 1.20 4.20 4.00 4.60
1.25 1.24 1.22 4.52 4.61 4.90
1.22 1.22 1.22 4.15 4.15 4.35
1.24 1.24 1.22 4.10 4.00 4.30
1.23 1.23 1.22 4.10 4.10 4.35
1.21 1.23 1.21 4.50 4.20 4.50

Markets correct at 03:30 23/11/07

 
FOOTBALL
England fail to land plunge and Euro qual

12:58
Thursday 22 November		 Despite being haplessly out of form and without the aid of key players, England was remarkably the subject of a massive betting plunge on Betfair. Needing only a draw to qualify for Euro 2008, and matched at inconceivable odds as low as 1.01 to do so, England began the match a hot 1.64 to take all three points, with the Group E-leading Croats drifting as far as 10.00. Encountering the same task the Socceroos successfully overcame in their 2006 World Cup finals campaign, England lived up to their tag as over-rated also-rans at Wembley today, crumbling at the hands of Croatia in one of the most incredible betting results in recent memory, which saw a phenomenal $35 million traded on Betfair. More
 
HORSE RACING
Cup turnover down at TAB

20:40
Tuesday 6 November

UPDATED		 Another Melbourne Cup has been run and won, but the glowing press releases from the TAB have been put on hold this year after a plunge in turnover. Australian's wagered almost $126 million with totalisators on the 147th running of the great race - down $14 million on last year.

The equine influenza hit NSW recorded the most dramatic fall in turnover. They bet $45.2 million, down $7.7 million on last year. The late scratching of Maybe Better did have an impact after $4 million was returned to punters in the form of cancellations and refunds.

Turnover from bookmakers is expected to reach into the tens of millions, but an on-course power outage fifteen minutes before the race left the local bagmen fuming. Meanwhile, Betfair's Andrew Twaits told ABC's Lateline Business that the number of Australian punters betting on the race was up 75 per cent on last year.

State by State TAB betting: NSW: $45.2m; Vic: $32.7m; Qld: $23.3m; WA: $12.7m; SA: $7.7m; Tas: $2.5m; NT: $1.5m. Total:$125.6m
 
CRICKET
Warne's record wont fall in Brisbane

23:05
Thursday 1 November
 		 Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan isn’t expected to break Shane Warne’s record for the most Test wickets in next week’s opening Test according to betting agency Lasseters Sportsbook. Muralitharan currently has 700 Test victims and needs a further nine scalps in the two scheduled Tests in Australia this summer to eclipse the mark held by Warne at 708 wickets. The champion off-spinner is more likely to break the record in the second Test in Hobart according to Lasseters Sportsbook. He’s 2.50 to take his 709th wicket on the Apple Isle.

“Murali may appreciate the pace and bounce of the Gabba but I can’t see him picking up nine wickets in the match to pass Warney’s record,” says Lasseters’ Gerard Daffy. Following the announcement of the Australian squad for the first Test the home side will go into the series as a short priced favourite to win the game (1.40) and the series (1.22).
 
GENERAL
Betfair cop a blast in NSW press

02:44
Tuesday 30 October

OTP Editor

UPDATED		 Racing facing turmoil and there's no quick fix
Daily Telegraph Editorial, Tuesday 30th October
 It's a fair bet that priorities all wrong
Daily Telegraph Editorial, Tuesday 30th October

 The world is about to cave for the racing industry if you believe reports from Tuesday's Daily Telegraph after news broke of Betfair's renewed negotiations over a product fee for betting on NSW racing.

Reporter Janet Fife-Yeomans goes in very hard with all the subtlety of a TABCORP PR hack, but she obviously knows about as much about betting as my local priest. She talks about placing bets "through Betfair, which, unlike the TAB, takes wagers on losers". That's strange, because I was at a TAB yesterday and was able to place a bet on a tennis player to lose in a "two-horse" race. And what's more, because I bet with cash, the TAB have no idea who I am - whereas if I placed the bet through Betfair at least they know my identity and can follow it up with the authorities if there are any concerns over suspicious betting patterns. Now talk to us about probity!

The racing industry looks to have got to the Tele editor as well. Or are they doing their bit to protect his paper's massive contracts with the TAB? What ever the agenda, it's all summed up pretty well when a TAB advertisement appears on the very same online page as the pro-TAB editorial.

And yes, you might see a Betfair ad on this website too. But at least at OnThePunt, we consider ourselves to be independent and educated on the matter. The TAB privately acknowledge that Betfair are of very little threat to their longevity. The loss of few percentage points of growth is a more likely impact. Punters who bet cash on a range of products including trifecta's and quaddie's for example at their local TAB or PubTAB aren't even able to do so with Betfair. The "grind" which the TAB's rely on aren't the ones who will be logging on to Betfair to trade a horse race. Let's lose the hysteria and let market forces dictate where punters will plunder their hard-earned.
 
RUGBY UNION
Big World Cup win

11:17
Wednesday 24 October		 Canberra based betting agency Portlandbet recorded its largest ever single bet payout on the Rugby World Cup, with an Australian client collecting $65,000 after placing $10,000 on the Springboks at 6.50 back in June.

 Portlandbet CEO Stephen Hobbs said "This punter must have enjoyed watching Australia, then New Zealand, then France get knocked out by other teams while South Africa enjoyed a dream run through the tournament to start long odds on in the final. The same punter has backed the Coalition to win the upcoming Australian election, and this time Portlandbet will be hoping he's right".
 
GENERAL
National Bingo TV Disgrace

OTP Investigation

10:59
Friday 19 October		 Just when you thought you've seen it all on the small screen, television reaches a new low on Sunday night in Australia when Channel Seven debut's it's deceptive and misleading "National Bingo Night" program.

It's the bingo night that isn't actually a bingo night at all. A quick look through the terms and conditions reveals a totally different story. The show is pre-recorded and its only then that the "gamecards" used for viewers to mark off their numbers are printed to ensure that a set number of "winners" are generated.

The promoters have used loophole's in state trade promotion laws to avoid revealing the total number "gamecards" to be issued or made available, so the exact odds of winning a prize is unknown. But if you consider that one "gamecard" will be issued with every News Limited Sunday daily paper and that up to ten are available to download for every recipient of a Channel Seven signal, then we are looking at several million.

Just 1002 prizes of $100 and one prize of $10,000 are to be won on the opening episode. Promoters refuse to reveal to OnThePunt the total number of "gamecards" issued, but we think you're odds (assuming all "gamecards" are distributed) of picking up $100 being somewhere between 1 in 15,000 and 1 in 100,000. Our advice: don't waste your time!
 
GENERAL
Betfair Criticises WA Government Decision

17:32
Thursday 11 October

From Betfair		 The Western Australian government’s decision to ban Betfair from continuing to cover Western Australian races will reduce interstate and international interest in WA racing. That the decision has been taken a matter of weeks before the High Court of Australia is scheduled to hear Betfair’s challenge to the validity of the underlying legislation is cause for regret.

At a time when the equine flu continues to grip the racing industry in the eastern states, the WA Government has rejected an opportunity to step-up its profile and attract greater interest in its product. More
 
GENERAL
Punter lands mighty 600/1 shot

15:54
Monday 8 October		 A middle-aged client of Centrebet outlayed just $100 on a four-leg multi over the weekend - and won $60,000. The punter combined two very good-priced tennis bets on the WTA circuit into two draws in the A-League - and landed the 600/1 bonanza. He took little-known Frenchwoman Pauline Parmentier to beat the short-priced favourite Victoria Azarenka in straight sets at a whopping 11.00, into Justine Henin to beat Tatiana Golovin in three sets at 5.50, into Perth Glory and Adelaide to draw at 3.20, and finally into a draw between the Mariners and the Jets at 3.10. "He'd be feeling a whole lot better than the Kiwi punter who had nearly a quarter-of-a-million dollars ($250,000) on the All Blacks to win the World Cup," Centrebet's media chief Neil Evans said.
 
RUGBY UNION
$5 million says the All Blacks win the World Cup

18:34
Saturday 22 September

From Betfair		 A Betfair punter has wagered a massive $5 million on the All Blacks to win the Rugby World Cup, the UK-based betting exchange reports. The punter has banked on the All Blacks defying their “chokers” tag to take home the William Webb Ellis Cup. With the tournament nearing the quarter final stages, the All Blacks are the raging 1.71 favourites with Betfair, the world’s leading betting exchange. South Africa remains the punters’ second pick at 4.50 with Australia firming to outright third favouritism at 10.50. “This is an enormous bet. It’s certainly one of the biggest individual bets we’ve seen on Betfair and one that would normally have bookies running for cover,” said Betfair spokesman Hugh Taggart. More
 
CRICKET
79/1 Zimbabwe sinks 1/100 Australia

14:47
Thursday 13 September		 ZIMBABWE caused one of the greatest betting shocks in World Cup sporting history by beating Australia in Group B’s opening match with just one ball to spare.   Australia were matched at Betfair's minimum price of 1.01 (punters were willing to stake $100 to win just $1), with Zimbabwe backed at a whopping 80.00 at the start of the Australian innings.

 Betfair's Marketing and Communications Manager, Hugh Taggart said: “Despite the seemingly insignificance of the game, this must go down as one of the biggest betting and sporting upsets in any World Cup and the extreme prices traded on our in-play markets reflect that.” More
 
RUGBY UNION
1.01 backer controversially denied at the death

14:54
Monday 10 September

From Betfair		 THERE was betting controversy at the death in the South Africa-Samoa match today when the referee appeared to ignore the evidence of the clock, and allowed at least three plays after 80 minutes were seemingly up on the clock.   And it resulted in one punter joined the “1.01 club”, albeit only for £88. And plenty more Samoa +50.5 backers cursing their luck.   South Africa were backed at 1.01 in the match odds before the kick off, but drifted to 1.07 when Samoa scored a try to pull it back to 9-7 in the first half. More
 
RUGBY UNION
269-1 Georgia within inches

14:34
Sunday 16 September		 GEORGIA literally came within inches – or at least an unsighted view from the video referee - of springing an unbelievable 269-1 shock over Ireland tonight.   Over £500,000 was matched on the Irish at the minimum odds of 1-100 (punters willing to risk $100 to win $1) on Betfair, with Georgia being backed and laid at 269-1. More
 
GENERAL
In The Press

17:00
Thursday 13 September		 Botch-up in Brownlow betting
Herald-Sun, Thursday 13th August
 Australian bookies taking bets on a Brownlow medal "contender" in winner market despite the player being ineligible to win the medal. Bookies blame the AFL for lack of info, AFL says its not up them to tell the bookies.

UPDATE: TAB Sportsbet released the following statement:

 TAB Sportsbet announced today it would refund wagers on Brownlow Medal betting where bets were taken on a number of players who were ineligible to win following on-field indiscretions. This action has been taken in response to revelations that bets were taken on Brett Kirk after he became ineligible following Round 8 this year.

Subsequent discussions between TAB Sportsbet and the AFL have revealed a further seven players have fallen into this category. TAB Sportsbet was unaware of the ineligibility of the players and took immediate action to clarify their Brownlow Medal status. When it was determined they were ineligible to win the medal, TAB Sportsbet took urgent steps to refund wagers placed on the footballers.

The players are: • Ryan Crowley – after Round 1 • Lance Whitnall – after Round 4 • Colin Sylvia – after Round 6 • Aaron Davey – after Round 6 • Ben Dixon – after Round 7 • Heath Black – after Round 9 • Ben Johnson – after Round 19 TAB Sportsbet will pay refunds of about $12,000 on the eight players, including Brett Kirk.

 DPP takes over Tabcorp credit bet prosecution, then drops it
Crikey, Thursday 13th August
NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, Nicholas Cowdery, takes over the prosecution case of TAB credit punter Chris Fitzsimons against TABCORP, only to immediately abandon it, without even interviewing Fitzsimons or examining all the evidence. Allegations of pressure from the Attorney General.
 
ELECTIONS
Federal Election Update

11:47
Friday 7 September		 Australia's hosting of the APEC meeting has done nothing for John Howard's chances of being re-elected according to punters and bookies. As if the opinion polls weren't bad enough, Howard had to sit by yesterday as opposition leader Kevin Rudd impressed Chinese premier Hu with his fluent Mandarin. Can it get any worse?

Howard's incumbent Coalition are now close to nudging 2/1 odds of retaining office in an anticipated November election. IAS Bet and Centrebet offer a best-priced 2.85, while Lasseters are still offering 1.50 about Labor.

Check Portlandbet for odds on all 150 seats to be contested in the upcoming federal election - betting site.
 
BOOKMAKER Labor Coalition
28/5 11/7 7/9 28/5 11/7 7/9
Sportingbet 1.70 1.85 1.45 2.10 1.95 2.70
IAS Bet/Canbet 1.70 1.85 1.42 2.12 1.95 2.85
Centrebet 1.65 1.87 1.43 2.15 1.90 2.85
Betfair (-5%) 1.77 1.90 1.48 2.12 1.97 2.75
Sportsbet 1.68 1.78 1.45 2.15 2.00 2.70
Spts Ac/Global 1.64 1.82 1.44 2.20 1.96 2.80
Portlandbet 1.72 1.87 1.46 2.08 1.90 2.66
BetChoice 1.67 1.83 1.45 2.20 1.97 2.75
Lasseters 1.70 1.90 1.50 2.10 1.90 2.60

Markets correct at 11:30 07/09/07

 
HORSE RACING
Disaster for Australian Racing

17:21
Thursday 30 August		 The Australian racing industry's worst fears were confirmed today when eight thoroughbreds tested positive to the equine influenza virus. The racing industry in New South Wales is expected to be locked down for up to three months. More than 700 horses will be quarantined with no movement of animals in or out of Randwick stables for the duration of the confinement.

Racing in Victoria resumes at Caulfield on Saturday but leading Sydney jockeys Darren Beadman and Hugh Bowman and a group of interstate trainers have been banned from riding or attending the race meeting. All had been present at Randwick within the past 14 days.

Meanwhile, TAB Sportsbet issued the following statement to punters today: "As a result of the uncertainty caused by the outbreak of Equine Influenza, customers who have placed a bet with TAB Sportsbet on the 2007 Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate are advised to hold all tickets. TAB Sportsbet has suspended betting on these markets until 11 September when First Declarations are announced."

Wagering-related companies have taken a heavy hit on the stock exchange today. Tattersalls lost 50¢ (10%) to a $4.40 six-month low while Tabcorp shares fell 64¢ (4%) to $14.77.

Tabcorp has said it is losing $150 million turnover this week due to the racing bans. This translates to a $5 million drop in group earnings after tax. Tattersall's has said each week without horse races in Australia cuts $2 million from its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation.

 Betstar have announced that punters affected by the equine influenza outbreak will not be losers. All clients with bets placed on horses that are not “paid up” as first declarations on September 11 because of the equine influenza outbreak will have their account credited. “Under these extreme circumstances we believe our customers should not lose their money because of the outbreak,” Betstar’s Michael Eskander said.
 
TENNIS
U.S. Open gambling crackdown

17:24
Sunday 26 August		 U.S. Open organisers have given players a stern warning about getting involved in betting during the year's final tennis major. The USTA has reportedly set up a hotline for players to anonymously provide tips about possible gambling policy violations, and notice's describing the tournament's gambling policy have been plastered in locker rooms and player lounges.

The notice says the following: "REMINDER: The participation in or aiding and abetting, directly or indirectly, of any form of gambling or betting involving tennis is strictly prohibited. The USTA has a zero tolerance policy on gambling or betting involving tennis, and any violation of such policy will result in immediate disciplinary action."
 
GENERAL
TAB under fire for credit betting scheme

16:04
Wednesday 22 August		 News Limited in Australia have used their online news site News.com.au to publish a scathing investigation into TABCORP (then TAB Limited) introducing a credit betting scheme targeted at it's high turnover clients. Such attacks or negative views about the TAB's never appear in News Limited papers as a result of them receiving millions of dollars every year for listing race fields and other advertising.

In one of the most explosive revelations about the scheme, then TAB Limited chief executive of wagering Peter Kadar signed off on a letter to a government minister saying that, “TAB has … undertaken to restrict its promotion of the scheme to a ‘low-key’ approach in accordance with current community sensitivities involving the promotion of gambling services”. This and other reported actions go against stated aims in TAB's Responsible Gaming Code of Practice.

The scheme, through which one punter blew away over $10 million, came about after the TAB warned the NSW Government in 2002 that gaming tax revenues were coming under pressure. It was estimated that the scheme would generate $10 million extra turnover per year.

Against the odds
News.com.au, Wednesday 22nd August
 


MARKET WATCH
.
2012 US ELECTION
DEMOCRAT 1.97
REPUBLICAN 1.95

MARKET: PINNACLE

 
FROM THE BOOKIE

 

Neil Evans sends through the latest news from Centrebet All the latest from Glenn Munsie at the TAB - each Thurs
Latest betting moves and news from the Tattsbet office Betfair update you on their most recent in-running action

 


FUTURES


GOLF

 

2012 US MASTERS
Mickelson, Phil 6.00
Mcilroy, Rory 7.00
Woods, Tiger 8.50
Westwood, Lee 21.00
Donald, Luke 21.00
Watney, Nick 26.00
Kaymer, Martin 34.00
Johnson, Dustin 34.00
Scott, Adam 34.00
Schwartzel, C 34.00
Day, Jason 34.00
Mahan, Hunter 36.00
Garcia, Sergio 36.00
Mcdowell, Graeme 36.00
Watson, Bubba 36.00
Kim, Anthony 36.00
Ogilvy, Geoff 36.00
Fowler, Rickie 36.00
Harrington, P 41.00
Stricker, Steve 41.00
Poulter, Ian 41.00
Cabrera, Angel 41.00
Kuchar, Matt 41.00
Simpson, Webb 41.00

(At Sportsbet)

 
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QUICK QUOTES
 
AUS OPEN 2012
N DJOKOVIC 2.65
R NADAL 3.85
R FEDERER 6.00
A MURRAY 9.50
(At Sportsbet)