Archive
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
Letter of the Week

Where's the supervisor?

 

D. Coleman’s letter (19/5) details his concern at having his wagers reduced or rejected by some corporate bookmakers and this is not the first time that such matters have been raised in your publication over relatively modest sums.

The obligatory minimum bet amount for rails and off-rails bookies was always a feature of the racebook and if a punter was refused custom under this set-loss figure,which by rails bookie standards was quite modest but still involving a payout of some thousands of dollars, the punter had recourse through the on-course bookies supervisor.

The question is, are the corporates subject to any regulations regarding an obligatory loss figure? And does the punter have a modern-day bookies supervisor type to seek redress if needed?

As a small and only occasionally successful punter I am unlikely ever to be in the position to bet thousands. But being reduced to a $40 bet on a 5/2 chance at a major NSW provincial meeting (D. Coleman’s issue) is beyond pathetic.

I would venture that corporates should be big enough and gutsy enough to have a minimum bet loss of many thousands. Rejecting or reducing bets based upon a punter’s modest success is simply unacceptable and the authorities who regulate these businesses need to clarify such matters.

Blackburn Bobby
Lower Plenty (Vic)
Today's Racing
Friday 29 March
Saturday 30 March
Sunday 31 March