by Squawk » Wed Jun 06, 2007 12:53 am
From yesterday's Herald Sun...
Vic bookies struggling
Adrian Dunn
June 04, 2007 12:00am
VICTORIA, reeling from the departure of Global Sports and Alan Eskander, has suffered another blow with Winbet pulling the plug on its internet operation.
Winbet, among the top three bookmakers in the state, will continue to field at Victorian race meetings.
But Winbet shareholder Greg Engellener said antiquated legislation made the continuation of its internet operation financially unviable.
Winbet's decision raises questions on the future of Victorian bookmakers offering an internet service.
Four of seven Victorian bookies who had an internet service, jointly funded by Racing Victoria Limited and the Victorian Bookmakers' Association, have scrapped it. RVL and the VBA are expected to review their involvement.
In the past month, Global Sports has moved its operation to Canberra, while Eskander and his Betstar operation now work out of Darwin.
Both are huge players in the burgeoning Australian betting market and Victorian racing will be $1.5 million poorer for their departure.
Engellener said Winbet could not compete with interstate betting shops that offered a 24-hour service.
He said, because of the legislation, Winbet was forced to send staff members to country gallops/trots/dogs meetings simply so it could turn on its internet service.
"And as soon as the last race is run, we have to turn it off, even if there is more interstate races to bet on," Engellener said.
"We are living in the Dark Ages in Victoria. How can we attract clients and compete with bookies from Darwin? They have a superior product and they operate 24/7 and that's what punters want, a one-stop shop."
Engellener said he had met Racing Minister Rob Hulls' advisers, but there was no time frame set to correct the anomaly.
He said Winbet was closely monitoring the success of Eskander's move and would not rule out that Winbet could follow Eskander's lead.
"It's like having two milk bars, one on each corner of a street. One is open 24/7 and the other is open three days a week between noon and 5pm and they are both selling same product at the same price," Engellener said.
"It's crazy. You can't point the finger at the VBA or RVL, they are both supportive. It requires a legislation change.
"We don't know how long that change will take. It could be two years away. We can't burn money for that long. In the end it was a simple business decision."