lucy's light and curly

[mighty_tiger_79]

$730,000 sting still not settled
By Ray Thomas
May 5, 2006

FEARLESS Sydney punter Eddie Hayson has been waiting 136 days for the South Australian Government to settle a betting dispute - and everyone is asking why.

Hayson won $730,000 from Adelaide bookie Curly Seal in a well-orchestrated betting sting on the Gold Coast dogs last December.

Although TABs across the nation immediately paid out on the race to hundreds of small-time punters, Hayson and his commission agent Steve Fletcher are yet to receive their winnings.

Chastened by the betting coup, Seal referred the matter to the SA Office of Liquor and Gaming for investigation last year.

But rank-and-file punters are up in arms about the delay to pay Hayson, who appeared to do nothing wrong when he manipulated the betting pools with a string of big bets.

Had Hayson placed the disputed amount in a bank collecting interest while the investigation was held, he would have earned another $16,400 by now. Instead, both the punter and bookie remain in the dark as Commissioner Bill Pryor's investigation stretches toward five months.

The outstanding bets will not be settled until the commission has completed its inquiry.

Commissioner Pryor recently returned from a two-week vacation and is studying all relevant betting information and submissions from legal representatives of Hayson

and Seal. "The commissioner has all the submissions from the relevant parties but it is not a matter of just sifting through these submissions and making a decision," a spokesman for the commissioner said.

"This is a fairly complex legal argument but everybody is very anxious to resolve this matter."
Hayson would not return calls from The Daily Telegraph. He is understood to be upset about publicity surrounding the betting sting.

But an associate of the big-betting punter said the commissioner's investigation had dragged on too long. "Would we even be having an inquiry if the dog was beaten?" the associate asked.

"I doubt it, Eddie would have copped it on the chin."

Seal also admitted it was frustrating that the matter has not been cleared up, but added he "understood the need to follow the proper procedures".

"I think people should realise this is not a minor dispute," he said. "This is more or less in limbo because I understand the commissioner has a conference to attend this week, but we may hear something next week.

"Put it this way, I'd be quite disappointed if there is no answer by next week."

Seal would not comment when asked if he intended taking legal action if the commissioner found in favour of the punter.

"I will be guided by what conditions the commissioner puts on his findings," Seal said.

Hayson and colleague Fletcher backed the greyhound Lucy's Light to win at the Gold Coast on December 21.

After securing UniTAB odds with Seal, they manipulated the return for what should have been a $1.10 favourite to a final dividend of $13 after placing significant late bets on the dog's five rivals with UniTAB.

"This is not about the money, it's the principle," Hayson said earlier this year.

"The way I see it, we out-smarted Curly Seal but if the commission finds against us, then fine, there are other legal avenues we can pursue. I just want them to make a decision."

The Daily Telegraph


I still say its a disgrace that the punter hasnt been paid.

[Punk Rooster]

Just a friendly reminder/warning to all, that as this is still a legal issue, be careful about what you post. No-one has posted anything "wrong" yet, I'm just getting in first.
Quoting headlines out of the Advertiser/media is fine, just be careful of any opinions...