IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS comments on the new branding announcement by the CEO of Tattsbet, Robbie Cooke.
Butts has another gripe with his pet hate, the corporate bookmaking agencies and provides an update on the Immigration battle for Brazilian jockey Wanderson dAvila.
Here is the Butts’ column:
TATTSBET CEO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ‘UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR’
YOU just have to love the comment last week by CEO Robbie Cooke when announcing the new branding of Tattsbet to UBET.
Said Rob: “Tatts has been working on revitalizing its wagering operations for more than 12 months to fight back against a swarm of online competitors.
“Tatts has not invested enough in the wagering division in recent years and had been slow to adapt as other corporate bookmakers entered the market.”
That would have to qualify for the Understatement of the Year Award.
Cooke might have also pleaded guilty to being asleep at the wheel – for Tatts is arguably the worst of all operators – that’s all totes as well as the much despised corporate bookies.
Tatts is always last to go up with fixed prices – even on Queensland events.
Unlike its competitors Tatts does not supply any form information whatsoever online to the rank and file.
Why?
It is displayed in all of their agencies in three states (including the Northern Territory) and provided by all of the opposition sites.
TATTSBET WERE LAST OFF BLOCKS BETTING ON BRISBANE GREYHOUND CUP
AND just last week while all other totes and bookies were betting on the Brisbane Greyhound Cup days in advance, Tatts condescended to go up at 3pm on Thursday just hours before the race.
According to one regular punter: “They are not even trying to be competitive. Tatts is a joke- an embarrassment – the laughing stock of Australia”.
But that’s not all.
You might wonder where Tatts fits with the co-mingling arrangement that NSW and Victorian TABs have with the Hong Kong Jockey Club and its mammoth pools.
Well in a word: it doesn’t.
It has been left hopelessly in the boxes. And will take no part!
At a high level meeting of Tatts’ senior staff held in the past six weeks or so, the co-mingling question was raised.
And, believe it or not, I am told no one knew or even wanted to know about it.
UBET IS A GREAT NAME – HERE’S HOPING IT IS JUSTIFIED
WE must agree however that UBET is a great, punchy name.
Mr Cooke said Tatts' retail outlets (which handle 70 per cent of the business) had not changed since the 1990s, and the old TAB was not particularly inviting.
He also said Tatts had not engaged in any intensive marketing in the past, hinting at a step-up in marketing spending, but added: “Tatts was keeping the amount under wraps.”
That is interesting because only last week in the UK there was a call for tougher advertising controls on gambling.
A report by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) found plenty of concerns with the ‘free bet’ offers by bookmakers,
The ASA found 20 per cent of those surveyed were prompted by a ‘free bet’ or other promotional offer.
Moreover, there was a ‘notable spike’ among the 24-34 age group where 44 per cent said they had been prompted to gamble by a ‘free bet’.
The ASA is now put the gaming industry on warning.
The ASA review said it would be taking a ‘more proactive approach’ after finding that ‘free bet’ offers and promotions were ‘likely to appeal to younger people and prompt them to gamble’.
HOPE THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH TRIAD MANIPULATION OF TOTE ODDS
STILL on gaming – it was interesting to see the vast difference in holdings by the Victorian and NSW totes on greyhound races at some country meetings.
While most races attract a win pool of between $10-20,000 a couple races at Shepparton the other night had $70,000 in the win pool.
We sincerely hope it had nothing to do with the manipulation of odds by the Triad-controlled overseas betting exchanges.
They are said to be very active!
WILL A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IN VICTORIA AFFECT THE CORPORATES?
THE stories about the corporates abound – and just get worse – though the change of Government in Victoria at the weekend might see a big change.
The future of off shore betting shops is surely in grave doubt and the new Labor Government might be in for a slice of the mind-boggling millions the corporates splurge on advertising.
Money that is obviously provided by Australians betting on Australian races – but money that doesn’t go back to the industry or Government.
Last year, for instance, Coca Cola spent $80million on advertising. The bookies spent close to $200 million.
What does that tell you?
CORPORATES A DISGRACE – BUT NO SIGN OF A DESPERATELY NEEDED NATIONAL TOTE
JUST last week a punter I know asked for $1,000 on a $3.10 chance with a fairly new bookie to the ranks that claims: “We’ll let everyone on”.
The big boasting bookie bet him $500 – on a 2-1 chance mind you.
Same punter submitted a $360 trifecta. They bet him $10.
And another punter wanted $500 on a $2.90 chance with the almighty Ladbrokes. She was cut back to $52.
Can you believe that?
AND this is the contents of a letter sent by Ladbrokes to a punter after he had simply backed a winner.
“We wish to advise that as part of an account review your account has been closed.”
The letter then detailed bank details etc, and ended with:
“We appreciate your understanding of the matter.”
What a disgrace!
Bet with us please – but please don’t back winners.
That should be the motto and call sign.
In other words, if you like to be considered an absolute mug – simply bet with the corporates.
Quite frankly, they don’t belong here – they are truly the parasites of racing. And no one is doing a thing about it.
Is there a national tote in sight?
You wish!
COUPLE OF POLITICAL HEAVYWEIGHTS TAKE ON IMMIGRATION OVER TOP JOCKEY
LAST week we wrote of the dilemma facing leading northern jockey Wanderson dAvila, a native of Brazil, who Australian Immigration is threatening to throw out of the country – all because some bully with a badge reckons his English is not good enough.
This is despite statements by stewards, other jockeys and senior racing officials that Wanderson is easily understood and understands all directions.
The northern racing community is now getting behind the jockey to help fight his case and expect a couple of political heavyweights to support him
It also came to light last week that the Townsville Turf Club CEO, Michael Charge, wrote a two page letter to Immigratin in May this year in support of dAvila’s visa application and outlined his outstanding abilities and contribution ‘to racing in the north’.
A reply came back from the Department of Immigration and Border Patrol in Adelaide wanting to know just what standing the Townsville Turf Club had in the overall picture of racing.
What arrogance. Let alone sheer ignorance.
Since the plight of Wanderson became general knowledge there has been a groundswell of support from all sections of the racing industry that hopefully will gain him a clearance from a Government department that has hounded and harassed a bloke who has arguably contributed much more than most overseas refugees and visitors seeking residence here.
He is definitely not a freeloader, for instance.
TIME FOR RQ TO START LISTENING TO STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE COUNTRY
THE famous words of John F Kennedy: ‘Ask not what your country can do for you – but what you can do for your country’ might well be rehearsed and remembered when delegates of race clubs, and representatives of jockeys and trainers meet on Thursday to discuss the problems in the far north.
It is a meeting, or an opportunity, for stakeholders to vent their spleens. It was called by the Cairns CEO, Graham Thornton, and will be attended by all sections of the racing game, including Darren Condon the CEO of RQ.
It is no secret problems are immense and diverse. There are shortages of jockeys, horses, owners, bookmakers, punters and sadly, a decline general interest. Most of all money.
But the main concern is viability of clubs and quite frankly there is no way racing can continue in its current mode.
It costs over $50,000 to conduct a non-TAB meeting in Queensland. Multiply that figure by the number of clubs fighting for race dates and you soon realize the funding simply cannot continue.
Something has to give and as unpalatable as it might be, the simple answer is fewer race clubs and fewer race dates.
Racecourse attendances are well down and race meetings are being run at a huge loss. It has reached a stage when someone has to say ‘enough’.
That is unless this workshop can find the acceptable answers.
The amalgamation of smaller clubs might be a start.
But…
The workshop should be an ideal platform to sort out the totally unacceptable method of allocating race dates and more importantly programming. Currently there are three separate RQ bodies that recommend/allocate dates and programs for country, provincial and TAB meetings.
There is absolutely no consultation with the various clubs or any semblance of co-ordination.
Let us hope Col Truscott, RQ’s Rockhampton-based Country Racing Manager, has the right answers for the barrage of questions that are likely to be aimed at him on the subject.
COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, one of Australia's leading rural newspapers.
TERRY BUTTS can be contacted by e-mailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
