Australian Bookmaker Sportingbet Accuses Bookmaker Waterhouse Of Damaging Industry

Australia's largest corporate bookmaker, Sportingbet, "has backed calls for a complete ban" on promoting live odds in sports broadcasts and launched "a withering attack" on bookmaker Tom Waterhouse, according to Heath Aston of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Sportingbet "joined market leader Tabcorp in voicing concern at the damage being done to the gambling industry by the growing public outrage at the intrusion of betting into football coverage." Sportingbet CEO Michael Sullivan, said that he would support a full ban for the good of the industry, and accused Tom Waterhouse of "acting irresponsibly." Sullivan: "What he's doing now is affecting all our businesses. I'm the biggest consumer of rugby league in the world and it makes me sick in the guts when he comes on TV." Australia's largest betting operator, Tabcorp, "has also gone public with its concern at the public outcry and a call for the Gillard government to step in with a national regulatory framework to replace state-based systems" (SMH, 5/23).