There are "renewed fears for the future of Australian racing" with new figures showing punters are "flocking to a controversial betting service that will cost the industry millions of dollars a year," according to Patrick Bartley of THE AGE. Senior racing execs have been concerned about online in-play sports betting, "which allows punters to bet on a sports match after it has started," something gambling companies started offering last year in a "potential breach of federal law." But these concerns "have deepened" after betting agency William Hill revealed this week its turnover on the Australian Open has surged 80% in a year driven largely by a 300% increase in in-play bets while its in-play bets on Big Bash League cricket have surged more than 1,000%. In a recent submission to a federal government gambling review, Greyhound Racing Victoria said that in-play betting would "severely affect revenue and cost the racing industry" up to A$10M ($7M) a year. It is understood the federal government is "currently considering" whether to legalize the service or "ban it completely as part of its wide-ranging review into gambling" that is expected to be finalized later this year (THE AGE, 1/21).
