The proposal by Asian Racing Conference Chairman and Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges to establish a regional task force to develop an Anti-Illegal Betting Strategy, is an overwhelmingly positive step in the right direction, wrote Hans Ebert on his acclaimed international website Racing Bitch last week.
It is a MUST for every politician and racing administrator in this country to at least consider the recommendations.
Engelbrecht-Bresges warned that “individual nations acting alone will not be able to stem the tide”, and that “this will be a multi-pronged strategy incorporating research and intelligence, media, government submissions, links with law enforcement agencies and identification of key influencers”.
“Racing jurisdictions can no longer choose to play the role of bystanders and expect other agencies to shoulder responsibilities for dealing with the twin problems of the impacts of off-shore illegal betting operators, and corruption and race fixing. They enjoy a symbiotic relationship. One trail inevitably leads to the other.
“This holistic approach to addressing the problem, one which transcends the narrow boundary of racing, and has, in recent times, morphed into something akin to a “super virus” affecting every popular competitive sport which attracts wagering and offers substantial, and at times, grossly excessive financial rewards for sustained elite performance, is attracting the attention and gathering support among many key decision makers and respected public opinion influencers in the community”.
It should be accepted as a wake up call to this government which has dragged its feet on the issue for too long. Our government completely changed the betting landscape by licensing Betfair and other UK based corporate raiders against solid advice to the contrary and without proper consultation.
Then the pollies sat back and watched these unwanted overseas corporates wreak havoc. Pretty much like the cane toads did to the sugar industry in north Queensland.
And quite frankly has, to date, government has done nothing to rectify its costly and damaging mistake.
Now is the chance.
AUSTRALIAN Racing Board, known for its often lackadaisical approach and attitude to crucial issues, however had this to say months ago when welcoming an announcement by the Federal Government of the new Illegal Offshore Wagering Working Group.
“The problem of illegal offshore bookmakers has long been recognised, but the Commonwealth has previously refused to become involved on the basis that racing is a State-based industry. “However, only the Commonwealth has the constitutional powers to address offshore wagering and the states have been floundering for years for a solution.”