[AusRace] Keeping people away from the punt and onto the pokies

[Mick Barry]

(Ron wrote.)
	I was wined and dined  given access to corporate box at MCG, theatre
tickets etc, just came up in conversation..no they did not twist my
arm.I guess they would have looked at my betting account and realised
where I won , so I did get a few freebies . In the end they were glad to
get rid of so called high rollers as they believed that we were taking
money from mug punters at their expense. They want mug punters to "
churn " money over and slowly bled them until their next pay or pension
cheque arrives.


	Perhaps the best indicator, in days gone by , of where the money was won,
was the amount of on-course transfers the TAB had to send to the course.
	Back then also the on-course tote operator would earn more by taking a bet
on-course versus off-course. That is, the TAB paid a premium commission.
This in turn kept on course attendances up.
	The removal of this premium commission seemed to co-incide with the advent
of off-course betting auditoriums.

	On a recent visit to Victoria I thought I'd drop into some of the local
betting establishments to see if the same characters were still in
attendance. One TAB located in a large provincial city had been swallowed up
by the neighbouring pub. Instead of the 20 or so regulars that used to
occupy the TAB, there were just 4 patrons.
	Come race time each would jostle to get onto the single do-it-yourself
betting machine.
	The form consisted of a cutting from the local newspaper. It listed a
number for a horses saddlecloth, 3 numbers for it's last 3 runs, the name of
the horse, barrier and it's jockey and weight. That was it. No detailed form
at all.

	There were 3 sounds that scratched my ears for the next couple of hours.
	Racing radio.
	Each time someone checked their tickets, the machine would issue a "bling"
for a winning ticket, or "sorry this is not a winning ticket" for the
losers.
	Every 10 minutes the same advertisement came over the radio.
	"Is gambling a problem for you, call G-line now.........etc ".

	The machine accepted banknotes, and TAB account cards. However it did not
pay out cash but rather a coupon.
	To get cash one had to get a staff member. There was never a staff member
present for the couple of hours that I was in the TAB room. I eventually
located one in the pokies room.
	Wow, what a contrast from the depressing sounds of the previous room.
	30 colourful machines all making wondrous sounds with the occasional tinkle
of real money being paid out into the tray. Every machine had a slouching
occupant in front of it, even though it was a Wednesday arvo.
	The barman was at their beck and call.
	At least they didn't have to put up with the incessant, "Is gambling a
problem for you......


    Regards Mick

    Never visit a doctor who can't keep his office plants alive.