BETTING CONTROL

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21976, 28 December 1936, Page 11

BETTING CONTROL

EXPERIMENT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA STATE REVENUE BENEFITS (FROM OUR OWN COUHESI’ONUKNT.) SYDNEY. December 15. South Australia’s Betting Control Beard has completed its first three years, in which time its administration has added at least £500,000 to the State revenue. South Australian experience ol belting has been the reverse of that of Queensland. Whereas the northern state hopes to stamp out illegal betting by new drastically-repressive legislation, it has been claimed in, Adelaide that this is impossible, and the wiser course, therefore, is to bring betting under proper control. Before the betting act came into force three years ago. South Australia had no licensed bookmakers. After enquiry by a Royal Commission. Parliament decided not only to license bookmakers to operate on courses, but also to pei - mit off-lhe-course betting. Betting shops were allowed to operate on both local and inter-state meetings. There are now more than 3UU registered premises throughout the slate. Racing clubs which share m the distribution of the belling lax. although not to the extent they would like to, considering the Government’s huge “rake-off.” have derived considerable financial benefit from the legalisation of bookmakers. This is reflected m the healthier balance-sheets, increased stake-money, and improved appointments. One country club has bought its own course. Another has got itself out of debt. The Onkaparinga Club (metropolitan), which races only once a year, has also purchased the freehold of its course, and is installing an electric win-and-place totalisator with indicators. Three city clubs controlling courses have not been so fortunate, though their finances are steadily improving. The policy of the Betting Board has been directed towards encouraging attendance at the Course in* preference to shop belting, one method being to make a rule that all bets must be starting price for both inter-state and local races on any day there is a raco meeting anywhere in South Australia The board considers the pleasing feature of its administration has been the elimination of many evils associated with illegal betting, particularly the combination of gambling and drinking, as formerly there were illegal bookmakers in almost every hotel.