Australians More "Tote’-Minded

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31975, 30 April 1969, Page 4

Australians More "Tote’-Minded

The average betting a head in Australia is more than twice as high as in New Zealand.

The Totalisator Agency Board presents betting figures for the last five years in both countries in a news bulletin released yesterday. Australians last year bet $103.25 a head. Bookmakers handled $59.29 and totalisator turnover, including the T.A.8., was $43.96.

The New Zealand average was $45.03. a decrease of $3.30' on 1987. The schedule shows the substantial growth of Australian totalisator investments a head of population resulting from expansion of off-course betting. In 1963 the Australian average betting a head of population with the bookmakers was $56.01. and with the totalistor (including the T AB.) i it was $14.50 I By 1965 betting

a head bad risen to $23.66, but betting with bookmakers had made only a comparatively slight gain, to $60.19. Average betting figures for both countries in the five-year period were:

In the 28 weeks ended February 28 this year, combined racing and trotting turnovers in New Zealand amounted to $74,088,813. an increase of $2,101,205) or 2.92 per cent on the same period last year. Off-conrse betting for that Feriod increased $578,714. or .35 per cent, and on-course by $1,522,551) or 5.23 per cent. Trotting had good gains of $275,699 or 2.17 per cent offcourse and $717,092) or 7.24 per cent on-course. Racing s percentage increases were 1 per cent off-course and 4.18 on-ceurse. y

Aust. N.Z. $ s 1963 70.52 41.17 1964 74.08 43 17 1965 83.85 47.15 1965 87.64 46 98 1967 94 09 48.33 1968 103.25 45.03