AUDACIOUS BETTING IDEA BY AUSSIE SPORTSBOOK REJECTED

3 October 2008

Centrebet proposed Internet betting link-up with Clubs New South Wales

Clubs NSW, a representative body serving 1 400 clubs in the Australian territory of New South Wales, has revealed that it has rejected two seperate approaches by Internet betting companies to provide Internet betting links.

Sportsbetting websites Betezy.com.au and Centrebet.com were the Internet websites involved, with each offering similar online betting facilities.

Clubs NSW reported that it had been approached by Centrebet to set up computer terminals in its venues, but had rejected the proposal because it is taking a stand against the internet gaming industry.

The idea was to set up an "Internet cafe-style system linking gamblers directly to the online company's website."

Clubs were offered a 50 percent cut of all revenues generated by the venture, and mobile phone betting was also offered.

ClubsNSW chairman Peter Newell said the federal government should step in and ban credit card betting.

"It's one thing to gamble with your own money, it's a completely different thing to gamble with money that is being provided on credit,'' he said in a statement. "ClubsNSW has taken a stand at a financial cost - one which we believe is the responsible action to take. Now it is up to government to address the issue."

Newell added that problem gambling affected less than one percent of Australian adults, but recent research, on which he did not further elaborate, showed the number of Internet problem gamblers was rising.

"Recent research shows that the number of Internet problem gamblers is on the rise by well over 20 percent,'' he said.

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