Punting Boycott - Wed 17th Feb

[walkermac]

Haven't seen it noted here, but for those unaware and with an interest, there is a punter's strike scheduled for tomorrow. It's made some mainstream media already: Gold Coast Bulletin (http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/group-of-fedup-punters-vow-not-to-bet-on-any-australian-races/news-story/c82ac334c9c6d75b19a56941a85939ed) and The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/turf-thoroughbreds/call-for-punters-to-boycott-bookmakers-over-minimum-bets/news-story/c9c6aac8cd6bb3bb4440bb9a8d84d656) (paygate).

I have no involvement whatsoever, just saw it on another site and thought it was at the least discussion-worthy.

http://i.imgur.com/nXQ8fui.png

http://i.imgur.com/LGPzdkC.png

[Sportz]

Can't see it doing too much myself. Majority of punters still bet on Saturdays. And if someone really wants to have a bet tomorrow, surely they'll still go ahead and do it. Maybe they could all bet on the tote!

[walkermac]

Here's an article from 1952 about a mooted punters' union in Australia: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/23198157

One actually got off the ground in the UK, for a time: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-punters-war-waged-with-a-slingshot-1282364.html

A group called the Horseracing Bettors Forum (comprising 8 "punters") is now a consultative body of the British Horseracing Association, since late last year: http://www.britishhorseracing.com/bha/horseracing-bettors-forum/

[The Ocho]

Well Betfair are closed tomorrow so they don't care too much about their profits or, more likely, us Aussies.