it gets better....

Sting punters pocket almost $1m
Chris Bassani, Greyhounds
22dec05
AN insider from the bookmaking ranks close to the Gold Coast greyhound betting sting believes the mystery punters netted nearly $1 million.

The man, who asked not to be named, said: "They (bookies) were taken for a lot of money. They just don't want to look like dills."

Adelaide bookmaker Curly Seal appeared the hardest hit, admitting that he had taken a loss close to $600,000. "If you said (I lost) $600,000 that wouldn't be far off the mark," Seal said.

"The most I lost was on an Epsom in Sydney one year. But that was a big-betting race and it didn't hurt because I gambled and lost.

"That was legitimate. It wasn't anything like Tuesday. That was a total debacle. I've been stung before but not like that – never on a dog whose price wasn't correct."

Seal said two established clients, one in Adelaide and the other in Sydney, placed the bets. On Tuesday, the pair's syndicate backed odds-on favourite Lucy's Light with at least five bookmaking firms around Australia and agreed to be paid on final Queensland tote odds.

Lucy's Light was showing $1.10 in the field of six when the bets where placed.

The syndicate then bet $15,000 on each of the other five runners 45 seconds before the race was to start.

By the time the phone account operator read back the bets and with a natural 30-second delay for the bets to register, the race had started, showing Lucy's Light at $1.10.

After she won easily, the tote updated and her dividend drifted to $13 (12-1).

Seal has spoken to South Australian racing authorities to find out if he is legally bound to pay out at $13.

The Courier-Mail's source said $57,000 was placed on Lucy's Light with Seal.

At $13, that would be a $741,000 payout.

Shane Adams at UNiTAB confirmed five win bets were placed on Lucy's Light's rivals 30 seconds before the start. One punter made all five bets, Adams said.

The biggest shock was the amount of money Seal stands to lose, with associates describing him as a "much-loved character".

"To think this could happen to Curly, he wouldn't hurt a fly," one source said.

"It's real shame this happened to him of all people."

On Tuesday, Northern Territory bookmaking firms Betezy, Sportingbet and Sportsbet appealed to Northern Territory Racing Commission on whether they had to pay out at $13.

By yesterday, both Sportingbet and Sportsbet decided not to wait for the NTRC decision and paid out.

"They are good clients, they got us and good luck to them. It's a nice Christmas bonus," said manager Matthew Tripp of Sportsbet.

Betezy has offered varying payouts if the NTRC rules against the punters, but has agreed to accept the loss.

The bookmakers won't give the names of the punters though Ryan Kay, of Betezy, admitted a circle of punters did a similar thing with a place pool at the Penrith trots six months ago.

"There was a hot favourite. They backed the rest of the field at the last minute on the NSW tote after backing it with the bookies. It paid about $6 or $7," he said.

"This time our firm won't take the full brunt of the sting as we have a $10,000 maximum payout on greyhound races for each client.

"I will add that a few accounts backed the dog, however."

Tripp remembers the Penrith race and said "the NTRC then advised us to cop it sweet and pay".

Kay has said Betezy will look into offering tote odds about trots and dogs races that have small pools.

"There may be something we have to do about it," he said. "We will see."