A lucrative promotion offered by the leading online bookmaker, Betr, may result in the largest payout for a single sports event in the history of Australian wagering. Nearly one year ago, the bookmaker released a special 100-1 odds promotion with a wager cap of AU$10 ($6,50) for a handful of sports competitions. Considering the odds, thousands of punters immediately engaged in the promotion, placing different wagers for the World Cup, the Melbourne Cup, as well as the NBA, NRL and the AFL.

But while some have already cashed out their winnings, others preferred to keep their wagers, in particular, the ones placed for the upcoming NRL Grand Final scheduled to take place over the weekend.

With 100-1 odds, if the favorites for the NRL Grand Final, the Penrith Panthers, win the upcoming game, approximately 40,000 punters are expected to receive just above AU$1,000 ($650), a report released by the Australian Financial Review suggests. The approximate total makes a staggering AU$40 million ($26 million), representing the largest payout for a single sports event in the history of wagering in the country.

Panthers’ Win Would Benefit the Bookmaker

Undoubtedly, handing out tens of millions of dollars is the biggest fear for any bookmaker. However, this was not the case for Matt Tripp, the famous entrepreneur behind Betr. After he was interviewed by the publication recently, he explained that he has mixed feelings regarding the outcome of the upcoming NRL Grand Final. Tripp said that people who consider the outcome of the Panthers clinching the win as a surprise for Betr help spread the word about the bookmaker.

Instead of worrying about the hefty sum that would be handed out if the team wins, he predicted that this outcome would actually bring benefits to the bookmaker. “If the Panthers win, nothing would make us happier. We would have tens of millions of dollars injected back into the Betr ecosystem for punters for the next six weeks, which is the most exciting time of the year being Spring Carnival,” explained Tripp.

Earlier this year, long ahead of the NRL Grand Final, Betr reportedly offered customers who have placed wagers on the Panthers a refund and to cash out ahead of the competition. While some punters may have accepted that offer, others who kept their wager were notified recently that the processing of payouts may be delayed. Betr revealed that the processing of the wagers may go on for a week, but no later than October 6, 2023.

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Peter V’landys is facing widespread criticism for these recent comments defending the National Rugby League’s (NRL) foray into the sports gambling market. 

Recovering Addict Slams V’landys for Dismissing Devastating Impact of Gambling

V’landys’ remarks have drawn the ire of public health experts and individuals who have struggled with gambling addiction. Many argue that major sporting leagues, including the NRL, have become vehicles for promoting and normalizing gambling, thereby exacerbating the societal harm caused by the industry.

One recovering addict, Mark Kempster, expressed his outrage at V’landys’ comments, calling them “disgusting” and highlighting the devastating impact of gambling on individuals and families, reported The Guardian. Kempster, who had lost approximately AUD100,000 ($67,885) to sports betting, spoke from personal experience, emphasizing that for most people, gambling is far from entertainment.

Prof Samantha Thomas, a gambling and public health expert at Deakin University, criticized V’landys’ perspective, stating that sporting organizations have a responsibility to prioritize the health and social well-being of the community. 

While V’landys has rejected claims that the NRL’s future is dependent on gambling revenue, Tim Costello, the chief advocate of the alliance for gambling reform, expressed his concern over V’landys’ intent to further entrench the league with the gambling industry. Costello described V’landys’ approach as appalling, particularly given the harm caused by gambling within the community.

Debate Rages as NRL Pursues Sports Gambling for Financial Gain

Despite the criticism, V’landys remains steadfast in his position. He sees the expansion into the sports gambling market as an opportunity to generate additional revenue for the NRL through broadcast subscriptions and partnerships with wagering operators. V’landys believes that if fans are betting on the games, they will be more inclined to subscribe to the broadcast.

The NRL’s plans to launch the 2024 season with two showcase games in Las Vegas have attracted support from Australia’s biggest sports gambling companies, who anticipate significant financial gains from increased broadcast fees, sponsorship deals, and gambling revenue. However, critics argue that the potential monetary benefits should not outweigh the potential harm caused by normalizing gambling within the NRL and the wider community.

As discussions and negotiations continue, it remains to be seen how the NRL will navigate the complex and contentious issue of its involvement with the sports gambling industry. The controversy surrounding V’landys’ comments serves as a reminder of the ongoing debate surrounding the intersection of sports, entertainment, and the promotion of responsible gambling practices.

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A joint appearance of Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL) executives before an online gambling inquiry that is seen as key to further regulation tightening led to speculation that both sporting bodies are changing their stance against changes.

AFL’s chief executive officer, Gill McLachlan and his NRL counterpart, Andrew Abdo, will appear together during a public hearing on Tuesday in Canberra as part of the online gambling inquiry initiated by the government to determine whether further tightening of the gambling regulation is needed, reported Australian Financial Review.

Their appearance side-by-side is stirring rumors within the gambling industry that the country’s top sports administrators will present a united front on the proposed tightening of the betting advertising rules despite the submissions made by their respective sporting codes claiming that the current regime is appropriate and needs no further regulation.

“Since the sport codes made their written submission, we have received substantial evidence contradicting their claim that the current rules around [the] promotion of online sports betting are appropriate,” commented the chair of the inquiry, Labor MP Peta Murphy.

Pleased to see that both executives agreed to appear together, Murphy noted that “this will be their opportunity to tell the committee and the public whether they have considered that evidence and the broader community sentiment.”

Change of Position Is Likely

McLachlan implied that there may be a change in AFL’s recommendation that no further changes be made during a Melbourne radio interview in which he admitted that the amount of gambling advertising was “probably too much” and “in your face.”

He also explained that the league’s set of restrictions “are being reviewed at the moment, hinting that “probably they will be wound tighter,” but underlining that the AFL does not “believe in prohibition because all it does is drive it underground or offshore and that has its own set of problems.”

A recently released survey by the Australian Gambling Research Centre showed that more than half of Australians supported an outright ban on gambling advertising. Data also revealed that 41% of the survey respondents had been exposed to gambling advertising four or more times per week.

The Australian Institute of Family Studies also posted the results of a survey showing that three in every four Australians had gambled at least once in the past 12 months, 38% of which doing it on a weekly basis, claiming that at least half of those gambling are at risk of experiencing gambling-related issues.

Other industry executives set to appear before the inquiry will be the CEOs of Tabcorp and Sportsbet, Adan Rytenskild and Barni Evans, former Queensland premier Anna Bligh for the Australian Banking Association, and ex-federal cabinet minister who chairs the industry Responsible Wagering Australia group, Nick Minchin.

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