Minimum phone bet soars to 10 bucks * Adrian Dunn
* From: Herald Sun
* December 15, 2010 9:59PM
THE small punter has been delivered a body blow by Tabcorp as minimum bets through a telephone operator have skyrocketed to $10.
From January 4, punters will no longer be able to place a 50c wager on any racing code with a TAB telephone operator.
Punters were previously unable to place 50c bets during peak periods - there's a $10 minimum from 1pm to 7pm. But the ban has now been extended to all operating hours.
It's a massive setback to elderly punters who can't afford to increase their bets.
But Tabcorp defended its decision, saying it was in keeping with evolving betting methods and more cost-efficient.
Tabcorp said punters could still place 50c bets on the telephone with Touchtone or Speech Express, a voice recognition service, or use some of the TAB's other betting mediums: website tab.com.au, TAB Sportsbet iPhone App and TAB Active via pay-TV services.
Tabcorp said punters who were able to place bets only with a telephone operator because of a disability or other reason would be exempt from the minimum bet limit. These people needed to identify themselves with Tabcorp.
As a sweetener for punters, Tabcorp has extended the hours of all operator-assisted services through until the last greyhound and harness race.
Currently the telephone betting services close at 9pm.
Tabcorp will also provide its tier-rated punters with incentives to try the other betting methods.
Bronze-rated account-holders will receive a $15 account top-up, Silver $25 and Gold $50 as a one-off incentive for customers who trial placing bets through the Touchtone or Speech Express services through until the end of January.
"The new changes we are introducing will improve efficiency in the new wagering environment. They reflect the changing nature of how people bet these days," a Tabcorp spokesman said.
Customers spending less than $10 a bet with a telephone operator contribute less than 3.5 per cent of total telephone operator betting turnover, according to Tabcorp.
"Of these customers, 80 per cent have also placed bets with the other telephone services, Touchtone and Speech Express," the spokesman said.
Corporate bookies Sportingbet, Eskander's Betstar and Centrebet and betting exchange Betfair all have a $20 minimum bet limit for punters who place bets through the telephone operator-assisted service. Sportsbet.com.au has a $50 minimum bet.
More than 109 million bets from the 169 million account-based bets on racing in 2008-09 were via the Internet.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/superracing/minimum-phone-bet-soars-to-10-bucks/story-fn67siys-1225971759866
