2KSKY dropped out of radio ratings in 2003......the only advertisers they had were the TAB, a couple of loan sharks, an erectile dysfunction company and Dynamic Syndications. 
Mike Symons is employed by Racing.com.
We can actually test Mike Symon's theory about racing.com being the reason for the spike in betting.
There should be a similar rise in turnover on South Australian racing when their racing product moved to racing.com.
In fact it should be even more because their digital product is still available on tab.com.au for those of us who like to be able to access replays via that web site.
Without looking I'm going to confidently say that there has been no similar increase in betting on SA racing.
In fact the main players in SA racing look like they cannot get out quick enough and move interstate - principally Victoria.
The spike in turnover was a false economy caused by the competition between Corporate bookmakers and TAB.
As I was saying at the time, "enjoy it while it lasts".
What we are seeing is a fallback to the original projections before the introduction of Corporate bookmakers to the market.
As is often the case in modern society,
alarmists and alarmism get more copy than they deserve.
It is not the end of the earth. Peter V'Landys is not some sort of "Lex Luthor" character out to destroy racing.
Corporate bookmakers have only their collective selves to blame for the drop in turnover.
The attempt to blame others is bordering on the pathetic. Reminds me of the days post Racefields High Court decision where they were claiming victory in spite of having their arses handed to them.
And the attempts to discredit Racing NSW via "unsustainable" prizemoney increases when in fact the increases come from Tax Parity - what can I say.
Where were these critics when the Victorian TAB was set up with an interest in poker machines given to them as "compensation"? Other states were given no such golden goose. Where were the people complaining about "unsustainable prizemoney increases" - as I was at the time - when Victoria was racing ahead of the rest of Australia and gloating about it?
People have very short, selective memories when it comes to the history of prizemoney increases in Australian racing.
Now that that goose is cooked and the worm has turned we get all this bitch moaning about races like The Everest.
RVL now faces a cashed up interstate competitor and must fund their own prizemoney increases out of their own pocket to keep up.
At the same time they must fund their own TV station which we all know from TVN days is not cheap. The commercial relationship they had with Channel 7 was never disclosed but the fact that the Melbourne Cup carnival was switched to Channel 10 (another fantastic decision) suggests that they might fully fund it.
They had the option of getting paid for the broadcast rights by TAB or going it alone. In retrospect I wonder how that decision looks now?
In fact some of the stupid and wasteful "pro corporate" decisions taken by the egos on the board of RVL when the rivers of gold flowed led to the Minister effectively sacking the entire board.
My predictions?
I'd be very surprised if racing.com isn't owned by the TAB within 5 years.
There will be (at most) two corporates plus TAB.
Because of the new wagering model,
the larger racing states of NSW and Victoria will grow at the expense of other states - been saying that for a while for anyone who cares to listen. From the perspective of an Australian Racing advocate, that is the big issue facing our collective Racing industry. I have been expressing concern for the health of the Queensland racing industry for some time on this forum citing this very reason. The corporates entering the market have facilitated this two state model.
The issue is not who has the bigger dick - NSW or Victoria. Not Peter V'Landys putting on a set of horns and trying to destroy Victoria. And I do not care for the whinging and whining of big punters who get rebates and didn't have to do the form guide study the rest of us do to make a buck. Nor do I care for their bookmaking buddies with their fanciful stories about "regular" punters turning over $162 million in a year making out they are the norm.
My advice? Suck it up or f. off.
Topic: V'Landys Gets a Gong (Read 84311 times)