Queensland racing betting blackout looms over Point Of Consumption tax

Some of the biggest corporate bookmakers in the country are on the verge of again putting Queensland last over a point of consumption spat.

Corporate bookies are set to turn Queensland racing off again as a result of the POC. Picture: Matthew Poon.

A betting blackout on Queensland racing is again looming with some corporate bookmakers seething over the Point Of Consumption tax hike, due to kick in on December 1.

It can be confirmed at least one major corporate bookmaker is set to remove all Queensland products from their home page and put any product from the Sunshine State last on their site after what they say is a lack of communication by racing officials over the issue.

A number of major bookmakers turned the taps off on Queensland racing earlier in the year when it was announced the POC would be raised from 15 to 20 per cent, but eventually put their guns down after crisis discussions with the governing body.

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During the blackout, turnover tanked across the board by at least 30 per cent, with all promotions also going by the wayside.

Racing Queensland chief executive Brendan Parnell flagged potential changes to the race field fees when they are up for renewal next year as a peace offering, however there is growing unrest among the big bookies ahead of the December 1 implementation.

While they were happy to return Queensland products and promotions at the time, wagering sources say some of the corporates are livid over the lack of discussion regarding race field fees.

It is set to create a fascinating standoff between wagering service providers and Racing Queensland as the summer carnival kicks off.

It comes as a number of southeast Queensland race clubs will next week announce partnership deals with corporate bookmakers as part of the POC legislation that passed Queensland parliament earlier this month.

Any TAB’s?

Golfing golden boy Cameron Smith was doing as he liked at Royal Queensland during the Australian PGA on Saturday, but his caddie may have had his mind elsewhere as they teed off on the back nine.

Sam Pinfold is a part-owner in Slow Hands, who went around in the Benchmark 80 Handicap (1700m) after getting steered into it by a close mate of the superstar golfer.

Cameron Smith’s caddie Sam Pinfold (left) is a part owner in the Kelly Schweida-trained Slow Hands. Picture: Chris Hyde — Getty Images.

“Depending on the race time I might have to duck into the trees for a listen (during round three) on Saturday,” Pinfold laughed on Friday.

“It’s good fun and I was steered into it by a friend of Cam’s.

“It’s a warhorse at eight (years old) but we’ve had some good times with a few wins over the past few years.

“I went out and saw the trainer (Kelly Schweida) at Eagle Farm last Friday.

“I’m in three or four other horses. It’s just for enjoyment.”

Slow Hands went on to finish last.

Mind on the job

Boom Toowoomba colt Steady Ready was a man with his mind on the job at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Co-trainer Maddysen Sears said the three-year-old might have been more interested in the fairer sex during his last preparation, but was doing his best to run as far away from them as possible in the Benchmark 75 Handicap (900m), putting a demolition job in his return to racing.

The colt has been locked in to race in the $750,000 King Of The Mountain (1200m) slot race on New Year’s Eve, with Sears hoping they can progress on to the super rich Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) two weeks later.

Originally published as Queensland racing betting blackout looms over Point Of Consumption tax