Good Will Punting chasing ‘bowler account’ James McConnon for betting agencies cash spread

A professional Melbourne punting firm which hired a ‘bowler’ to lay pony and sports bets is chasing its missing gambling riches.

Not an algorithm in the world could’ve predicted how Nash Rawiller would win the 2022 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on top horse Think It Over.

A Melbourne-based betting “consultancy” firm is hunting a client for missing thousands after engaging the punter to place bets on its behalf.

Professional gambling outfit Good Will Punting sued James McConnon for almost $7000 after it signed the client as an “agent” in September 2020.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard on Tuesday Mr McConnon entered a contract to act as a “bowler account” for Good Will Punting.

A bowler account is slang in the gambling industry for a person who gambles on behalf of another group or individual.

Bowler accounts are usually deployed by professional punters and teams some of which use mathematics and algorithms to exploit online betting markets.

Online betting agencies are wary of suspected bowler accounts but the practice of having another person place bets on your behalf is not illegal, the tribunal heard.

Good Will Punting director Sam Skurrie told the tribunal Mr McConnon was paid $800 to operate as a bowler for the firm.

The tribunal heard Mr McConnon, who was not present at the hearing, signed a loan contract for up to $50,000.

Mr McConnon agreed to “facilitate the online sports and horseracing bets” for Good Will Punting, the tribunal was told.

Iron horse and fan favourite Hartnell would have also slipped by the algorithm after winning the 2018 Epsom Handicap at 20/1.

Mr Skurrie said Good Will Punting transferred Mr McConnon $9430 during the “program” with the money only to be splashed into accounts with 12 separate betting agencies including Sportsbet, PointsBet and Unibet.

Mr McConnon was obliged to withdraw winnings and transfer the cash back to Good Will Punting.

The tribunal heard Mr McConnon transferred $4319 in winnings from Sportsbet but more than $4000 remains dormant in betting accounts.

Mr Skurrie also sought Mr McConnon repay the $800 agent fee, a $400 “consultation” fee and $770 in interest.

VCAT member Louise Johnson asked if the bowler account practice was legal.

“These are Good Will Punting's bets being made here, not Mr McConnon’s bets … and is that lawful Mr Skurrie?” Member Johnson said.

“We’ve had numerous discussions with our lawyers about this … at this point in time it hasn’t been made unlawful,” Mr Skurrie said.

According to a LinkedIn post, Good Will Punting “develops models and algorithms” to “take advantage of the competitive betting landscape”.

The business claimed it works in a “global format” with operations “extending from Victoria, Tasmania, ACT, Queensland, New Zealand and London”.

Member Johnson adjourned the hearing after indicating Good Will Punting had not yet provided enough evidence to prove its claim.

The matter will return at a later date.

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