Betting Ring

IMPORTANT UPDATE

Following consultation with stakeholders, and the review of information which addressed the concerns of Stawell Gift Event Management Limited (SGEM) regarding betting at the Powercor Stawell Gift, SGEM is pleased to advise bookmakers will be on-site at Central Park for the 2024 Powercor Stawell Gift. Spectators will be able to place bets related to adults on open age races at the 2024 carnival, however, minors participating in those events will be excluded from all betting markets. 

BETTING RULES

Betting on Minors

  • Spectators will be able to place bets on open age races at the 2024 carnival, however, minors participating in those events will be excluded from all betting markets. 
  • In the event of a minor winning or being a place getter in an open-age race, the nearest age eligible athlete will be moved up in the placings to determine the place getters (e.g 1st, 2nd, 3rd) in the bookmakers markets only. The on-field result will still apply for actual event placings, Stawell Gift competition records and prize money for participants.
  • Minor athletes in open age race fields will be listed on the bookmakers board but will not have a price next to their name (removing them from the board may infer that the athlete has scratched from the event, when they may not have).
  • The bookmakers board will have a clearly visible sign advising why athlete with no price next to them doesn’t have a price and that they’re ineligible to place a bet on due to the their age. All runners with a price listed are age eligible (non-minors) for betting.
  • If a minor competes in an open-age race at the Powercor Stawell Gift they can not be the subject of betting, with a Minor being is defined in the act as someone under the age of 18.
  • Betting on all under 19 sports competitions is banned across the board and therefore there is no betting on all Little Athletics Victoria Races and U19 category races the Stawell Gift.

The following rules apply for age eligible athletes:

Betting on Scratched Runners in the 2024 Powercor Stawell Gift or Strickland Family Women’s Gift: 

  • Any bets taken on  runners before scratching time are to be refunded in full.
  • All bets taken on runners after official scratching time and prior to the heats are all in. There will be no refunds or alterations to betting.
  • Any runners not turning up for their heats are all in and no refunds are offered.
  • For any bets taken on runners after they have qualified in their respective heats, but cannot take their place in their semi-final, money is refunded and deductions may apply.
  • For any bets taken on runners after qualifying in semi-finals but cannot take their place in the final, money is refunded and deductions may apply. 

Betting on all other Finals in the Event of Scratching:

  • For any bets taken on runners who have accepted for other events where there are no heats to run, and later withdraw before the commencement of that event, money is refunded and deductions may apply.
  • For any bets on runners prior to official acceptance time that scratch from their event, money is refunded and no alteration to betting. 

Other Rules on Betting

  • When deductions are required, payment of bets must be based on deductions as declared by the stewards.
  • Bookmakers laying odds on the final of the 2024 Powercor Stawell Gift or Strickland Family Women’s Gift prior to the completion of the last heat, shall be required to lay the odds to lose not more than $2,000 in any one wager.
  • Bookmakers laying odds on the final of the Gifts (or other major event) at all other athletic carnivals shall prior to the completion of the last heat be required to lay the odds to lose not more than $500 in any one wager.
  • Bookmakers betting on the final of the 2024 Powercor Stawell Gift or Strickland Family Women’s Gift following the completion of the last heat shall be required to lay the odds to lose not more than $1,000 on the 2024 Powercor Stawell Gift and Strickland Family Women’s Gift and at all other athletic carnivals to lose not more than $250.
  • Bookmakers at Stawell betting on all finals other than the 2024 Powercor Stawell Gift and Strickland Family Women’s Gift final shall be required to lay the odds to lose not more than $200 in any one wager, and on all heats and semi-finals to lose not more than $100. At all other athletics meetings these amounts shall be $100 and $50 respectively.
  • Bookmakers betting on Thoroughbred, Harness or Greyhound Races shall, at the Stawell Carnival, be required to lay the odds to lose not more than $600 in any one wager.
  • In accordance with the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), betting on all under 19 sports competitions, and betting on the performance of individual players and athletes who are under 18 participating in senior or open sport is banned. The ban prohibits offering bets on:
    • Sporting events where all participants are minors.
    • Sporting events for under-19s.
    • Open events where minors are playing or racing.