At least two of Australia's largest corporate bookmakers are refusing to pay out on tens of thousands of bets laid on Barack Obama's victory - on the grounds that he may be killed before he is inaugurated.
An angry punter contacted the Herald saying he was told by a senior Sportsbet bookie that the company would not pay out until the inauguration in January in case the president-elect was shot before he took office.
The Sportsbet chief executive, Matt Tripp, denied assassination was the company's main concern.
"It might have been a figure of speech among five or six other things," he said of the conversation between his company and the gambler.
"God forbid he has a stroke or gets hit by a bus," said Mr Tripp, who said Sportsbet had taken 30,000 bets on Senator Obama. "I love the bloke. I want to pay out on him. I think he is good for America and good for the world."
Mr Tripp said that payment at the time of inauguration was clearly stated in the company's terms and conditions for the bet.
The punter, who placed a $2000 bet to win $200, confirmed stroke had also been mentioned when he rang to complain, along with the possibility that the senator could be hit by a bus.
A spokesman for Centrebet said it also would not pay out until the inauguration as a matter of policy.
"[Assassination] is a horrible thought but it could happen," said Neil Evans.
He said such precautions were unnecessary in Australia because bets were taken on parties rather than candidates.
Some overseas agencies were accepting bets at up to 400-1 for Senator Obama's running mate, Joe Biden, up until election day, suggesting people were punting directly on the possibility of an assassination, said Mr Evans.
Other Australian bookmakers, such as Betfair and Sportingbet, have made good their books.
The Irish bookie Paddy Power was so sure of the election outcome that it paid out Obama-backers $2 million last month.
Sportsbet courted controversy earlier this year when it was revealed the company had been cold-calling people with a recorded spiel offering $60 in free bets if they opened an account.
(Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)
Media Man Australia Profiles
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Political News Media blog. Australian and international politics. Local, State, Federal. American politics. Part of the Media Man Group
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
'Change has come': Barack Obama wins US presidency
'Change has come': Barack Obama wins US presidency
(Credit: LiveNews.com.au)
Greg Tingle comment...
Barack Obama has fresh ideas, positive energy, people power and had the numbers. The colour of skin is there, but is only one part of the equation. Both men are heroes, however the feeling and polls went to Obama. Arnie gave thumbs up to McCain, but that didn't get McCain over the line. The world needs peace, not war, and peace and hope, not an administration that put America and much of the world into a financial crisis. America voted for a change and hope, and Obama was ready for victory.
(Credit: LiveNews.com.au)
Greg Tingle comment...
Barack Obama has fresh ideas, positive energy, people power and had the numbers. The colour of skin is there, but is only one part of the equation. Both men are heroes, however the feeling and polls went to Obama. Arnie gave thumbs up to McCain, but that didn't get McCain over the line. The world needs peace, not war, and peace and hope, not an administration that put America and much of the world into a financial crisis. America voted for a change and hope, and Obama was ready for victory.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Schwarzenegger mocks 'skinny' Barack Obama - News.com.au - 1st November 2008
MUSCLEMAN-turned-actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger has called on Barack Obama to beef up his his policies - and his body - at a rally for Republican John McCain.
Mr Schwarzenegger, the Hollywood action hero who is now the Republican governor of California, delighted a crowd of several thousand at a McCain campaign event in Columbus, Ohio, today by ridiculing both Obama's policies and his slender physique.
The Austrian-born former Mr Universe has hosted a bodybuilding tournament in Columbus for several years, and opened his address by inviting Senator Obama to participate in the next event.
"Every year in March I come here to organise the Arnold Classic, which is all about building the body and pumping," Mr Schwarzenegger said.
"That's why I want to invite Senator Obama because he needs to do something about those skinny legs. I'm going to make him do some squats.
"And then we're going to make him do some biceps curls to beef up those scrawny little arms. But if he could only do something about putting some meat on his ideas.
"Senator McCain on the other hand is built like a rock. His character and his views are solid."
Senator McCain and Mr Schwarzenegger rolled into the Nationwide Arena Hockey Stadium together on the Republican candidate's campaign bus the "Straight Talk Express".
While Senator McCain received loud cheers, it was Schwarzenegger who provided some much-needed glamour and the biggest cheers with a searing attack on Senator Obama's economic policies.
He painted former Vietnam War prisoner and navy pilot Senator McCain as a "real-life American hero".
Media Man Australia Profiles
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Politics
Mr Schwarzenegger, the Hollywood action hero who is now the Republican governor of California, delighted a crowd of several thousand at a McCain campaign event in Columbus, Ohio, today by ridiculing both Obama's policies and his slender physique.
The Austrian-born former Mr Universe has hosted a bodybuilding tournament in Columbus for several years, and opened his address by inviting Senator Obama to participate in the next event.
"Every year in March I come here to organise the Arnold Classic, which is all about building the body and pumping," Mr Schwarzenegger said.
"That's why I want to invite Senator Obama because he needs to do something about those skinny legs. I'm going to make him do some squats.
"And then we're going to make him do some biceps curls to beef up those scrawny little arms. But if he could only do something about putting some meat on his ideas.
"Senator McCain on the other hand is built like a rock. His character and his views are solid."
Senator McCain and Mr Schwarzenegger rolled into the Nationwide Arena Hockey Stadium together on the Republican candidate's campaign bus the "Straight Talk Express".
While Senator McCain received loud cheers, it was Schwarzenegger who provided some much-needed glamour and the biggest cheers with a searing attack on Senator Obama's economic policies.
He painted former Vietnam War prisoner and navy pilot Senator McCain as a "real-life American hero".
Media Man Australia Profiles
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Politics
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