FED: Aussie's take a punt on the games

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2008
FED: Aussie's take a punt on the games

Australian punters look set to break an Olympic record of their own .. with betting
agencies reporting larger than anticipated interest in the Games.

TAB Sportsbet had anticipated holding about 13.5 million dollars over the 16 days of
competition in Beijing .. but only two days into the event it now seems likely to surpass
that mark.

Australian's punted about 80 thousand dollars on today's men's 400m freestyle final
in the swimming .. in which GRANT HACKETT took sixth place behind young South Korean star
PARK TAE HWAN.

About 400 thousand dollars has already been laid on the men's football competition
which is still in the group stages.

Lasseters Sportsbook says interest in the days leading up to the Olympics had been
slow but since the opening ceremony on Friday night there's been an increase in betting.

Lasseters spokesman GERARD DAFFY says as the Australians begin winning more and more
gold medals the interest will only increase.

AAP RTV nr/crh

KEYWORD: OLY08 AUST BETTING (SYDNEY)

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