TAB closes another agency

By GREGG WYCHERLEY

The TAB has shut another Christchurch pub agency as part of a crack-down on illegal credit betting following a scandal involving renowned punter Graham "Steel Balls" Bruton.

TAB spokesman Joe Locke said the second closure, at Hillsborough Tavern on Tuesday, was part of an investigation following last week's closure of the Red and Black Tavern TAB.

Red and Black publican Inky Stove was left holding a $20,000 losing bet after making the mistake of giving credit to Mr Bruton, New Zealand's best-known punter.

"Given the recent events that occurred in Christchurch, we're taking an even closer look at the issue," said Mr Locke.

The TAB did about 100 audits a year, some of them random, but could recall only "a handful" of agencies shut because of credit betting in the past five to 10 years.

"Once the Red and Black Tavern was closed down last week, certainly we started taking a closer look at the whole issue and as a result the second breach of the rules was found."

Mr Locke would not discuss details of the events surrounding the Hillsborough closure except to say that agent Graham Carter also admitted breaking the strict TAB rules on credit betting, which is illegal under the Racing Act.

Mr Carter said he had occasionally allowed people he knew to make small bets on credit and was philosophical about the loss of his agency.

"I'm frustrated with myself because I probably shouldn't be doing what I've been doing," he said.

"They're a very big operation and I guess they just don't want guys like me roaming around doing that, letting them bet without money."

The TAB's investigation into the practice would continue, said Mr Locke, and if further evidence of credit betting was found, the agencies involved would be shut.

The offending agents would be banned from running a TAB agency, but if the pub ownership changed hands the new owner could apply.

He said safeguards were in place, including a bond paid by agents at the start of their contract, that minimised any losses to the TAB.

Mr Bruton has now disappeared without paying the $20,000 he placed on Australia to beat South Africa in a cricket one-day international on January 13.

He had promised to pay Mr Stove the $20,000 within three days, but is believed to have flown to Singapore instead.

Mr Bruton owns 69 per cent of star trotter Lyell Creek, which was moved to the United States last year.