Online is Best Bet for America's Cup Fans

MEDIA RELEASE 19 JUNE 2007

Online is Best Bet for America's Cup Fans

With New Zealand betting legislation prohibiting New Zealand TAB taking wagers on this year's America's Cup, punters are joining a growing trend of sports fanatics turning to internet sportsbooks according to Lasseters sportsbook sports betting manager Gerard Daffy.

"After Emirates Team New Zealand's emphatic victory in the Louis Vuitton Cup the team is in great shape to challenge Alinghi. New Zealanders want to back their team but aren't able to go through conventional booking channels like New Zealand TAB," Mr Daffy said.

"The situation with New Zealand TAB and the America's Cup is unfortunate and I'm sure very frustrating for punters, but they can still back their team with our online sportsbook."

The start of the America's Cup coincides with the All Black's first Tri Nations game against the Springboks in Durban on Saturday, 23 June. While TAB will be taking its fair share of wagers on the rugby, Mr Daffy said more punters are going online to place double wagers.

"With two huge events coming up on the New Zealand sporting calendar, the support for the two teams is massive," Mr Daffy said.

"I think the America's Cup will be heading back to the Southern Hemisphere in a few weeks time. As much as $4.75 was available with Lasseters Sports for Team New Zealand to win the America's Cup before the Louis Vuitton, at which price they were the outsiders.

"While there has been some support filtering through from Europe for the Swiss entrant, we have detected a surge of confidence coming from New Zealand punters. After opening at $2.40, Team New Zealand is now into $2.30.

"We've also seen double bets backing both Team New Zealand and the All Blacks to win the Tri Nations at $3.20."

Lasseterssports.com has opened betting for race one with Alinghi at $1.60 and Team New Zealand at $2.20. The site will also take bets on the winning margin, and which yacht will be ahead at the first marker.

"It will be crucial to win the first race as the winner will hold a huge psychological advantage, and I can't see why the Kiwi boat won't continue with its winning form. Since the inception of the Louis Vuitton Cup in 1983, the challenger has gone on to win four of the six America's Cups, a magnificent form line," Mr Daffy said.

Lasseterssports.com is licensed by the Northern Territory Government Racing and Gaming Commission, which is recognised worldwide as a leading jurisdiction for online gaming and wagering regulation.

Lasseters Sports was launched in March 2007 with a global market focus with gaming products specific to different countries as well as major international sports including English Premier League, all the major tennis and golf tours, F1 and Moto GP.

To start playing on Lasseters Sports, punters register at www.lasseterssports.com and provide identity proof and age verification to establish a sports account.

Online betting is a mature decade-old industry with over 800 sportsbook sites worldwide generating an estimated US$4 billion in revenue each year.

ENDS

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