Famous bookmaker Robbie Waterhouse reveals why betting agencies are shying away ... trends now
EXCLUSIVE
Racing identity Robbie Waterhouse has accused rival betting companies of shying away from taking punts on the Voice because it's 'politically sensitive'.
Multiple opinion polls show the Yes case trailing in most states, which means the odds of success on October 14 are very low.
But during state and federal election campaigns, the likes of Sportsbet, TAB and Ladbrokes routinely take bets on political parties and publicise the odds.
This sees gamblers put money on the side that is consistently behind hoping to make a bonanza on long odds.
But Waterhouse, Australia's best-known bookmaker, said that with the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to parliament, the big betting agencies were reluctant to open the books on something 'politically sensitive'
'I think they're regarded as being a very sensitive thing to bet on,' he told Daily Mail Australia.
'People have actually said to me that I shouldn't be betting on it, "This is just not a nice thing to do".'
Racing identity Robbie Waterhouse (pictured with horse trainer wife Gai) has accused rival betting companies of shying away from taking punts on the Voice because it's 'politically sensitive'
Waterhouse also suggested offering bets on the Yes or No side winning would make betting companies appear like they were favouring one side of the referendum.
This is occurring as big corporations, from Qantas to mining giant Rio Tinto, back the Yes case, making it unfashionable for a company to be regarded as opposing or not endorsing the Voice.
'They think that if you actually offer both bets on either side, that you're taking a view,' Waterhouse said.
'They think, "Oh, no, you must be saying it can't win, the Yes side".'
Waterhouse is offering gamblers the