By MIKE DILLON
Australia is to ban internet betting.
But relax, punters, that applies only to Australians. New Zealanders will still be able to bet with Australian agencies.
Under Coalition plans, gambling via the internet, interactive TV and new-generation mobile phones will be banned within Australia, but agencies will be free to market to overseas punters.
Communications Minister Richard Alston said the internet had the potential to make every home a virtual casino.
Anti-gambling activist Tim Costello praised the federal Government for resisting the lure of revenue, but internet and gambling lobby groups say the plans are unworkable and harmful.
The initiative still requires Senate support.
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Lance O'Sullivan can still fight to save his record of wins in a season even if he cannot catch a runaway Michael Walker in the jockeys' premiership.
In New Plymouth on Saturday, O'Sullivan rode a clever race on Nobodywantsme to take a half-head decision over Walker, who did a similarly good job on Just Berceuse.
O'Sullivan's national record is 163. Walker is on 127 with 17 weeks to go.
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Surprise, surprise, Robbie Fradd has been sacked as the rider of Hong Kong's champion racehorse, Fairy King Prawn.
Trainer Ivan Allan, furious over Fradd's ride when Fairy King Prawn split Jim And Tonic and Sunline in the Dubai Duty Free, asked Hong Kong's chief stipe, John Shreck, for help in conveying riding instructions to Fradd for his two runners at Sha Tin on Sunday, only hours after the pair returned from Dubai.
Allan said he was not a sore loser, and accepted Fairy King Prawn's second to Sunline in Hong Kong in December.
He could forgive one blatant disregard or riding instructions, but had been bitterly disappointed at Fradd's ride in Dubai.
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Lord Of Illusion has gone amiss, but stablemate Showella is on track for a Sydney campaign.
A slight leg problem has ended Lord Of Illusion's racing across the Tasman, which led to an upset win in the Packenham Cup at Sandown.
Showella is completely recovered from jarring up in the Australian Cup at Flemington and was flown to Sydney on Tuesday night for the $A1 million Mercedes Classic on Saturday week.
Showella, along with Hill Of Grace, Kaapstad Way and Cent Home, hold nominations for the Singapore International Cup on May 12.
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Roger James is looking forward to Saturday's $A460,000 Rosehill Guineas and Danamite's return clash with Universal Prince.
Not many are keen to take on Universal Prince again after a dashing Canterbury Guineas win, but James is confident Danamite can avenge his second at Canterbury.
"Danamite had to do a lot of work in that race. We rode him forward from a wide barrier and then they attacked him at the 600m and he had to sprint again, while the winner was doing nothing out the back.
"Universal Prince is a smart animal, make no mistake, but we're happy to take him on again."
James suffered a disappointment yesterday when his classy filly Lunete was beaten into sixth after racing outside the leader in a $A70,000 three-year-old race at Kembla Grange.
Racing: Bid to rein in net gambling
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