Shane Brain Drain - Again
- Sultan of spin
- Posts: 1479
- Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2003 1:43 pm
- Location: Burnley
- commonwombat
- Posts: 1179
- Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2003 7:52 pm
- Location: sydney/s.africa
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He's not the only one with expensive gambling habits. The other participant in "Bookiegate" was into nearly every bookie in Sydney for sizeable figures, some for 5 figure amts. Whilst the cricket money was coming in, no worries but had potential to be v embarassin at best and v ugly at worst in the future.
Matters were by and large settled over the last yr by his other half who took FULL control of his financial matters. Whether this can be maintained is unknown but recent word around the traps seems positive. It is to be hoped this is the case. Thankfully for him, the media did not choose to act on what sniffs were going around town however his activities were well known in Sydney cricketing and racing circles.
Matters were by and large settled over the last yr by his other half who took FULL control of his financial matters. Whether this can be maintained is unknown but recent word around the traps seems positive. It is to be hoped this is the case. Thankfully for him, the media did not choose to act on what sniffs were going around town however his activities were well known in Sydney cricketing and racing circles.
he's an animal, what can u expect!!!
- Donny
- Posts: 80336
- Joined: Sun Aug 04, 2002 6:01 pm
- Location: Toonumbar NSW Australia
- Has liked: 65 times
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Casino gave players money
By Robert Craddock
November 16, 2003
THE Australian cricket side was given free gambling chips by Melbourne's Crown Casino to repay them for patronising the venue, it was revealed yesterday.
A former Test cricketer, whose identity cannot be revealed, has confirmed Crown gave players free "play money" when they visited during Boxing Day Tests.
The player's story contrasts with claims by Crown spokesmen that "no one gambles for free at Crown".
Former Australian Cricket Board chief executive Graham Halbish has claimed in his new book, Run Out, that Shane Warne and other players had free money showered upon them by several casinos as part of a gambling culture which developed within the team.
No casinos were identified but the unnamed player confirmed yesterday that Crown dished out "play money" during the 1990s and said he would be surprised if it did not still happen.
The player said cricketers were given $200 worth of chips which were either lost or taken away once the player made a profit.
If a player had $100 on a blackjack hand and it won he would receive $100 instead of $200 if he gambled with the casino's "gift chips", which would be taken out of the profit.
"I reckon it was like an appearance fee," the player said.
"To have the Australian team anywhere you pay a fee and Crown gave them a reason to be there. It was an enjoyable way to use your appearance fee. They were saying 'thanks for coming'.
"If there was any profit for you they loved you to take it. If you lost the money and there wasn't any profit there were no problems because you had only used up their chips.
"I remember once when we lost our money they just gave us more vouchers. It was like monopoly money.
"It happened over a period of a few years but I would be very surprised if it doesn't still happen. I don't think there is anything bad about it."
Crown spokesman Gary O'Neill challenged claims his casino dished out play money to cricketers.
"I think people were aware that Shane Warne and other sportsmen in years gone by were either sponsored by Crown or were Crown ambassadors but that didn't involve people being able to gamble for free," O'Neill said.
"That is something I am not aware of. This idea of letting people gamble for free is nothing we have ever been involved in."
A Cricket Australia spokesman said players were permitted to bet at casinos "like you and I", but, under their playing contracts, were not allowed to bet on cricket.
The spokesman said, however, that under the players' new spirit of cricket pledge, they were aware their off-field conduct would be closely scrutinised and they accepted they were role models.
It was claimed in Run Out that some players received advances on their touring fees to pay gambling debts, but Cricket Australia officials said they had no knowledge of such events happening in recent times.
By Robert Craddock
November 16, 2003
THE Australian cricket side was given free gambling chips by Melbourne's Crown Casino to repay them for patronising the venue, it was revealed yesterday.
A former Test cricketer, whose identity cannot be revealed, has confirmed Crown gave players free "play money" when they visited during Boxing Day Tests.
The player's story contrasts with claims by Crown spokesmen that "no one gambles for free at Crown".
Former Australian Cricket Board chief executive Graham Halbish has claimed in his new book, Run Out, that Shane Warne and other players had free money showered upon them by several casinos as part of a gambling culture which developed within the team.
No casinos were identified but the unnamed player confirmed yesterday that Crown dished out "play money" during the 1990s and said he would be surprised if it did not still happen.
The player said cricketers were given $200 worth of chips which were either lost or taken away once the player made a profit.
If a player had $100 on a blackjack hand and it won he would receive $100 instead of $200 if he gambled with the casino's "gift chips", which would be taken out of the profit.
"I reckon it was like an appearance fee," the player said.
"To have the Australian team anywhere you pay a fee and Crown gave them a reason to be there. It was an enjoyable way to use your appearance fee. They were saying 'thanks for coming'.
"If there was any profit for you they loved you to take it. If you lost the money and there wasn't any profit there were no problems because you had only used up their chips.
"I remember once when we lost our money they just gave us more vouchers. It was like monopoly money.
"It happened over a period of a few years but I would be very surprised if it doesn't still happen. I don't think there is anything bad about it."
Crown spokesman Gary O'Neill challenged claims his casino dished out play money to cricketers.
"I think people were aware that Shane Warne and other sportsmen in years gone by were either sponsored by Crown or were Crown ambassadors but that didn't involve people being able to gamble for free," O'Neill said.
"That is something I am not aware of. This idea of letting people gamble for free is nothing we have ever been involved in."
A Cricket Australia spokesman said players were permitted to bet at casinos "like you and I", but, under their playing contracts, were not allowed to bet on cricket.
The spokesman said, however, that under the players' new spirit of cricket pledge, they were aware their off-field conduct would be closely scrutinised and they accepted they were role models.
It was claimed in Run Out that some players received advances on their touring fees to pay gambling debts, but Cricket Australia officials said they had no knowledge of such events happening in recent times.
Donny.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
It's a game. Enjoy it.