[AusRace] Not a test - well, yes a test of sorts ...

[Doug Robb]

Crikey we are all getting old - I was going to chip in earlier but can't remember exactly but I think you are right, I was using  that and then the teletext service (later  called austext when Channel 7 took it over,  - a service through a  free to air TV channel) so there were a few different options before the Internet swept all before.

The problem was that the value betting was with the bookmakers so nothing could beat being on course and working the ring to get the best fixed odds.

Doug



From: Racing [mailto:racing-bounces at ausrace.com] On Behalf Of Steve
Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2017 1:54 PM
To: AusRace Racing Discussion List
Subject: Re: [AusRace] Not a test - well, yes a test of sorts ...

I dunno if it counts as internet betting or not, but I was betting into the WA TAB a zillion years ago, with a system that was know as VIATEL.
In my case it was via a modem connected to my Commodore 64 and must have been at least 30 years ago, but probably  a lot more!
My memory is not so good as I get old and grey, but I am pretty sure I would have been betting Vic Tab if similar was available there then.
SteveB

On 28/01/2017 2:16 PM, Greg Conroy wrote:
Thanks Nick,

But you're wrong with WATAB (which launched Ozbet).

The reason why I know? I was involved in the first site (iBet) at NSW TAB and both WA TAB and NSW TAB had IBM systems contracts.

We had to work with IBM and Telstra to help create 'digital certificates' via what they called The IBM World Registry.

Without that technology, internet betting was inherently insecure.

>From our IBM contacts, we were also aware they were helping WA TAB do similar so it was a bit of a competition as to who could launch first. We did so a few months before them.

When they launched, there's a funny story actually.

One of their developers had setup a 404 error redirect to go to a porn site. I was looking at their newly launched site and found this very embarrassing error page. Back then (1995/96) the tools to take screen shots and even email that to them were quite primitive.

NSW TAB's email system, for example, couldn't handle images. I think I contacted our Raceday Control to find their Fax number (all the tabs communicated via Fax back then) and then I printed this page and faxed it to them.

They managed to remove it just before the public launch, helped by the 2 hour delay in time zones!

So certainly we were the first at NSW TAB with iBet.

And as as aside, there's also a story with Qld TAB. They sent one of their programmers to Sydney to sit with me for 2 weeks and I showed him how we created our site. He basically copied the structure and that's the basis of the QTAB/Tatts/Ubet site even 20 years later (although now being revamped under Ubet).

Those were the days when all the TABs were friendly state rivals - we even played cricket against each other.

Greg


On 28 Jan 2017, at 1:31 pm, Nick at Twonix <nick.aubrey at twonix.com<mailto:nick.aubrey at twonix.com>> wrote:

Hi Greg,
Thanks for the quiz ... but IMHO you didn't have the right answer to Qn 10. The question asks who was the first operator to offer internet betting.  I believe it was  WA TAB ... both NSW and QLD offered  dedicated hand held devices that connected via the internet to their networks ... but WA TAB was the only operator that just used the Internet.
Cheers,
AN

From: Racing [mailto:racing-bounces at ausrace.com] On Behalf Of Greg Conroy
Sent: Friday, 27 January 2017 10:10 PM
To: Ausrace Racing <racing at ausrace.com<mailto:racing at ausrace.com>>
Subject: [AusRace] Not a test - well, yes a test of sorts ...

Been a bit quiet all?

I expect most of you to score 90% or 100% in this ...

There is a tricky question, Q 10 ... see how you go.

Punting quiz I put together ... http://bit.ly/2ksvFbR

Cheers.


Greg Conroy, Inventor of Award Winning and Free:
www.rewardbet.com<http://www.rewardbet.com/>   ... more: http://promo.rewardbet.com/



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