Catching up on some unfinished business, we promised a visit to the Australian Open last year and we did indeed go there. Musings on the loveliness of Melbourne, the friendliness of the Aussies and the overall enjoyable experience are certainly not overstated. It is a tennis tournament and vacation that will meet the loftiest of expectations. It is, as one wag calls it, a happy Slam.
However, the Australian Open still comes with the added pressure, media exposure and financial rewards that make it a marquee tournament. And perhaps it comes as no surprise that the sports gambling world would take advantage of this. What did come as a surprise is the idea that the Australian Open would welcome a major online sports betting company with open arms – allowing a tournament sponsorship and a booth presence. The non-profit, Tennis Australia, got a cut of the proceeds and on-line sports betting got a cut at legitimacy in the tennis community.
Though the dream of playing in a Grand Slam tournament is the impetus to persevere on the tennis court, many players now seem content to simply throw in the towel and employ their pocketbooks to revel in the glory of the elite players. Last year’s Australian Open attracted up to $30 million dollars a match at on-line sports betting sites. While Australians have a tradition of the friendly sports wager in their DNA, it remains to be seen whether the rest of us are as good in our skin.
-TtM
