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Another factor that may deter consumers from purchasing the Xiaopeng G9 is the limited availability of charging infrastructure. One of the key challenges for electric vehicle adoption is the accessibility of charging stations, and this is especially true for emerging brands like Xiaopeng. Without a robust network of charging stations, consumers may find it inconvenient and stressful to rely on the G9 for their daily transportation needs, especially for long-distance travel or road trips.New funding goes to groundbreaking products that pour plant fibers into our favorite foods to reduce the toxic impact of sugar and lower the incidence of metabolic disorders linked to the modern processed diet SACRAMENTO, Calif. , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- One Bio , a pioneering biotechnology company committed to revolutionizing nutrition to empower people to live better, longer, has raised $27 million in Series A funding led by Alpha Edison and joined by new investors including Leaps by Bayer, Mitsui E12, Morado, ReMY, DSM-Ferminich, and Better – alongside existing investors including iSelect, Skyview Life Sciences, Collaborative and Acre. This catalytic investment round energized a unique global mix of strategic and institutional investors and is a testament to investor belief in One Bio's potential to reshape how much (and how often) the world consumes fiber, and to combat the disease epidemic linked to the modern processed diet by transforming your favorite foods into engines of good health while helping all of us reduce and eliminate the harm of sugar. One Bio has innovated a technological process that releases anti-inflammatory short chain fibers from thousands of plants, making them undetectable, more bioactive and uniquely high dose. This novel process unlocks fibers from seeds, nuts, fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains. People today consume 10X more sugar than they did 200 years ago and 90% less fiber than we evolved to. Consequently, 95% of people are running a dramatic fiber deficiency that starves the microbiome while denying our bodies of core functions for healthspan. The result is skyrocketing rates of inflammatory disease including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, cancer and autoimmunity. One Bio promises a meaningfully positive shift in these alarming public health outcomes by not only eliminating traditional barriers to fiber consumption - like taste, texture, and appearance - but also reframing naturally-derived fiber as an essential but *undetectable* ingredient in our favorite foods and beverages. As humans evolved, our beneficial gut microbes co-evolved to unlock and consume the sugars bound in the rich diversity of fibers present in plant foods to produce molecules we need to provide core functions including balancing our blood glucose, regulating mood & energy, and making us feel satiated. But modern diets composed of processed foods have isolated the sugars and discarded the fibers. One Bio short chain fibers can even provide an offramp to reduce the population's reliance on GLP-1s to treat chronic metabolic diseases: increasing consumption of high-fiber foods can prevent such diseases in the first place. "Modern food processing techniques strip plant fibers from our foods and starve the microbiome of the nutrients it needs to make us healthy. One Bio works to help us restore core functionality to our diet like blood glucose regulation and mood & energy balance. We aim to avoid and reverse the negative impact of today's processed food diet which accounts for 70% of calories consumed. We have the opportunity to offer industry and people an exponentially better set of choices than those on shelves today," said Matt Barnard , Co-founder and CEO of One Bio . " One Bio puts thriving microbiomes to work delivering longevity, aiding digestion and providing the fuel we need to maximize health," he added. "Faced with endless shelves of processed and packaged foods, and surrounded by chronic diseases, consumers are rapidly awakening to the power of the gut microbiome. An avalanche of signals points to a large pool of latent demand. This is One Bio's market," added Nate Redmond of Alpha Edison . " One Bio enables their partners to deliver functional products that reshape global health and unlock growth. We are thrilled to be working with Matt and the talented, passionate leaders who are building a category leading platform company. For more information about One Bio , please visit one.bio . About One Bio : One Bio is a biotechnology company returning healthspan to our diet by reintroducing active plant fibers to our food and reshaping how we approach health and nutrition in everyday products. Using their cutting-edge technology, One Bio has demonstrated its ability to solve malnutrition in the modern diet. The company specializes in releasing short chain fibers from plants, while making them easily consumable and highly effective to invigorate our microbiome and immune system. Through its innovative solutions and strategic partnerships, One Bio aims to eradicate inflammatory disease and help people thrive. Press contact: Original Strategies Simone Hassan-Bey [email protected] SOURCE One Bio
How will Trump administration policies impact the TSMC stock?In response to the EU's crackdown, Google and Meta issued public statements acknowledging their mistakes and pledging to cooperate fully with the regulatory agency's investigation. Both companies outlined plans to review their internal policies and practices to ensure compliance with EU regulations and restore trust among consumers and stakeholders.Jimmy Carter, 39th US President, Nobel Winner, Dies at 100
The Gunners have endured a mixed season so far, with inconsistent performances and disappointing results leaving them languishing in mid-table in the Premier League. Arteta has been vocal about the need for reinforcements in the squad, and the appointment of a seasoned sporting director like Ashworth could provide the club with the expertise needed to address their recruitment needs effectively.
ISU winter commencement set for Saturday
As we reflect on the saga of Tenghag and the teachings of VanderSa, we are reminded of the profound truth that everything is connected in ways that surpass our understanding. The repercussions of our actions, both intended and unintended, reverberate throughout the cosmos, shaping the world in ways that are both profound and unfathomable. And while the outcomes we achieve may sometimes fall short of our aspirations, they are nonetheless part of the grand tapestry of existence, woven with the threads of interconnectedness that bind us all together.Prime minister meets US national security advisor
About the same time the #FreeLuigi memes featuring the mustachioed plumber from “Super Mario Brothers” mushroomed online, commenters shared memes showing Tony Soprano pronouncing Luigi Mangione , the man charged with murdering the UnitedHealthcare CEO in Manhattan , a hero. There were posts lionizing Mangione’s physique and appearance, the ones speculating about who could play him on “Saturday Night Live,” and the ones denouncing and even threatening people at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s for spotting him and calling police. It was all too much for Pennsylvania's governor, a rising Democrat who was nearly the vice presidential nominee this year. Josh Shapiro — dealing with a case somewhere else that happened to land in his lap — decried what he saw as growing support for “vigilante justice.” The curious case of Brian Thompson and Luigi Mangione captivated and polarized a media-saturated nation. It also offers a glimpse into how, in a connected world, so many different aspects of modern American life can be surreally linked — from public violence to politics, from health care to humor (or attempts at it) . It summons a question, too: How can so many people consider someone a hero when the rules that govern American society — the laws — are treating him as the complete opposite? Writings found in Mangione's possession hinted at a vague hatred of corporate greed and an expression of anger toward “parasitic” health insurance companies. Bullets recovered from the crime scene had the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” reflecting words used by insurance industry critics, written on them. A number of online posts combine an apparent disdain for health insurers — with no mention of the loss of life. “He took action against private health insurance corporations is what he did. he was a brave italian martyr. in this house, luigi mangione is a hero, end of story!” one anonymous person said in a post on X that has nearly 2 million views. On Monday, Shapiro took issue with comments like those. It was an extraordinary moment that he tumbled into simply because Mangione was apprehended in Pennsylvania. Shapiro's comments — pointed, impassioned and, inevitably, political — yanked the conversation unfolding on so many people's phone screens into real life. “We do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint,” the governor said. “In a civil society, we are all less safe when ideologues engage in vigilante justice.” But to hear some of his fellow citizens tell it, that's not the case at all. Like Bonnie and Clyde, John Dillinger, D.B. Cooper and other notorious names from the American past, Mangione is being cast as someone to admire. Regina Bateson, an assistant political science professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has studied vigilantism, the term to which Shapiro alluded. She doesn’t see this case as a good fit for the word, she says, because the victim wasn’t linked to any specific crime or offense. As she sees it, it's more akin to domestic terrorism. But Bateson views the threats against election workers , prosecutors and judges ticking up — plus the assassination attempts against President-elect Donald Trump this past summer — as possible signs that personal grievances or political agendas could erupt. “Americans are voicing more support for — or at least understanding of — political violence,” she said. Shapiro praised the police and the people of Blair County, who abided by a 9/11-era dictum of seeing something and saying something. The commenters have Mangione wrong, the governor said: “Hear me on this: He is no hero. The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning." Even shy of supporting violence, there are many instances of people who vent over how health insurers deny claims. Tim Anderson's wife, Mary, dealt with UnitedHealthcare coverage denials before she died from Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2022. “The business model for insurance is don’t pay,” Anderson, 67, of Centerville, Ohio, told The Associated Press . The discourse around the killing and Mangione is more than just memes. Conversations about the interconnectedness of various parts of American life are unfolding online as well. One Reddit user said he was banned for three days for supporting Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted after testifying he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot two people in 2020 during protests. “Do you think people are getting banned for supporting Luigi?” the poster wondered. The comments cover a lot of ground. They include people saying the UnitedHealthcare slaying isn't a “right or left issue" and wondering what it would take to get knocked off the platform. “You probably just have to cross the line over into promoting violence,” one commenter wrote. “Not just laughing about how you don’t care about this guy.”
Title: China's Richest Man's New Venture Targeting Male HPV Vaccine MarketApart from their stellar performances in the Premier League, both Martinez and Gomez have also been shining for their respective clubs on the domestic front. Martinez, who plies his trade for Manchester City, has been a revelation in the English top-flight. His ability to control games from midfield and chip in with crucial goals has been a major reason for City's success this season. Meanwhile, Gomez, who represents Liverpool, has been a model of consistency and reliability in the heart of midfield. His all-action style of play and tireless work ethic have endeared him to the Liverpool faithful, making him an indispensable figure for the club.Trump taps forceful ally of hard-line immigration policies to head Customs and Border Protection
In a conversation with John Micklethwait, Elon Musk revealed his support for Dogecoin. Musk shared that Tesla already accepts Dogecoin for some of its merchandise, and SpaceX follows the same approach. Elon Musk mentioned that he bought Dogecoin himself, which highlights his personal involvement and interest in the cryptocurrency. He further said, "i intent to personally support Dogecoin" because people who are not that wealthy encouraged him to to buy and support Dogecoin. Musk emphasised that his support is a response to those people who believe in cryptocurrency. Elon Musk’s xAI To Soon Introduce ‘Grok Enhance’ Tool To Improve Grammar, Fix Typos for Post Composition. "I intent to personally support Dogecoin" 一 Elon Musk pic.twitter.com/hsvVqp4eYf — DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) December 22, 2024 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his maiden visit to Kuwait on Saturday, emphasised the importance of trade and energy partnerships as pillars of the India-Kuwait bilateral relationship. This marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Kuwait in over four decades. Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Modi stated, “Trade and commerce have been important pillars of our bilateral relationship. Our bilateral trade has been on an upswing. Our energy partnership adds a unique value to our bilateral trade.” Highlighting the growing presence of Indian products in Kuwait, he said, “We are happy to see ‘Made in India’ products, particularly in automobile, electrical and mechanical machinery, and telecom segments, making new inroads in Kuwait. India today is manufacturing world-class products at the most affordable cost. Diversification to non-oil trade is key to achieving greater bilateral trade.” The Prime Minister also called for increased collaboration in sectors like pharmaceuticals, health, technology, digital innovation, and textiles. “Business chambers, entrepreneurs, and innovators must engage and interact with each other more,” he urged. Modi underlined the historical ties between India and Kuwait, noting, “The Indian Rupee was a legal tender in Kuwait for over a century till 1961. This shows how closely our economies were integrated.” Addressing India’s economic trajectory, Modi highlighted the nation's transformation, stating, "India has moved from being the 11th largest to the 5th largest economy in less than a decade and is poised to become the 3rd largest economy soon." He outlined India’s ambitious infrastructure development plans and the surge in start-ups and manufacturing, making the country a magnet for global investments. He detailed India’s infrastructure and digital transformation, noting, “Over the last decade, we have doubled our airports from 70 in 2014 to over 150 in 2024. In the next five years, 31 Indian cities will be serviced by metro transport systems.” He also noted the synergy between India’s Vision 2047 and Kuwait’s Vision 2035, which aims to transform the latter into an economic and connectivity hub. "The tremendous pace of economic activity in both countries opens up large opportunities for cooperation and collaboration," he said. PM Modi On Indian Expatriate Community In Kuwait, Energy Ties The Prime Minister appreciated the contributions of the Indian expatriate community in Kuwait, the largest in the country, numbering over a million. “They act as a living bridge between the two countries, fostering a deep appreciation for Indian philosophy, music, and performing arts,” he said, citing initiatives like the Hindi-language programme ‘Namaste Kuwait’ on Kuwait national radio. He highlighted that Kuwait is India’s sixth-largest crude oil supplier and fourth-largest LPG supplier., with bilateral energy ties ranking both nations among each other's top trading partners. "India is emerging as the world's 3rd largest energy consumer, and Kuwait holds around 6.5 percent of global oil reserves. The scope for further collaboration is immense," he noted. India’s soft power was mentioned by PM Modi who pointed to the popularity of Indian cinema and cultural programmes in Kuwait. He mentioned a Kuwaiti scholar’s recent translation of Ramayana and Mahabharata into Arabic as a testament to shared cultural appreciation. The Prime Minister extended gratitude to Kuwait’s leadership for their hospitality and support of the Indian community. He expressed optimism about the visit, saying, “There is a lot we have achieved together, but possibilities are limitless for our partnership. I am sure this visit will give new wings to it” PM Modi On India's Role In Global South, Stance On Gaza And Ukraine Conflicts Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored India's commitment as a dependable development partner for the Global South, a first responder during crises, a global leader on climate action, and a proponent of inclusive growth and development. "India is privileged to speak for the global south. We share much in common with our fellow developing countries - from history to the aspirations of our people. We therefore not only understand, but feel their concerns. The ongoing conflicts and the resultant challenges of food, fuel, and fertilizer have hit the global south hard. They are also disproportionately bearing the brunt of climate change," he remarked. Addressing ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, the Prime Minister emphasised that solutions cannot emerge from battlefields. "Sincere and practical engagement between stakeholders is essential for bridging differences and achieving negotiated settlements," he remarked, adding India's willingness to support genuine efforts for an early restoration of peace, particularly in Gaza and Ukraine. On humanitarian efforts, Modi highlighted India's contribution of 70 tonnes of humanitarian assistance and 65 tonnes of medicines to Gaza last month, along with USD 10 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) over the last two years. He reaffirmed India's support for a negotiated two-state solution, advocating for a sovereign, independent, and viable Palestine within secure and recognised borders. Turning to climate change, Modi called it the most pressing challenge facing the planet. "Our planet is under stress. We need urgent collective action and one that involves the entire global community. No one can do it alone. We must come together," he stated.Joe Jonas wouldn’t change a thing about being a girl dad. The Jonas Brothers singer, who shares daughters Willa , 4, and Delphine , 2, with ex Sophie Turner , finds great joy in raising his two daughters. In fact, he revealed that it has reawaken some of his child-like wonder. "As a parent myself, I’m also reliving childhood again through my kids’ eyes,” the 35-year-old shared Dec. 6 at The Wellness Oasis event in Miami, per People , “which is just the best feeling.” "I’m really making sure that I’m able to have a lot of fun," he continued. "This is so amazing that we get the opportunity to be on this earth and do what we get to do.” And as many of us do, Joe took a moment to reflect upon his childhood self and wonder what “little Joe” would do if he could see himself now. “Whether it’s enjoying your career, or hopefully on your way to enjoy your career, and you’ve got great friends and great people around you,” he explained, “I think really being able to tap into, hypothetically, what little Joe would really be into is having fun with whatever it is." While Joe and Sophie—who finalized their divorce in September—have often kept their lives with their little ones out of the spotlight, they have previously shared insight into how they are raising their girls. And for the Game of Thrones actress, part of that has included returning to the U.K after having previously lived in Los Angeles and Miami with Joe. "I'm so happy to be back," Sophie, 28, told Harper’s Bazaar in October. "It felt as if my life was on pause until I returned to England. I just never really feel like myself when I'm not in London, with my friends and family." But while she found great joy in returning home to her loved ones, she admitted that her divorce from Joe was heartbreaking —especially the time she had to spend away from her kids . "I'm going through a legal process right now where I can't really say much, but it was incredibly sad," Sophie, who is now dating Peregrine Pearson , explained. "We had a beautiful relationship, and it was hard." “Before I had kids, I was very depressed and anxious,” she added. “I would isolate [myself] a lot. Now, I think I live my life for them. I want them to see me having a social life and enjoying work, and thriving in my career and relationships. I want them to see a hard-working mum.” To look back at Joe and Sophie’s time together, keep reading... Romance rumors swirled as Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas were first spotted together at the MTV EMAs in November 2016. The duo were then spotted holding hands in Miami the following month. The lovebirds were spotted arriving to CAA's Golden Globes party at Catch LA in December 2016. In January 2017, the hot couple left a People Choice Awards after party hosted by DNCE . The pair left hand-in-hand and then got into a car together. The duo locked arms after a dinner date night at Craig's Restaurant in West Hollywood. The pair were spotted at LAX on March 5, 2017 in Los Angeles, CA. The singer was seen taking a romantic stroll with his girlfriend, who was wearing a New Kids on the Block shirt, through the SoHo district of New York City on April 13, 2017. Joe was spotted writing on his hands courtesy of his new lady, some of which read "Joe gives me da good good." Joe and Sophie were photographed while out on the town in NYC in May. Rocking denim-on-denim looks, the Jonas Brothers singer and the Game of Thrones actress walked it out in the SoHo neighborhood of NYC on May 3, 2017. Wearing workout clothes, the two held hands while taking a romantic stroll in the East Village neighborhood of NYC. Joe and Sophie walked arm in arm as they took a stroll through Venice, CA. The musician looked like quite the tourist, carrying a small camera and taking photos around town. Joe and Sophie picked a local restaurant to have lunch on the patio to bring their weekend to a end. The twosome walked their dog on September 7, 2017 in New York City. The two made out at the 2018 U.S. Open. At London's 34 Restaurant, the loved-up pair joined Nick Jonas and then-girlfriend Priyanka Chopra to help ring in the Bollywood star's 36th birthday in July 2018. For the October 2018 holiday, Joe cheekily dressed as Sophie's Game of Thrones character, Sansa Stark. She went as an adorable elephant. The DNCE member and The Staircase alum celebrated his brother Nick Jonas' wedding to Priyanka Chopra in Dehli, India on December 4, 2018. Sophie warmed Joe up with a kiss on the cheek at a March 2019 Rangers vs. Red Wings hockey game in NYC. The actress—along with Priyanka and Danielle Jonas —supported her beau and his brothers Nick and Joe at their April 2019 concert in Champs Downtown, a Penn State college bar. Joe fan was happy to be Sophie's plus-one to the HBO hit's season eight premiere in NYC on April 3, 2019. Sophie cheekily reunites with Jack Gleeson , her tyrannical lover from Game of Thrones , with her real life-beau inside the show's premiere party. After the Billboard Music Awards on May 1, Joe and Sophie shocked fans with a surprise wedding at a local Las Vegas chapel. As the couple exchanged ring pops—an Elvis impersonator officiated—pal Diplo captured the moment for Instagram live. After tying the knot in Sin City, the newlyweds lit up the 2019 Met Gala red carpet with their eye-catching designs and demure poses. This marked their first official event as a married couple. Joe and Sophie served lewks at the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2020 show in New York City. The couple brought the glitz and the glam to the Jonas Brothers ' Chasing Happiness documentary premiere. The two lovebirds attended the Dark Phoenix premiere in Los Angeles and the "Sucker" singer couldn't be more in awe of his leading lady. "I am so proud of you @sophiet and how hard you worked on this film," he shares on Instagram . "You did the research, you did the work, and you delivered. I loved this movie!!" Joe and Sophie went for an afternoon stroll with their dogs, Porky and Waldo. The two smooched in front of the Eiffel tower just shy of a week before they tied the knot in a second wedding ceremony in France. Joe shared this sweet snap on Instagram with the caption, "Nap game strong." The two get playful at Jardin De Tuileries in Paris days before their second wedding. Joe and Sophie are spotted in France days before their second wedding. The beaming bride and groom walk down the aisle after their second ceremony. Turner wore a stunning, custom-designed Louis Vuitton dress that was only outshined by the bride.
Barely hours after the fairytale finish to this year’s Melbourne Cup, corporate bookmaker Ladbrokes launched a PR blitz to trumpet the fortunes of a lucky punter who had won $3.2 million for a $100 bet. For the married mother of two, it was a life-changing event. She had cobbled together four numbers for a first four and, against the odds, they landed – Knight’s Choice (No.11), Warp Speed (No.4), Okita Soushi (No.12) and Zardozi (No.14). Robbie Dolan rides Knight’s Choice to victory in this year’s Melbourne Cup. Credit: Getty Images The first four dividend paid $728,015.70 and she had it four times. It was like winning the lotto. “When Ladbrokes called to confirm I’d won over three million, my husband literally fell to the floor. He was just sobbing,” the woman said, revealing the windfall would pay off their previously daunting mortgage. Ladbrokes was equally chuffed. “We always strive to give our customers unforgettable experiences,” a spokesman for the bookmaker said. “This is a life-changing win and we’re thrilled to be part of this incredible story and to have played a role in helping this family secure their future.” But this is not the sort of “unforgettable” experience that everyone has with a corporate bookmaker when their luck runs hot. Instead, there is a growing group of disgruntled professional punters who say the betting companies have closed down their accounts simply because they win too often. Others have had big payouts capped – reduced to a smaller amount under the small print of the bookmaker’s terms and conditions – while others’ betting activities have been severely restricted. It was a point made on a pro punting podcast two days after the Melbourne Cup. “I think if one of us on this show had got the [$3.2 million first four] collect, I don’t think it would have made the news, and we might have got caught up in the T&Cs of a maximum payout of $500,000,” one of the pros said. Another agreed: “They made sure they got their PR’s worth ... being a once-in-a-year Melbourne Cup punter, I think they [Ladbrokes] got their mileage out of the extra payment through good will and mileage in the press. That would have been a per-customer decision.” ‘The amount of winners who are voided is insane’ Luke MacDonald is a pro punter who has become so tired of waging an online war with the corporates that he has all but given up. “The amount of winners who are voided is insane,” he says. “And it shows how predatory in nature these big companies are, that they only have losers on their books.” MacDonald claims the “corporates” have a number of strategies for cutting punters off. He claims they accuse punters of working for a rival bookmaker, say your betting does not suit their operation, or use anti-money laundering or counter-terrorism funding laws. MacDonald says he knows of examples of bookmakers shutting down an account after a client has had a win and then demanding payslips and unredacted bank accounts as proof of identity before they agree to pay out winnings. That process that can take months, even years. MacDonald says he has previously shared six months of bank statements with online bookmakers, only for his private information to be leaked on social media. “A piece of information about where we shopped got leaked on Twitter,” he says. “It was too hard for me to pinpoint which operator it was and try to hunt down the staff member. But that information was used against me to try to publicly shame me, which I didn’t care about, but I just thought, ‘geez, that’s pretty bad’. “People can find out a lot about you by having six months of your bank statements. My kids’ daycare stuff is on there.” Frank Pangallo, an independent member of South Australia’s Legislative Council, wants to stop corporate bookmakers from banning or restricting punters simply because they win. South Australian politician Frank Pangallo. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen He has introduced a bill to the South Australian parliament calling for the strategy to be outlawed. Under Pangallo’s Authorised Betting Operations (User Bans) Amendment Bill 2024, betting companies would: “They enter the market willingly, and pocket billions of dollars from losers willingly – so they cannot cry poor when it comes time to pay out a winner,” Pangallo said. Pangallo believes other states will follow suit if the bill is supported in South Australia when he brings it to a vote in February. “But my concern is that governments are intoxicated by gambling taxes that they receive, and seem to be reluctant to move on issues that are trying to protect gamblers,” he said. ‘They play dumb’ Ronny* has not been able to bet with big online bookmakers for the past three years after he and a friend tapped into a successful betting system in which they outlaid about $10,000 to win $40,000 across two months. While living in Sydney, the pair had a link to a private equity firm that focused on racing algorithms that would suggest bets on “roughies”. At the time, Ronny had a separate mobile phone and SIM card that was solely connected to a 3G or 4G network so that the bookmakers could not track him to a specific IP address. “If you connect to Wi-Fi, they can immediately track it and they restrict anything that comes from that IP address,” he said. Ronny said the algorithm would feed you a message that said, “in 40 seconds this race is about to start and this horse is likely to win, or place – it is currently at 10-1 and it should be at 4-1”. “So you would put $50 to $100, sometimes $150, on the horse, and you end up with probably four bets where you lose – so, you lose $400 in four races – and then suddenly the fifth horse wins at 12-1 and you get back $1200,” he said. He said they would go through two new betting companies every “week or two”. “They are all linked, and once one betting agency realises they don’t like the way you are betting, they will ban you or restrict you betting at all,” he said. Ronny said their gambling was not without risk – “I could have lost it all” – but he was still shut down for good. Now he can’t bet with mates. “I have got a screenshot here from Sportsbet from this year after trying to join a $50 buy-in bet-with-mates group and the response is ‘you are unable to join a group, please call us to help resolve the issue’, and then you call them and they play dumb and they say, ‘sorry, we don’t have an answer for you’. “So if I want to have a bet, it is either going into a TAB or I might have to use my partner’s account occasionally to put a $50 bet on.” Laying a bet on someone else’s account, a practice called using a “bowler account”, is banned by online bookmakers under their terms and conditions. If bookmakers discover you are betting on behalf of a third party, they will refuse to pay out winnings. Punter bowled over Last month, a punter failed in his quest to have Ladbrokes release $30,000 in winnings from his account because the betting giant claimed he was operating a “bowler account”. Ladbrokes’ terms and conditions state “You must not permit another person to access your account and you must not use your account on behalf of or for the benefit of another person.” The betting giant used “variations in speech patterns” from phone calls to support its case before the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission – Ladbrokes.com.au is registered in the NT. During the October hearing, the gambling giant said it had refused to release the cash in December 2022 because the account holder was unable to complete its “two-factor authentication” – a process triggered by a text message. The punter claimed he could not access the text because he was overseas and did not have the right phone number. He later tried to register a new phone number with the bookmaker, but it was found to be connected to another Ladbrokes account. Ladbrokes told the commission that during several follow-up phone conversations “it was most likely not the complainant who engaged with Ladbrokes, but a person identifying himself as the complainant instead”. That is why it closed his account. The commission found in Ladbrokes’ favour, agreeing that on the “balance of probabilities” a third party had been involved, but it said it could “not be confirmed with absolute certainty” that the voice on the phone did not belong to the account holder. MacDonald said there would not be an issue with bowler accounts if winning punters were allowed to continue betting under their own names. “There is no reason for anyone to have to come in the back door, if they are allowed to go in and bet under their own name,” he said. “A lot of issues in the industry that have been created are on the back of restrictions.” He said if authorities really cared about anti-money laundering or counter-terrorism financing laws, they would stop online bookmakers restricting or banning winning punters, which would eliminate the need for bowler accounts. ‘Totally amoral’ Another pro-punter, Brandon*, says he restricts himself to betting in person with on-course bookmakers at city race meetings on Wednesdays and Saturdays. “It’s better value, I can get on quickly and it’s a more sociably enjoyable environment than sitting in a room with a computer screen in front of you all day,” he said. Some punters say they are unable to bet online after winning big. Credit: Jenny Evans “I find the corporates are just a blight on the industry. They’re leeches, and their business model is amoral. “You are encouraged to lose, you are promoted to lose, and you are discouraged and restricted from winning. “If you are a registered loser, and you consistently lose, they will bet you any amount. They give you free bets, they give you deposit matches, all sorts of things. To me that’s totally amoral.” Ladbrokes told this masthead it “is a company that does not ban winners”. A spokesperson for the betting giant said it adhered to the minimum bet limits required by the racing codes. In reference to capping payouts, Ladbrokes highlighted its $3.2 million payout last month to the lucky punter who landed the Melbourne Cup first four, saying “we are not afraid to pay someone if they win big”. The spokesperson said Ladbrokes sets its own betting markets, and was not reactive to what other bookmakers were doing. “If other bookies want to copy our prices that’s not something we can control,” the spokesperson said. The company said it had an obligation under legislation to clamp down on “bowler accounts”. Brandon said “bookmakers are not bookmakers any more”. He said they are not taking risks, but using algorithms and strategies to analyse punters instead. “They do form on their punters,” he said. “They say this bloke is losing 11 per cent per annum, so we can bet him to a certain amount. “This bloke’s only just losing, he is losing only 1 per cent, so we will restrict him a little bit. “This bloke is winning 3 per cent in NSW, so we won’t bet him in NSW, or he is winning 5 per cent on dogs, but losing 12 per cent on horses so we will restrict him on dogs. “So they analyse the client, not the outcome of the event. That’s how they work, so it needs to go back to how it was.” MacDonald said he knew of a case in which every member of a punters’ club had their winning bets voided by an online bookmaker 16 minutes after a race. They had all bet to win $5000. “The bet won, the bookmaker paid out the bet, and then they voided the winnings (removed the payouts from their accounts) and returned the stake,” he said. “Only one of them has received an email so far as to why the bets were voided. Everyone else has just got radio silence.” Sportsbet told this masthead that it “does not ban customers just because they are winning”. “Every customer is able to bet with us, in their own name, as defined by respective minimum bet laws set by the racing bodies,” a Sportsbet spokesperson said. “Our terms and conditions are in place to ensure a fair go for all customers, as is the case across many other industries. We responsibly manage customer accounts for regulatory, compliance and safer gambling reasons.” Minimum bets Sergio* is a full-time punter who bets on harness racing. He said he was able to get by because of minimum bet laws introduced by Harness Racing Victoria in January 2018. The laws mean online bookmakers “must stand to lose a maximum of $500 for a fixed-odds win bet” on country races from no later than 10am on a race day. The amount increases to $1000 for metropolitan races. “A lot of big punters sign up with 10-12 different accounts if they want to have a real crack because the corporates will only bet you to win $500,” Sergio says. “To win thousands, you need multiple accounts.” Some punters claim they are not paid out for big wins with some bookmakers. Credit: Nathan Perri He said it took careful planning because all the bookmakers were linked. “All of the corporates have algorithms for their odds,” he said. “They actually don’t employ someone to set the odds, do the markets, they are just copying what the main bookies have. “For example, if I hit the TAB first [with a bet], all of the other bookies will roll the odds down, following the TAB, without actually taking a bet. “So, I have got to hit them in order – smallest bookies to biggest bookies. A lot of them have algorithms but TAB, for example, won’t give a stuff if I hit something at one of those smaller bookies. “But if I go the other way around, the smaller bookie will react straight away to the TAB price.” Racing Victoria introduced a minimum bet limit for thoroughbred racing in October 2016, which applies after the final acceptances deadline. Wagering service providers have to allow punters to win up to $2000 on a metropolitan win bet and $1000 on a non-metropolitan win bet. But there are no minimum bet laws in place for betting on sports such as AFL, tennis or basketball. “Legally, they don’t have to take any money on sports bets,” Sergio said. ‘Against our policy’ Brandon said he broke with his routine recently when he tried to have a $1000 cash bet on a horse at $3.50 using an electronic betting terminal, or EBT, at a Melbourne pub TAB. “I went up to the EBT, and there was a sign on there saying, ‘no cash in this machine, please see the bar attendant for a voucher’,” he said. But when he approached the bar, he was told by a staff member there was a “limit of $200”. When he asked for five $200 vouchers in exchange for his $1000, he was told it was “against our money laundering policy”. One punter claimed he could not make a cash bet at a TAB in a pub. Credit: Louie Douvis “I couldn’t get on,” he said. “I wanted to have a cash bet and couldn’t get on. I thought, ‘no wonder the turnover is suffering’.” A TAB spokesman said: “TAB venue staff are trained in responsible gambling practices and can refuse to issue vouchers where they believe it is in the customer’s best interest not to.” The betting organisation said it did not cap payouts to punters - “as highlighted by a punter who collected $728,000 from a $24 mystery bet on the Melbourne Cup” - but it did cut off or restrict losing punters. “We are introducing new technology to detect changes in customer behaviour faster so we can intervene sooner to protect customers from gambling harm,” the spokesman said. Taxing the punter Increases in taxes have become another bugbear for punters. They say, ultimately, these extra costs are worn by the customers. From January 2019, the state government introduced a point of consumption tax to replace the wagering and betting tax structures. It was a way for the state to properly tax online bookmakers who are often licensed outside of Victoria. Both Ladbrokes.com.au and Sportsbet.com.au are licensed in the Northern Territory. Ladbrokes is owned by Entain, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, while Sportsbet is part of the Flutter Entertainment Group, which is a worldwide online gambling operator with headquarters in Dublin. “Because they [the corporate bookmakers] were eluding taxes, the governments and tax authorities said, ‘we are not getting our whack out of this’, so they introduced all these taxes,” Brandon said. “But the corporates responded by just putting up their percentages. They used to bet to 110 per cent [for a market], now they bet to 125 per cent. To the point where the turnover is now dropping.” The Victorian point of consumption tax jumped from 10 per cent to 15 per cent in July, with half of the income guaranteed to be funnelled back to all racing codes. In other words, the Victorian racing industry is now welded to an income from the online bookmaker model. “The government and racing bodies are taxing the industry to death,” MacDonald said. “When they are increased, it is passed on to the punters. When the online bookmakers have poorer margins, they have to cut down on the winners. “But winners are a big part of the game. If more winners are allowed, it would make the margins sharper. So losers would lose at a slower rate. “It is a cycle of poor management. Governments and sports administrations want greater returns from tax, but they are losing revenue.” Racing Victoria said gambling revenue fell 10 per cent last financial year, and is already down nine per cent this year. The other side effects, MacDonald said, was that more and more gamblers were turning to the black market. Political mission Whether Pangallo’s bill can start a chain reaction remains to be seen. But he is determined to make a difference. “The conglomerates who own these companies – like Flutter Entertainment (Sportsbet) or Entain Group (Neds and Ladbrokes) – have resources in the billions of dollars,” he said. “Their algorithms pick up on every tiny detail – from the way you swipe on your phone application to the IP address you use when making bets. “But advances of technology have seen a new genre of smart and well-resourced gamblers attempting to improve their chances of landing winners. Some punters are just really good at analysis, while others utilise complex computer algorithms. “As a result, these greedy betting companies have wised up and devised their own way to ensure they still hold the upper hand – by simply banning the punter. “In any other industry, that would be unconscionable, if not illegal conduct.” *Names changed to protect privacy. News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter .
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