Mark Read (bookmaker)

Mark Read is an Australian businessman and former bookmaker, founder of International All Sports.[1]

Read was a leading bookmaker at a time when racing, particularly in Queensland, was beset with corruption, and avoided accepting bets from Queensland races.[2] Read was one of the first bookmakers to sniff out the Fine Cotton substitution scam.[3] At the height of his success in 1982, Read bought a mansion, Boomerang, Elizabeth Bay, but then retired.[4] Sportsbet.com.au acquired International All Sports in 2009.[5]

References

Nichola Garvey Beating the Odds 2011 Back cover: "He was Australia's most convicted SP bookmaker and was the prime target of gaming and vice squads around the country in the 1980s. Yet he would eventually sell his businesses for hundreds of millions of dollars. This is his story."
Morton And Lobez, James Morton, Susanna Lobez Kings Of Stings 2011 p.291 "In 1983 racing in Queensland was seriously suspect, and Mark Read and other prominent Sydney bookmakers were only accepting a quarter of the money staked on races there, and two horses Wishane Myth and Aquitane were known to ..."
David Ashforth Ringers & Rascals: The True Story of Racing's Greatest Con 2004 "When [punter] Garry Clarke walked up to bookmaker Mark Read, wanting to bet $6,000, Read remarked, "If this isn't a ring-in, I'm not here."" The gamble spread across Australia to Fyi and to Papua, New Guinea, It threatened to relieve bookmakers of $2 million."
The Bulletin - Issues 6019-6026 1996 p. 86 "He says bookmakers may not be around in 10 years' time unless restrictions on they way they operate are lifted. One bookmaker to have left the betting ring in search of greener pastures is Mark Read, 45, whose spectacular career ended a decade ago. "I could see bookmaking was gone when I retired," says Read, who has been operating a Sydney..."
Scott Woodward Living & Learning With The World's Biggest Punters p.30 "... the acquisition of Mark Read's International All Sports in 2009, Sportsbet are set to hit trading revenues in excess of 2 billion dollars in 2010. Mark Read is a living legend in the bookmaking world and he could have chosen who he wanted to sell his high profile business to.

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[1] Nichola Garvey Beating the Odds 2011 Back cover: "He was Australia's most convicted SP bookmaker and was the prime target of gaming and vice squads around the country in the 1980s. Yet he would eventually sell his businesses for hundreds of millions of dollars. This is his story."

[2] Morton And Lobez, James Morton, Susanna Lobez Kings Of Stings 2011 p.291 "In 1983 racing in Queensland was seriously suspect, and Mark Read and other prominent Sydney bookmakers were only accepting a quarter of the money staked on races there, and two horses Wishane Myth and Aquitane were known to ..."

[3] David Ashforth Ringers & Rascals: The True Story of Racing's Greatest Con 2004 "When [punter] Garry Clarke walked up to bookmaker Mark Read, wanting to bet $6,000, Read remarked, "If this isn't a ring-in, I'm not here."" The gamble spread across Australia to Fyi and to Papua, New Guinea, It threatened to relieve bookmakers of $2 million."

[4] The Bulletin - Issues 6019-6026 1996 p. 86 "He says bookmakers may not be around in 10 years' time unless restrictions on they way they operate are lifted. One bookmaker to have left the betting ring in search of greener pastures is Mark Read, 45, whose spectacular career ended a decade ago. "I could see bookmaking was gone when I retired," says Read, who has been operating a Sydney..."

[5] Scott Woodward Living & Learning With The World's Biggest Punters p.30 "... the acquisition of Mark Read's International All Sports in 2009, Sportsbet are set to hit trading revenues in excess of 2 billion dollars in 2010. Mark Read is a living legend in the bookmaking world and he could have chosen who he wanted to sell his high profile business to.