Hundreds of gamblers have made an early score on tomorrow's ACT election with an online bookmaker halting bets on the poll and paying out $20,000 to punters who backed Labor.
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Online bookies Sportsbet.com.au closed its market on the poll this morning after odds on a victory by Chief Minister Katy Gallagher plunged to $1.04, the same as those available on Black Caviar in the mare's most recent races.
The agency's public relations manager Shaun Anderson told the Canberra Times today that about 300 punters would share in $20,000 of winnings after the decision was made to close the market this morning with 95 per cent of gamblers backing Ms Gallagher to retain power.
"We've decided to pay out already, that's how confident we are," Mr Anderson said
The Liberals' price had blown out from $2.30 on Monday to a $3.50 long shot yesterday.
"At the start of the week, they (Labor) were $1.50, then they moved to $1.04, so at this stage we've closed the market," Mr Anderson said.
"The main reason its been closed is because of the volume of bets for Labor, it just looks like a certainty."
"We might re-open it, but it's a sure thing at the moment."