s n r i a C
Local News
MAY 31, 2024
100% LOCALLY OWNED & INDEPENDENT
cairnslocalnews.com.au
COV E R I N G M O S S M A N TO T H E C A S S OWA RY COAS T
l News
l Time Out
l Sport
Jasper’s $650m damage to FNQ’s economy
Italian Festival gets bigger and better
Mountain biker blitzes field at Crankworx
Page 3
Page 13
Page 27
Punter’s gamble
Clashes over CEO position
City businessman takes on big boys with betting ‘showdown‘ l PARRAMATTA PARK | Nick Dalton
l CAIRNS CBD | Nick Dalton CAIRNS businessman and property developer Darren Halpin is taking on the heavyweights of gambling and created an app that he describes as the most responsible form of betting in Australia. UPC (Ultimate Punters Challenge) Showdown is horse betting crossed with a tipping competition-style event with 12 selections in 12 races earning punters points on a leaderboard to try to win a large total prize pool. There is just one other similar rival app but with a smaller prize pool. Mr Halpin, an avid punter and racehorse syndicate owner, launched the app in March and has already paid out nearly $900,000 ($895,179) to customers. He said the idea came from many years ago when three times a year a Brisbane publican held showdowns using just pens, paper and a black or whiteboard. “I loved it, it was great fun,’ Mr Halpin said. “I’ve been punting all my life. I love it. Punters try to beat the bookies, most punters don’t,” he said. Mr Halpin said UPC Showdown was “entertainment”
Businessman and developer Darren Halpin’s love for a punt has led to the creation of a different style of betting app. Picture: Nick Dalton
with people spending $10, $20 or $50 to enter one of four showdowns each week. He said most punters chased their losses, placing bets after bets that could run into hundreds or thousands of dollars in a weekend, but the showdown was different. “Players decide how they
want to play – some choose to pick their own horses, others opt for a quick pick, and some do a combination of both,” Mr Halpin said. “They follow the leaderboard for an afternoon of fun, where points are accumulated over 12 races for wins and places,” he said.
OPEN MONDAY A TO FRIDAY AY A FROM 6 AY 6:00AM 00AM TO 6 6:00PM 00PM
“First place is awarded to the player with the most points. “It’s tipping meets punting in a user-friendly inclusive platform,” he said. “The app encourages responsible gambling with no ability to chase your losses.” Mr Halpin said last Saturday a Trinity Park woman entered
the Doomben Cup Showdown with a $50 pick your own entry, she accumulated 85.30 points and won first prize of $22,388. He said winners didn’t get paid out until the following Tuesday to avoid reinvesting the winnings straight away as they rode an adrenalin high. CONTINUED PAGE 3
A “PROFESSIONAL associate” of Cairns Mayor Amy Eden – former Cairns Regional Council chief executive officer John Andrejic – returns to the top role today on an interim contract despite the council on Wednesday declaring she had a conflict of interest over the appointment. Mr Andrejic, who quit in 2020, was chosen from a shortlist of four candidates (from 32 applicants) in a decision behind closed doors at a special meeting on Wednesday morning. Despite a majority of councillors – Brett Moller, Rob Pyne, Kristy Vallely, Anna Middleton and Rhonda Coghlan – agreeing that the mayor had a conflict of interest, a few minutes later Cr Middleton changed sides and voted with councillors Brett Olds, Matthew Tickner, Cathy Zeiger and Trevor Tim to allow the mayor to remain in the chambers to decide on the interim CEO role. Councillors Moller, Pyne, Vallely and Coghlan voted against the motion. Cr Eden did not vote in either case. After closed door debate, councillors returned to give Mr Andrejic the nod, with councillors Moller and Pyne voting against it. Prior to the decision, Cr Moller – a lawyer – provided a lengthy opinion about the conflict of interest. CONTINUED PAGE 3
LIMITED POSITIONS ARE AVAILABLE
Road, d, Mount Sheridan, 4868 LOCAL FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED! TED! Located at 10 Hardy Road