Australian bookmakers refuse to pay out on Obama win

Sydney: Two of Australia's largest bookmakers are refusing to pay out on bets that Barack Obama would win the US presidential election, citing fears he could be assassinated before his inauguration, a report said Saturday.

The two bookmakers, Sportsbet and Centrebet, told the Sydney Morning Herald they would not pay out on the bets until the first African-American US president takes office in January.

A spokesman for Centrebet told the paper it was a matter of policy.

The Herald said its story was prompted by a punter who said a senior official at Sportsbet had refused to pay out on a bet citing assassination fears.

Sportsbet chief executive Matt Tripp denied this was the company's main concern.

"God forbid he has a stroke or gets hit by a bus," Tripp told the paper. "I love the bloke. I want to pay out on him. I think he is good for America and good for the world."

Irish bookmaker Paddy Power was so sure of the election outcome that it paid out Obama-backers in October.

Other Australian bookmakers have paid out on Obama's victory, the Herald said.