Melbourne Cup betting rules show UK the way to prevent illegal gambling boom | Greg Wood

The 2026 Melbourne Cup is scheduled for 4am GMT on Tuesday (3pm local time in Victoria, Australia), with significant early betting activity already underway. Irish punting legend JP McManus and fellow owner Paul Byrne attended the traditional 'Call of the Card' luncheon, a A$340-per-head event that has been part of the Melbourne Cup buildup since 1958. The article uses the race as a backdrop to discuss Australia's upcoming gambling legislation, set to take effect in January, which the author argues could make Australia a world leader in gambling regulation and a model for the UK.