Sportsbet is so sure Labor's going to retain government in the ACT it's paying out to punters a day early.
Betting markets are backing the incumbent Labor government to win Saturday's poll, and one bookmaker has decided the result's so clear it's paying out early.
As it did before this year's Queensland election, Sportsbet announced it is paying out on a win before a vote is cast.
'As far as our punters are concerned this one looks over, just based on the sheer amount of support there has been for Labor,' Sportsbet spokesman Shaun Anderson said.
'It is only a matter of time before we would have to pay out, so our punters might as well enjoy their winnings a day early.'
In the past week, Labor's odds to win an historic fourth consecutive term have firmed from $1.50 to $1.04, the agency says.
Support for the Liberals has drifted from $3.50 to $5.50.
Mr Anderson said 99 per cent of all bets taken by Sportsbet on the election had gone on Labor.
It's now offering odds of $41 to punters wanting to bet on the unlikely proposition the next chief minister would come from the Greens, which should retain its four seats.
Labor appears set to keep its seven seats, leaving the Liberals with six in the 17-member Legislative Assembly.
Meanwhile, the national capital broadsheet The Canberra Times used its editorial on Friday to back Labor's return to government.
While the 11-year-old administration did not necessarily deserve another term, the Liberals had not presented a compelling alternative, the paper said.
'Their most novel policy is to provide Canberra homes with an extra bin for green waste,' it said.
'We deserve loftier goals.'
