Tom Waterhouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Waterhouse
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Waterhouse (2019)
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Thomas Robert Waterhouse
11 June 1982 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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| Nationality | Australian |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney |
| Occupation | Chief Investment Officer Waterhouse VC |
| Spouse(s) | Hoda Waterhouse |
| Parent(s) | Robbie Waterhouse Gai Waterhouse |
| Relatives | Kate Waterhouse (sister) Bill Waterhouse (grandfather) Tommy J. Smith (grandfather) |
Thomas Robert Waterhouse (born 11 June 1982) is an Australian businessman. He is known for his work in the racing and betting industries. Tom is the Chief Investment Officer of Waterhouse VC, an investment company. He also directs TomWaterhouse.com and helped start ListedReserve.com. His family has been involved in horse racing for many generations.
His grandfathers were both important in the racing world. His grandfather, William "Bill" Waterhouse, was a very big bookmaker in the 1960s and 1970s. His other grandfather, Tommy J. Smith, was a famous horse trainer. He trained many winning horses, including two Melbourne Cup champions.
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Early Life and Education
Tom Waterhouse was born in Sydney, Australia. He went to school at Shore in North Sydney. Later, he studied at the University of Sydney. He earned a degree in Commerce and Liberal Studies. His main subjects were finance and marketing. He planned to work in the finance industry.
Starting in Bookmaking
Tom Waterhouse is the fourth generation of his family in horse racing. This family tradition began in 1898. That's when his great-grandfather, Charles Hercules Waterhouse, got a license to work at Randwick Racecourse. His grandfather, Bill Waterhouse, continued this tradition from 1954. Bill became known as the world's biggest bookmaker.
In 2001, Tom's father, Robbie Waterhouse, asked him to help at Rosehill Racecourse. Tom really enjoyed it. He was only six months into his university degree. But he quickly changed his schedule to attend races more often.
Tom got his bookmaking license in 2003. He started working as a bookmaker at the race tracks. By 2008, he was Australia's biggest on-track bookmaker. During the Melbourne Cup carnival, he handled over $20 million in bets. This was more than all other bookmakers combined. For four years, Tom lived mostly at Melbourne's Crown Casino. This was because of betting rules in New South Wales.
Online Business Ventures
In 2010, Tom Waterhouse started an online betting business. His company became one of Australia's largest online bookmakers. They had offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and Darwin. The company grew very quickly. It started with just three people and grew to over 100 employees. Their client list also grew from under 1,000 to about 250,000.
In August 2013, a large international betting company bought his website. This company was William Hill (bookmaker). Tom then became the Managing Director of TomWaterhouse within William Hill.
By July 2014, Tom was the CEO of William Hill Australia. He managed several betting brands. These included TomWaterhouse, Centrebet, Sportingbet, and William Hill. The business operated from three countries. It had about 500 employees and one million clients. They handled over two billion dollars in bets.
In May 2018, William Hill sold its Australian business. After this, Tom Waterhouse took back control of his brand. He changed it into a racing tipping service. This service gives subscribers betting information and strategies.
In July 2020, Tom Waterhouse launched a new app. It's called the TomWaterhouse App. This app compares betting odds from different companies. It lets customers place bets with their chosen operator.
Investment Business
In August 2019, Tom started a new company called Waterhouse VC. "VC" stands for Venture Capital. This company uses his 20 years of experience in gaming and betting. The fund mainly invests in companies related to gambling or betting services. These companies are listed on the Australian stock exchange or worldwide.
Waterhouse VC focuses on companies that provide important services. They look for businesses that are growing fast in the gaming and betting world. The fund has a special interest in US companies. This is because many US states are now allowing online betting. This has created a big new market. The fund has had very good returns since it started. It is available to large investors only.
Family Connections
The first bookmaker in Tom's family was Charles Waterhouse. He got his license in 1898. Tom's mother is Gai Waterhouse. She is a top Australian horse trainer and businesswoman. She learned from her father, T.J Smith, who was also a famous trainer. Gai worked with her father for 15 years before getting her own training license.
Tom's father, Robbie Waterhouse, and his grandfather, William "Bill" Waterhouse, are also bookmakers. They had a period where their bookmaker licenses were suspended. This was due to an event in 1984.
Tom Waterhouse married Hoda Vakili in 2011. They got married in Taormina, Italy. The couple met at Sydney University. Hoda was studying for her Master's in Architecture. They were close friends for years. Hoda even worked for Tom at the race track, taking bets while she was studying.
Media Appearances
Tom Waterhouse often appears on sports TV and radio shows. He also writes for newspapers and magazines.
He co-hosts a show called Sportsline on Sky Business. He also co-hosts "Two Cups and a Plate" on TVN, which focuses on racing. He appears on the Nine Network's Wide World of Sports. He is a regular during Nine's coverage of the Wallabies rugby team. He was also featured during the Rugby World Cup 2011. Tom is a regular guest on 2GB radio with Alan Jones. He discusses racing and sports on Friday mornings during certain seasons. He also appeared during Channel Seven's coverage of Wimbledon in 2012. He was also on TVN for Ascot races.
In 2006, Tom was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. He was the second person voted off the show.
More Joyous Inquiry
In 2013, there was an inquiry about the horse More Joyous. This happened during the Sydney Cup day at Randwick Racecourse. There were questions about information shared regarding the horse's condition. Tom Waterhouse denied any wrongdoing. He was cleared by the stewards' inquiry run by the Racing NSW. He was advised not to use his mother's name to promote his betting business.
Awards and Recognition
Tom Waterhouse was named in SmartCompany's Hot 30 Under 30 class of 2012. This group recognizes young entrepreneurs aged 30 and under. His company, Tomwaterhouse.com, was ranked 19th in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Australia 2012. This award recognizes fast-growing technology companies.
