Tabcorp Mulls Digital Betting In Retail Venues

By Brian Cullingworth, Last updated Aug 15, 2014

Finding a way around Australia's ban on in-play betting via mobiles

Tabcorp chief executive David Attenborough is looking for a way around the ban on internet and mobile in-play betting in Australia, he revealed in media interviews following the release of the company's financial results last week (see previous InfoPowa reports).
Punters in Australia can bet on the outcome of an event after it has begun, but only via the telephone or in person. Such in-play betting is illegal on online platforms, including smartphones. With the growing popularity of internet and mobile wagering it's an area of expansion that holds the promise of improved returns.
With retail (betting shops and pubs) returns declining – Tabcorp reported a 4.9 percent dip in Victoria to $2.8 billion and 1.2 percent slide in New South Wales to $3.8 billion in 2014 – finding a way to allow gamblers to use their mobiles whilst in the retail betting environment could have benefits for the venues as well.
Attenborough has not specifically spelled out his intentions beyond suggesting the integration of digital live betting in retail, but analysts have observed that getting in-play betting via punters' mobiles accepted in the 2,550 retail betting venues Tabcorp services in NSW and Victoria is one way forward.
And it could help stem the flow of business away from retail to digital.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported over the weekend that the retail venues could provide wi-fi enabled secure internet connections for gamblers, thus permitting them to legally play via their mobiles on the premises and under the venues' licensing.
"It is something that obviously we're working on," Attenborough told the newspaper. "We would love to develop that further … [That is] certainly the kind of thing the venues would love to see in place, because it is logical that if someone is definitely in the venue… they are essentially betting under the venue's licence."
Attenborough said digital integration could allow Tabcorp to promote other products like food, drink and entertainment to retail customers.

Online Casino News Courtesy of Infopowa

Brian Cullingworth

Infopowa news was a staple of Casinomeister’s news from 2000 until 2019. Brian Cullingworth was the main writer, contributor, and was one of the most knowledgeable persons I have ever known involved in the online casino industry.

We first met in January 2001 at the ICE in London where I observed him going booth to booth interviewing online casino, software, and licensing jurisdiction representatives. Brian was also heavily involved with our forum as “Jetset“, he was involved as an informal consultant to eCOGRA, the OPA, and was a player advocate who assisted countless aggrieved players with his connections to industry folks. He also published “Casino Cautions” via Infopowa news for quite a number of years. These can be found in our news archives.

His passing in February 2019 was a dark day for us. He will be forever missed.


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