Oceania

Both Paddy Power and Betfair were achieving double digit growth ahead of their merger last month – Paddy Power had grown its revenues by 24% to €1.1bn in 2015, while Betfair’s final quarter as an independent company saw revenues increase by 21%. However both firms also had their figures blunted by taxation. Over 2015 Paddy Power’s operating profit increased 10% …

The Gold Coast Titans have announced a major sponsorship deal with UK-based betting agency, Ladbrokes, in time for the new Australian National Rugby League (NRL) season. The Ladbrokes logo will be in place, on the Titan’s sleeves and lower back, during the 2016 Telstra Premiership, which begins this Sunday against the Newcastle Knights at the Cbus Super Stadium. Ladbrokes entered …

Ladbrokes Australia has announced the release of its latest innovation; the Odds Boost betting function. Odds Boost allows Ladbrokes customers to select any runner in any event across thoroughbred, greyhound and harness racing and increase the potential windfall by clicking the button located on the betting slip section. The function is available to customers across platforms and will reset at midnight each day ensuring …

Australian Football League (AFL) club Richmond has entered into a partnership with the Victorian Responsible Gaming Foundation, with a deal that precludes the Australian rules club from having sports betting sponsors. As reported in iGaming Business, the agreement will run for three seasons, from 2016 to 2018. Richmond, also known as the Tigers, will sign the Responsible Gambling Charter and …

Australian news sources have reported that Racing & Gaming Minister Colin Holt is seeking to privatise the Western Australia TAB network (WA TAB), which represents the country’s last state-owned betting agency. Holt is reported to be seeking a AUS $1 billion sale for the state asset, with the Racing Representative Group set to present its auction plans to WA regulators. …

Australian gambling operator Tabcorp has confirmed that it will make an upfront payment of AUS $25 million (£12.2 million) to the New South Wales (NSW) government for its extension of Keno gaming services. The NSW licence, will see Tabcorp extend it Keno provisions services until 2050. The operator is expected to pay an additional Aus $3 million in yearly licence …

Australian gambling operator Tabcorp Holdings has selected specialist online gambling marketing agency Digital Fuel Ltd to lead the UK launch of its new brand ‘Sun Bets’ in cooperation with media publisher News UK. Digital Fuel will lead first stage marketing initiatives for the ‘Sun Bets’ brand that will aim to launch in early 2016. The brand was first announced in …

Despite recent allegations around the Australian Open, organisers of the Burnie International are confident their event has not been targeted by match fixers, even though self-confessed ‘tanker’ Nick Lindahl has played there in the past. As reported in The Mercury, two other players allegedly among the 15 former and current professionals said to have played in matches surrounded by unusual …

Germany’s totalisator is the latest to join Tabcorp’s multi-billion dollar wagering pools, following an agreement completed between Tabcorp and German Tote. German Tote is majority-owned by French wagering operator Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU), while German racetracks (BGG Betriebsgesellschaft der Galopp-Rennvereine mbH) also have a minority stake. The deal will involve the German Tote taking all Australian thoroughbred and harness racing and co-mingling their …

The Sydney Morning Herald (smh.com.au) has reported that Tabcorp governance rejected a joint venture approach by Ladbrokes Plc, in a move that would have rocked the Australian betting market. Ladbrokes are reported to have proposed the joint venture in late 2013, with the firm looking to create Australia’s biggest gambling operator. At the time Ladbrokes had launched its Australian betting division …