SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Australia ASX-listed gambling operator Tabcorp Holdings is reported to have made a significant bid to maintain its position as main gambling services supplier to hotels and pubs in New South Wales (NSW).
NSW a key region for Tabcorp operations, has come under threat from James Packer-backed Crownbet who in February won the contract to supply gambling interactive services for Clubs NSW, which have circa 1,200 syndicated venues.
At the time, business news sources referred to Crownbet’s Clubs NSW victory as a ‘turf war’ between the Australian gambling enterprises, with Packer ‘moving in’ on Tabcorp key territory.
Clubs NSW stated that its switch to Crownbet was motivated as the operator has better capabilities for servicing its customers wagering habits which were no longer attune with Tabcorp ‘TAB’ retail-specific wagering provisions.
Seeking to hold its presence within NSW, Tabcorp governance is reported to have signed an exclusive five-year wagering service contract with the ‘Australian Hotels Association (AHA)’, which will see the operator service +1100 AHA NSW syndicated premises.
Agreeing on deal terms, the AHA partnership is set to cover land-based and digital provisions, with AHA venues receiving commissions should their customers’ sign-up to Tabcorp interactive gaming services.
Speaking to national news sources, Tabcorp CEO David Attenborough stated that the deal would maintain the firm’s position as outright wagering leader for NSW which contributes approximately AUS $1.6 billion in annual corporate revenues.
Tabcorp still contests Crownbet’s wagering agreement with Clubs NSW, stating that the deal breached previous supplier agreements agreed on by itself and Clubs NSW management. Tabcorp has asked the New South Wales board of Liquor and Gaming to review the agreement between Crownbet and Clubs NSW, requesting for any integration of services to halted.
