Corporate bookies call foul over in-play betting monopoly

Australia’s corporate bookmakers have been up in arms over the latest changes to the Interactive Gambling Act, which they claim give Tabcorp and Tatts Group free reign over in-play betting.

According to a joint letter sent by Australia’s bookmakers in early November, the latest IGA amendments included a measure that would effectively give the Tabcorp-Tatts Group the ability to offer online in-play betting in retail outlets and pubs and clubs across the country - which would give them a significant advantage.

"You could conceivably have iPads handed out for people to bet on at the MCG while a match is on, given there is a TAB outlet there," said one bookmaker CEO to the Australian Financial Review.

"[The Tatts and Tabcorp] mega-merger will result in a significant concentration of monopoly power, while expanding that monopoly power through the Bill's provisions," the letter said.

Other measures hurting the corporate bookmaker include a ban on betting on credit on Australian sports with offshore wagering operators.

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