Bookie wars heating up as Tabcorp blocks Entain
Tabcorp has reacted strongly to pubs and club that have struck deals to display Neds or Ladbrokes signage in their venues.
The wagering giant has long held a monopoly over broadcasting racing and accepting retail bets in venues in NSW, however this changed when Entain, Neds (Neds review) and Ladbrokes (Ladbrokes review) parent company, struck a deal with with the NSW Australian Hotels Association.
Under this deal, pubs and clubs can display Neds and Ladbrokes signage, however Tabcorp, in what is believed not to be an isolated incident, has cut off The Commercial Hotel in Bega, including taking away their betting facilities and cutting the Sky Racing feeds.
The Commercial Hotel, which is owned by former NRL player Mitch Creary, has now become an unlikely battleground for the future of racing in Australia.
Creary was aiming to offset some of the costs of housing the TAB facilities and securing the racing feeds, however now he has been left out in the cold, and is losing business from both loyal customers and foot traffic.
Tabcorp has got an exclusive retail wagering license in NSW until 2033, which has been an important factor in the company staying at the forefront of racing in Australia, with many pubs hosting their facilities.
Ladbrokes and Neds both have got streaming right for Sky Racing’s feeds on mobile, with these accessible via their mobile betting apps, which are available via both Android and iOS smartphones.
Tabcorp appears to be fighting a losing battle in protecting their monopoly on retail betting, with many punters opting to place bets via their bookie apps, even while in betting venues in NSW.
