SPORTS BETTING – AUSTRALIA

TV chiefs rail against gambling-ad threat

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Original article by Sarah-Jane Tasker
The Australian – Page: 23 : 18-Jul-16

Standard Media Index data shows that the gambling industry spend some $A63m on TV advertising in the first half of 2016, which represents year-on-year growth of nearly 20 per cent. The CEOs of Australia’s commercial free-to-air networks are united in their opposition to a push for new restrictions on gambling ads on TV. Crossbenchers Nick Xenophon and ­Andrew Wilkie are leading the bid to ban gambling ads during the broadcasting of sports events in certain timeslots.

CORPORATES
SMI MEDIA INCORPORATED, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, THE NIELSEN COMPANY (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, SPORTSBET AUSTRALIA, LADBROKES, CROWNBET PTY LTD

Ban on betting ads would be draconian: Seven West boss

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Original article by John Stensholt
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 15-Jul-16

It is estimated that bookmakers spent about $A150m on advertising during television broadcasts of sports events. Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner says a proposed ban is "draconian" and unnecessary, adding that Seven already has stricter internal rules on the issue than required by the advertising code. Sportsbet and CrownBet say they would agree to reduce their advertising during sports telecasts, but they oppose the blanket ban that is being advocated by crossbenchers Nick Xenophon and Andrew Wilkie.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SPORTSBET AUSTRALIA, CROWNBET PTY LTD, ALLIANCE FOR GAMBLING REFORM, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Tatts in $540m court shock

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Original article by Sarah-Jane Tasker
The Australian – Page: 19 & 22 : 3-Mar-16

Shares in Tatts Group shed 4.35 per cent to close at $A3.74 on 2 March 2016, after the High Court ruled in the Victorian Government’s favour in a dispute over the termination of the company’s poker machine licence. The court ordered Tatts to repay a total of $A540m which it had been awarded as compensation by a previous court ruling in 2014. The latest judgment has prompted speculation that Tatts could seek to revive merger talks with rival Tabcorp, although Tatts CEO Robert Cooke recently said this is not on the agenda.

CORPORATES
TATTS GROUP LIMITED – ASX TTS, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, TABCORP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TAH, UBET

Nine mulls a punt on fantasy betting market

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 25 : 8-Feb-16

Australian media companies are hoping to capitalise on the growing popularity of fantasy betting. Nine Entertainment Company is believed to be keen to enter the market, while News Corp Australia has had discussions with Moneyball. Meanwhile, Australian-listed TopBetta recently held talks with both News Corp and Seven West Media. Fantasy betting is also attracting interest from gambling companies such as CrownBet.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, MONEYBALL, TOPBETTA HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TBH, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, CROWNBET PTY LTD, TABCORP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TAH, TATTS GROUP LIMITED – ASX TTS, LADBROKES, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, DRAFTKINGS, FANDUEL

Greyhound races most popular among Generation Y

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 20-Jan-16

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 18 per cent of Australians aged 18+ gambled on at least one horse race (excluding harness trots) in the past year. Their average age is almost 49, which is a bit older than the national mean. The survey, which was carried out in the year to September 2015, also shows that 3.2 per cent of Australian adults bet on greyhounds, and their average age is not quite 41. Meanwhile, the 25-34 age group is 80 per cent more likely than average to bet on dog races, and makes up the largest bloc of greyhound bettors (34.2 per cent).

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ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Bookies say disgraced outfit is a lock for wooden spoon

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Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 13-Jan-16

Punters who have backed Essendon to win the 2016 Australian Football League premiership will be offered a refund by Sportsbet in the wake of the landmark ruling on the supplements scandal. The firm notes that Essendon had been heavily backed to win both its first game of the season and the premiership. With many Essendon players now banned for the entire season, Sportsbet is no longer accepting bets on the team that will finish last on the AFL ladder.

CORPORATES
ESSENDON FOOTBALL CLUB, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, SPORTSBET AUSTRALIA, PADDY POWER PLC, TABCORP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TAH, WILLIAM HILL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, UBET, GOLD COAST FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED, SYDNEY FOOTBALL CLUB, ADELAIDE FOOTBALL CLUB, RICHMOND FOOTBALL CLUB, NORTH MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED, PORT ADELAIDE FOOTBALL CLUB

Tatts Group urged to seek premium

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Original article by James Thomson, Jessica Gardner
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 16-Nov-15

Tabcorp Holdings and Tatts Group have both declined to comment on reports that they have held merger discussions. Shares in Tatts Group closed at $A3.92 on 13 November 2015, although Sandon Capital estimates that the stock could be worth around $A5.50 if Tatts were broken up. Tabcorp is seen as a potential buyer of Tatts’ wagering division, but some fund managers favour a merger between the two groups.

CORPORATES
TABCORP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TAH, TATTS GROUP LIMITED – ASX TTS, SANDON CAPITAL INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX SNC, PERPETUAL LIMITED – ASX PPT, UNITAB LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, ONTARIO TEACHERS’ PENSION PLAN, NSW LOTTERIES, WILLIAM HILL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, LADBROKES GROUP PLC

Bet365 bets on future after losses hit $117m

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Original article by John Stensholt
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 4-Aug-15

Bet365 has reported a loss of $A31 million for its Australian operations in the first quarter of 2015. The company lost $A40.8 million in the previous corresponding period. The accumulated losses of the UK-based wagering group’s Australian business are now $A117 million for its three full years of operation in Australia. The company is confident that its Australian business will become profitable in the long-term.

CORPORATES
BET365 GROUP LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, SPORTSBET AUSTRALIA, WILLIAM HILL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FORBES INCORPORATED, CROWNBET PTY LTD, LADBROKES GROUP PLC

Tabcorp faces trial, fines over money laundering

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Original article by Perry Williams, Patrick Durkin
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 7 : 23-Jul-15

The Australian Transaction Reports & Analysis Centre claims that Tabcorp breached money-laundering reporting laws on at least 100 separate occasions. It has launched civil action against the gaming group in the Federal Court, alleging that Tabcorp failed to report suspect transactions that were made via TAB betting accounts. Tabcorp could face fines of up to $A17m, although Deutsche Bank notes that the group could potentially be fined up to $A51m in total as two subsidiaries are also subject to the legal action.

CORPORATES
TABCORP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TAH, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT. AUSTRALIAN TRANSACTION REPORTS AND ANALYSIS CENTRE, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS, BULLDOGS RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, LEND LEASE GROUP LIMITED – ASX LLC, ASX LIMITED – ASX ASX, SUNCORP GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUN, NBN CO LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, NEW SOUTH WALES POLICE FORCE, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, VICTORIA. OFFICE OF POLICE INTEGRITY, DOW JONES SUSTAINABILITY INDEX

Betting on the AFL a supporter’s game

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 22-Jul-15

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 2.1 per cent of Australians aged +18 placed a bet on an Australian Football League (AFL) match in person or online in the year to March 2015. This compares with 1.3 per cent in the year to March 2005. The survey also shows that 13.4 per cent of paid-up members of an AFL team bet on matches, while five per cent of people who support an AFL team placed a bet on a match in the last year. Melbourne Demons, North Melbourne Kangaroos and Fremantle Dockers supports are most likely to bet on AFL matches.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB, KANGAROOS FOOTBALL CLUB, FREMANTLE DOCKERS FOOTBALL CLUB, GOLD COAST FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED, GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY FOOTBALL CLUB