Friday, March 24, 2006

As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald: "The Bracks Government's bid to maximise returns from gambling in Victoria is gathering pace with the release of four issue papers for the review into the gaming machine, wagering and Club Keno licences.

"Victoria's Gaming and Racing Minister, John Pandazopoulos, called for submissions from industry stakeholders and members of the public yesterday, making it clear that the present licence holders, Tabcorp and Tattersall's, would not breeze through the process.

"…Though both incumbents have an enormous edge in the race to secure the licences beyond their 2012 expiry, industry analysts said the Government had designed the process to attract bids from new players.

"…Racing Victoria and Queensland's UNiTAB have both hinted they might bid for Tabcorp's wagering licence, while Mr Pandazopoulos's office has suggested the gaming machine licence - held by Tabcorp and Tatts - could be rearranged to give control to individual venue owners…"