Yesterday an independent review of wagering report was released in Australia’s state of New South Wales. The report, by Alan Cameron, was commissioned last year by the NSW government to look at ways for the industry to develop a framework for growth and sustainability around wagering practices. The NSW Gaming and Racing Minister Kevin Greene has now called for a national approach to the regulation of wagering, and will raise the subject at today’s meeting of Australian Racing Ministers in Melbourne.

“It is very apparent this sport and the whole racing industry that surrounds it are operating in a rapidly changing national landscape. It is becoming increasingly problematic for any state to try operating independently with the entry of corporate bookmakers and the cross-border “leaking” of revenue. That’s why I will raise this as a critical issue for the nation-wide future of the sport at the Australasian Racing Minister’s conference in Victoria.”

Mr Greene stated that a key issue was the way many states allow bookmakers to offer tote odds, a practice he feels diminishes the level of funding brought back to the racing industry. He noted that the report made recommendations generally supporting deregulation of the wagering industry, an approach unlikely to make everyone happy.

Other recommendations included the NSW Government pursuing a national co-ordinated approach to the regulation and taxation of the wagering industry; relaxing operating conditions for NSW bookmakers and TAB; permitting the NSW TAB to pool with other Australian totalizators; and allowing betting exchanges to operate and be licensed in NSW.

In conclusion Mr Greene added, “Though there has already been considerable consultation as part of the review, in the current climate of change we feel compelled to go back to the industry to examine the recommendations. I will be inviting relevant stakeholders to provide their comments on the review recommendations by January 31, 2009.” (E-12.05.08)

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