21-06-2007 Co-mingling between Australia and New Zealand TAB pools will make betting more attractive

The co-mingling agreement, which sees the New Zealand's TAB pools merged with the Australia's SuperTAB pools, came into effect on June 11 and could increase betting on Australian racing by $40 million in the next 12 months, according to Michael Dore, Manager of the New Zealand Racing Board. Twice as much as the initial estimates for the next two seasons.

Meanwhile, the three Tasmanian racing codes were disappointed to hear that Betfair revenue forecasts had fallen from more than $35 million to just over $12 million in a two-year period. According to Rod Thirkell-Johnston, Chairman of the Tasmanian Thoroughbred Racing Council, the Tasmanian Government's over-estimation of the Betfair windfall created unnecessary negativity and was a blow for the confidence of the racing industry.

In other news, Two Way TV signed an agreement with Foxtel and Tabcorp to create Australia's first pay-TV wagering service.