Tatts Group and TabCorp have threatened to sue the Victorian government over the loss of their poker machine duopoly in the state. This week, they have finally taken the government to court, and they are suing or $1.2 billion combined. The lawsuit was caused by the disbanding of the pokie duopoly that was once held by Tatts Group and TabCorp.

The companies once owned the licenses to 27 000 pokies in the state, which were recently transferred to pub and club owners due to local gambling reforms. The reforms have caused a significant loss for the poker machine operators, as TabCorp’s profits dropped by 63% in 2013. However, the pokie operators are not suing to make up for their losses.

Instead, they believe that they are entitled to the $1.2 billion because they were promised the money from the state government. The two companies were told that they would be provided with a payout if their licenses were not renewed. In 2012, the duopoly expired and there was no renewal – but there was no payout, either. Now, Tatts Group and TabCorp are seeking damages to recover the money that they claim was promised to them.

This is not the first time the pokie operators have been embroiled in a legal battle with the state government. In June 2013, the companies appealed a Health Benefit Levy charge worth $85 million. Despite losing their licenses early in the year, Tatts and TabCorp were charged the full annual fee. After legal intervention, the parties came to an amicable solution.

Now, the poker machine operators will face off with the Victorian government yet again. The hearing over the issue is expected to last three weeks. We will keep you updated with further developments.

About the Author

George Anderson
Author George, has over 25+ years’ experience in the Pokies and Casinos industry throughout Australia and New Zealand. Loves to research new Pokies games on the block and follows announcements from top industry providers about their upcoming releases. As soon as a new interesting pokie game appears on his radar, George is there to check it out and give you the scoop before anyone else and tell you about all casino sites where can play the latest game. Before this gig, George worked as Pokie game tester, making him an ideal candidate for this genre of work. He is also an animal lover and a proud owner of three dogs.