While sports betting continues to have a huge following in the Australian gambling market, local operators want to expand their offerings. Online in-game betting is one area that local betting firms have yet to expand into, and TabCorp wants to make the first step. TabCorp has recently announced its plans to offer online betting to punters in New South Wales and Victoria.
CEO David Attenborough is working on a new way to offer players the ability to use digital betting services to place wagers on matches while they are currently taking place. Currently, local betting operators are not allowed to offer in-play betting to users on digital gambling sites. Punters must use telephone betting services or show up in person at a betting shop if they want to make wagers during a match.
This has certainly had a negative effect on TabCorp’s profits. Digital and mobile betting have become hugely popular, with digital bets rising by 18% over the course of the past year. Many players appreciate being able to wager online, but the convenience falls short when they are prohibited from placing in-game bets.
TabCorp aims to change this by allowing players to use their mobile phones to place wagers using a secure internet connection from a betting shop. Using the shop’s connection would show that they are wagering in person but while still using their mobile phones. It is a loophole that could benefit both TabCorp and local betting shops by bringing in more business.
“We would love to develop that further,” says Mr Attenborough. “[That is] certainly the kind of thing the venues would love to see in place, because it is logical that if someone is definitely in the venue … they are essentially betting under the venue’s licence.” This could open up doors in the digital betting market for other operators, like Tatts Group. Soon, in-game mobile betting could be widespread across the country.
About the Author
