Tag: Australia

The Andrews Labor Government is ensuring Ballarat locals experiencing the devastating impacts of gambling harm can get tailored treatment and support services with an innovative new programme being piloted in the region.

Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Melissa Horne, Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle and Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison launched the pilot, which equips allied health professions with a new way of screening patients to determine the best treatments to get them back on track.

It will increase access to, and training for, practitioners who operate within the mental health, alcohol and other drugs sectors and are treating people vulnerable to gambling harm.

Following feedback from Gambler’s Help service funded through the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, the programme has been developed to improve pathways for people seeking treatment for co-existing conditions, such as a mental health issue in addition to gambling harm.

It starts with a simple question by a health practitioner to their client about whether they gamble and progresses through the appropriate pathway for each person from there.

The pilot programme will increase awareness of gambling harm among healthcare professions and remove barriers faced by people seeking help – such as stigma.

The trial uses the latest evidence to improve outcomes for the Ballarat community, with the lessons to inform future programmes across the state.

The training will be led by clinical consultant Dr Jane Oakes and the Foundation’s Principal Clinical Advisor, Tony Clarkson and provided to practitioners at Ballarat Community Health, Child and Family Services and the Salvation Army Health Services.

Digital lottery company Jumbo Interactive has provided an update on its preliminary FY22 results which will be released to the market on August 26. The preliminary results, which remain subject to Board and external audit review, reflect strong double digit growth across all key performance metrics.

Mike Veverka, CEO and Founder of Jumbo, said: “We are very pleased with the strong growth that we have achieved in FY22 off the back of an improved jackpot cycle. FY22 has been a pivotal year for Jumbo as we build the foundations to successfully execute on our global growth strategy. Lottery Retailing is exceptionally well positioned to benefit from the ongoing shift to digital and the new OzLotto game launched in May 2022 while the integration of Stride and StarVale will help us build scale in our Managed Services and SaaS segments globally.”

The domestic jackpot environment remains supportive with 43 Powerball/OzLotto jackpots greater than or equal to $15m in FY22, compared to 38 in FY21, with the average value of these jackpots up 28%. The second half of the financial year benefitted from a $120m Powerball jackpot in February 2022, the first jackpot greater than $100m since September 2019. This, however, was followed by significantly lower jackpot activity in March and April 2022, with peak monthly Jackpots of $20m, before increasing to $80m and $60m in May and June respectively.

Sky Racing (Sky) has secured the rights to broadcast and distribute Victorian greyhound racing for the next four years, heralding a new and innovative era in the way the sport is showcased to fans and punters.

The partnership with Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) will grow the profile of the sport, create additional content across the Sky Racing network and drive wagering growth throughout TAB’s digital and retail networks.

The partnership, which appoints Sky as GRV’s domestic, digital and international vision broadcaster and distributor, will feature:

• An increase in air time for Victorian greyhound racing on Sky Racing.
• Dedicated greyhound showcase content.
• New digital initiatives which will make it easier to access Victorian greyhound racing on an expanded number of digital platforms.

Tabcorp General Manager of Sky Operations, Adam Brownlee, said the partnership would grow the sport and create more opportunities for punters.

“We’re thrilled to be appointed as GRV’s vision distribution and broadcast partner,” he said.

“Sky and GRV have a longstanding partnership and the new agreement will strengthen our relationship. Most importantly it’s a win for punters, industry participants and our almost two million viewers every year whether they be in pubs or clubs, at home or watching via our newly refreshed website, the TAB App or on Sky Racing Active.

“We’re really looking forward to working closely with GRV to be innovative in the way the sport is broadcast and bring punters closer to the action. This deal is a tremendous opportunity to grow the sport and increase content on our network for greyhound racing fans.”

GRV Acting Chief Executive Officer Stuart Laing said the partnership would grow the sport and its popularity with punters as a wagering product of choice nationally and internationally.

“This partnership will provide new opportunities to expand access to vision for fans and punters, bringing them closer to our product and better promote our feature events, star greyhounds and participants,” he said.

“We are looking forward to working even more closely with Sky Racing to be more innovative in the way we showcase our sport to punters.”

Mr Brownlee said the enhanced exposure would also increase wagering opportunities for TAB.

“We have the most integrated customer experience in Australia and Sky Racing’s coverage is a critical component in growing TAB’s market share. This partnership will give punters access to more information from the best form analysts and create more interest in punting on greyhound racing as TAB prepares to launch a new App.”

Tabcorp has announced changes that will take place on the demerger of The Lottery Corporation Limited after the NSW Supreme Court approved the business’s spin-off proposal.

Steven Gregg moves from chairman and non-executive director of Tabcorp to become chairman and non-executive director of The Lottery Corporation. Bruce Akhurst will chair Tabcorb.

Meanwhile, Harry Boon and Anne Brennan leave the Tabcorp Board to assume positions as non-executive directors of The Lottery Corporation, which will be spun off from Tabcorp on June 1.

David Attenborough has stepped down as Tabcorp’s managing director and chief executive officer and will be replaced by Adam Rytenskild on June 1. Adam Newman has stepped down as chief financial officer of Tabcorp to take up the role of chief financial officer of The Lottery Corporation. Daniel Renshaw will become Tabcorp’s chief financial officer.

Brett Chenoweth, Raelene Murphy and Karen Stocks will be appointed as non-executive directors to Tabcorp’s board, subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory and ministerial approvals. They will serve as observers to the board from June 1, 2022.

Tabcorp first announced plans to spin off its lottery and keno divisions in July 2021 following a strategic review of its operations.