Tabcorps Gambling Plans Slammed

The NSW arm of the Australian Hotels Association has slammed Tabcorps push to turn pubs into giant gambling barns, with hotels failing to up the ante set to lose their TAB outlets or have commission rates substantially reduced.

"NSW AHA president John Thorpe was scathing in his criticism of Tabcorps move, labelling it corporate greed.

"…A large number of NSW publicans attended a Tabcorp seminar at its Star City casino on Wednesday where they were shown the gambling giants plans for the future under a bigger, better TAB banner.

"…He was also concerned that hotel owners would have to foot the bill for major renovations of individual betting rooms and said Tabcorps spruikers didnt talk about the costs of Sky Channel, that is one of their own [companies].

"Thorpe thinks country punters starved of a community betting outlet will resort to unlicensed operators, just like the old days

2005-11-28