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BRINGING ASIAN RACING TO THE WORLD

Bren O’Brien / Columnist

Bren has worked in senior editorial roles for Thoroughbred Daily News, Punters.com.au and Racing.com. He found his passion for the racetrack as a child and through his journalism career, he has developed expertise in all aspects of the thoroughbred industry, specialising in breeding, bloodstock and pedigrees.

ARTICLES
《競馬論》TechTeam

【計Tech精彩】10月1日沙田日賽TechTeam貼士精選

國慶盃賽馬日仍然有【計Tech精彩】為讀者提供計Tech重心、值博之選以及賽日各場精選。
Bren O’Brien

A Tabcorp revival? How increased regulation could turn the tide for the one-time wagering powerhouse

After a torrid time through the pandemic the numbers are stacking up again for Tabcorp, but Bren O’Brien asks if its future success is tied to increased government regulation?
Bren O’Brien

Advertising bans and accountability: how the Australian government plans to reform the wagering industry

A proposed ban on gambling advertisements in Australia has courted the headlines, but when it comes to increased accountability of the wagering industry, the devil will be in the detail, writes Bren O’Brien.

Bren O’Brien

Victorian racing’s biggest challenges not with V’landys, but with itself

The most damaging war Victorian racing has been fighting has not been with Peter V’landys, writes Bren O’Brien.
Bren O’Brien

Open goal: how excessive wagering tax and regulation is driving Australian punters offshore

Mounting taxation and regulation in the Australian wagering industry has created a once-in-a-generation opportunity for unregulated overseas operators to target the Australian punter, writes Bren O’Brien.
Bren O’Brien

Questions persist as Victoria cuts racing’s joint-venture safety net

The Victorian thoroughbred industry is none-the-wiser what its wagering environment may look like from August 2024, despite the state government claiming ‘long-term certainty’ after the recent boost of the Point Of Consumption Tax.

Bren O’Brien

How New Zealand racing ‘sold the farm’ to Entain and left Tabcorp at the altar

When New Zealand’s Minister For Racing Kieran McAnulty signs off on a 25-year multi-billion dollar deal for Entain to take over the country’s wagering licence in the next couple of weeks, he will deliver a once-in-a-lifetime financial boost to the thoroughbred industry.
Bren O’Brien

A tough day on the stand: five takeaways from a chastening trip to Canberra for Australia’s biggest bookies

A brutal day of public hearings for Australia’s corporate bookmaking sector points to the federal government’s appetite for major regulatory change in the industry, including affordability checks and advertising bans.
Bren O’Brien

The house that Jake built: the ‘wild imagination’ that created Combet

On a quixotic quest to change the path of Australian bookmaking, Combet’s Jake Howard has built a betting product unlike anything the wagering industry has seen.
Bren O’Brien

Exchanging fortunes: does Betfair have a retail future in Australia?

Betfair has ridden a roller coaster of fortunes in its 18 years in Australia. Bren O’Brien looks at the role of the betting exchange in the past, present and future of the Australian wagering landscape.

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