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.

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Asian Racing Review: the existential threat of affordability checks

Michael Cox and Andrew Le Jeune discuss how gambling reform in the UK could be a portent to worrying changes in Australia.

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.

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Asian Racing Review: corporates grilled at inquiry, but where was the racing industry?

Andrew Le Jeune and Michael Cox talk Japan's latest turf superstar, the seemingly forgotten broader context of Anamoe's G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes defeat, and the at times 'heated' government inquiry into Australia's corporate bookmaking sector.

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.

Bren O’Brien

The Australian tote is dying, but does anybody care?

With data indicating that parimutuel win bet turnover on Australia’s major meetings has more than halved over the past 12 months, the future looks grim for the ‘TAB’ in the birthplace of the totalisator.

Bren O’Brien

The five stories set to shape Australian wagering in 2023

Wagering is the backbone of Australian racing and 2023 shapes as a pivotal year for the future of the industry. Bren O’Brien examines the five stories which will shape the Australian wagering landscape through the next 12 months.

Bren O’Brien

Racing Victoria’s $129 million question

The recent release of Racing Victoria’s annual report trumpeted record turnover, a $14 million surplus and increased revenue, but the devil in the detail is the uncertainty behind the end of the Tabcorp joint venture in August 2024.

Bren O’Brien

A Tripp down memory lane – How Australia’s newest bookie went ‘old-school’ on the Melbourne Cup

A month ago, Matt Tripp had not even launched BetR and now, after an extraordinary Melbourne Cup, he has masterminded its rise to among the most prominent betting brands in Australia.

Bren O’Brien

COMMENT | Debt With Mates – why corporate bookies are not your friends

The business of bookmaking is booming in Australia, helping prove the maxim that you don’t go broke underestimating the intelligence of your audience.

Bren O’Brien

ANALYSIS | Why the WA TAB sale matters

The long-awaited sale of the WA TAB is finally reaching its crescendo with the result likely to provide a major pointer to the future direction of the wagering industry in Australia.