Keno, Sports Betting Highlighted In Recent Aussie Business Deals
The business of gambling in Australia has always been strong. While online gaming has been mostly pushed out of Oz for the time being, land-based gaming and sports betting remain strong.
Two recent deals demonstrate the direction that gaming has taken in recent months. They also set the bar high for more deals to come.
Scientific Games recently signed an agreement to upgrade keno in Australia via Tabcorp Holdings. Meanwhile, the Stars Group and the US-based National Basketball Association (NBA) announced that BetEasy will be their official wagering partner in Australia.
More keno machines and a significant betting sponsorship show that gambling in Australia continues to be at the cutting edge of gaming whenever it chooses to regulate a transparent industry.
Keno Upgrades in the Works
In late February, Scientific Games announced a collaboration with Tabcorp for upgraded keno offerings in pubs and clubs across Australia.
Keno is already available in numerous locations via WAVE terminals. These game machines sit atop bars and tables and offer games like keno. They also offer LCD touchscreen displays with tilt adjustment for player comfort. The wireless terminals come with mini-printers and high-speed document scanners. WAVE was first introduced more than five years ago and has undergone numerous upgrades since then.
The new deal with Tabcorp will offer 750 advanced WAVE terminals. All with the ability to generate a new game every three minutes. Players can compete for as low as $1 per game and have the chance to win more than $1 million.
Scientific Games has placed close to 80,000 WAVE terminals throughout the world. Tabcorp will subsequently begin the distribution of WAVE machines throughout Australia this year. Tabcorp’s Keno General Manager, Terry Fowler, noted, “We appreciate Scientific Games Corporation’s global gaming expertise as well as its technology innovation and commitment to responsible gaming. Our keno players will enjoy a more modern experience with the new WAVE terminals.”
Keno is legal in some form in nearly every Australian state. Each of these states have varying tax rates, fees, and location restrictions. In most areas of the continent, though, keno fans can find gaming terminals at various bars and clubs. These provide chances to win money in casual, social settings.
BetEasy Finds Partners for Official Wagering
Sports bettors in Australia may already know about BetEasy. This Australian corporation is licensed in the Northern Territory and offers online sports betting and racing platforms across the country.
BetEasy first launched in 2014 as a rebrand of BetEzy. Crown Resorts then bought the company later that year and integrated the betting brand with its land-based casinos. Years later, in 2017, CrownBet was divested. In 2018, the Stars Group then acquired 80% ownership interest, ultimately relaunching BetEasy in mid-2018.
The company is already the official wagering partner of the Australian Football League and offers exclusive access to Sky Racing channels. However, BetEasy took everything a step further last month by becoming the official betting partner of the NBA in Australia via the Stars Group.
The deal includes access to NBA assets and marketing for BetEasy. The NBA will also promote BetEasy via its website, NBA app, and social media accounts. BetEasy will be the presenting partner of the NBA Pick’Em: Weekly 6 that will launch as a free-play game later in 2019.
– Gambling in Australia and Sports Betting Growth
NBA Asia Executive VP and Managing Director Scott Levy commented, “As we continue to explore international opportunities in the sports betting space, we are thrilled to extend our partnership with the Stars Group to include BetEasy in Australia. Australia has set the standard for cooperation between leagues and sports betting operators, and we are excited to leverage the local and global expertise of BetEasy to create the best possible gaming experience for our passionate NBA fans in Australia.”
Sports betting is one of the most popular forms of gambling in Australia, after lotteries and gaming machines. Research shows that more than half a million Australians of legal betting age regularly wager on sports. Furthermore, they bet more on sports than any other form of gambling.
According to the Queensland Government Australian Gambling Statistics Report of 2016 – 2017, sports betting is growing at a rate of more than 15% annually. It generated more than $1 billion in winnings in the 2016-2017 fiscal year alone, as Aussies wagered more than $10 billion.
