The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has granted interim authorisation to Tabcorp Wagering Manager (Vic) to give effect to an agreement with ACTTAB under which Tabcorp will provide fixed odds wagering and risk management services in return for a management fee.
The ACCC has also granted interim authorisation to Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) to give effect to an agreement with Sportingbet Australia Pty Ltd (Sportingbet) and Sportingbet Holdings Limited (SHL), under which Sportingbet will agree to provide fixed odds book management services to RWWA and SHL will act as guarantor.
These two separate agreements replace a former arrangement authorised by the ACCC in 2009, whereby ACTTAB and RWWA each acquired fixed odds management services from Centrebet.
“Interim authorisation will mean that despite these previous agreements with Centrebet ending, ACTTAB and RWWA will continue to offer fixed odds wagering. This will help to maintain stability in the wagering services offered,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.
The granting of interim authorisation in no way binds the ACCC in its consideration of the substantive applications for authorisation.
Interim authorisation commences immediately, and will remain in place until the date that the ACCC's final determinations on these matters come into effect or interim authorisation is revoked.
Authorisation provides statutory protection from court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment.
The ACCC has sought submissions from interested parties on each of the substantive applications for authorisation. Draft decisions on the applications are anticipated in February 2013. Further information is available at www.accc.gov.au/AuthorisationsRegister