The cost of providing an on-course tote operator service is significantly disproportionate to the benefit, according to Greyhound Racing SA Chief Executive Officer Matt Corby.
Speaking this week, he said on an annual basis the loss associated with providing TAB operators equated to approximately $200,000 – underwritten on behalf of the clubs.
“All three codes in SA are currently in discussion with Tabcorp about making an early transition to a digital on-course wagering environment,” he said.
“This means that wagering on-course will be undertaken predominantly through individual devices – iPhones and iPads – and that sales operators will only be used for Angle Park meetings and some feature race events.”
Corby said GRSA would be working with industry to get the message out that people need to load the “green App” onto their devices.
“A digital ‘fence’ around racing venues will allow clients to access generosities through the Tabcorp Venue Mode. It will also mean that all on-course betting with Tabcorp will be captured for the sake of calculating commissions.”
He conceded that change would inevitably attract criticism from parts of the industry, foreseeably some older wagering clients.
“But it’s part of an inevitable change that will come to all states and codes over time. Our objective in leading the charge is simply to start accumulating savings now rather than later.”