On October 21st, 2007, retailers have alleged that media and other medium scale businesses will be damaged by the decision by an SA Lotteries to feature keno to SA TAB and PubTab outlets.
The SA Lotteries, which is a state Government authority and SA TAB of Queensland's UniTAB, a subsidiary of Tattersalls, have been talking with each other for a joint collaboration for more than one year. SA Lotteries chief executive June Roache commented that it was a planned expansion in a good environment that was advantageous for both sides. She added it was planned that some of the outlets of TAB would be featuring the game by next year.
SA TAB general manager Grant Harrison commented that the game of keno would be available in stand-alone organizations and PubTAB that does not have any SA Lotteries stall that could sell it. The state manager of the Australian Newsagents' Federation Colin Shipton commented that the plan would have a bad impact on the newsagents.
This year, a recommendation made by the Independent Gaming Authority to prohibit playing keno in newsagencies was not followed after criticisms from the retailers. Mr. Shipton is wary that the TAB plan could only be the initial step in other types of lottery games being removed from the newsagencies.
John Brownsea, the State Retailers Association executive director John Brownsea commented that there is a big business plan to access more profit and get the profit away from small-scale business. Senate candidate and ex-No Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon commented it might just create chronic gamblers.
But the Australian Hotels Association state general manager Ian Horne commented that it was an advisable move that would greatly benefit hoteliers and their patrons. Both Harrison and Roache commented that the business plan targeted a different customer bracket and it would not affect news agents and other retailers.
[06-11]
Louis Blechdom
