Media Releases
Spring Racing Carnival wagering turnover up 5.9%

Published: 27 November 2012

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Australia's wagering market leader, Tabcorp Holdings Limited, today released 2012 Spring Racing Carnival turnover figures.

Racing Victoria's official Spring Racing Carnival period commenced with the Underwood Stakes meeting at Caulfield on Saturday 22 September and concluded with the Ballarat Cup meeting on Sunday 25 November.

Total NSW and Victorian TAB totalisator and fixed odds turnover on all thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing across the 65 day period was $2.103 billion, up 5.9% on the prior corresponding period. The figure does not include turnover from Tabcorp's Luxbet, fixed odds sport and Trackside products.

Spring Racing Carnival wagering in 2012 was supported by favourable scheduling, with Flemington's Turnbull Stakes meeting run on the traditional Saturday (it was held on a Sunday in 2011) and the introduction of a Cox Plate eve meeting at Moonee Valley.

"Tabcorp's positive Spring Racing Carnival commercial and operational performance shows that our investments in products, customer service and technology are being well received. The racing industry staged quality racing and our customers responded," said Tabcorp Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, David Attenborough.

"As well as growth on each of the feature Spring Racing Carnival days, we experienced very good turnover growth across the standard weekday racing product, which was up 7.5% on the prior corresponding period.

"Tabcorp offers customers access to a full range of fixed odds and totalisator products across retail, online, telephone and mobile channels. This multi-channel, multi-product strategy plays to our strengths.

"Tabcorp's successful delivery of Spring Racing Carnival wagering also reflects well on our partnerships with the racing industry and our venue and business partners."

The 2012 Spring Racing Carnival was the first operated under the new Victorian Wagering and Betting Licence and Tabcorp's new Joint Venture with the Victorian Racing Industry.

"The 2012 Spring Racing Carnival delivered exceptional racing with many highlights and standout performances across both our iconic metropolitan meetings and popular country cup programs," Racing Victoria CEO, Rob Hines, said.

"It is pleasing to see that TAB punters embraced the high quality racing on offer, with the buoyant turnover matched by strong attendance figures across the 65 days of the Carnival.

"The upcoming Christmas period provides a great selection of racing events for the punting public to enjoy, particularly throughout country Victoria, and we look forward to welcoming the sport's biggest names back to the track early in the new year for the Melbourne Festival of Racing."

As always, Emirates Melbourne Cup day was the premier day of the Spring Racing Carnival for Tabcorp. In 2012, it was highlighted by the following metrics:
  • Total day NSW and Victorian TAB turnover was $183.38 million.
  • More than 207,000 customers placed a bet through a NSW/Victorian TAB account on Melbourne Cup day.
  • The shift to mobile wagering continued, with 38% of Tabcorp's digital sales on Melbourne Cup day conducted via a mobile device.
  • Tabcorp's racing broadcaster, Sky Racing, reached 773,337 home viewers during Melbourne Cup week, according to the OzTam PayTV ratings.
The 2012 Spring Racing Carnival was also the first following the launch of the new TAB brand. TAB is Australia's most recognised and trusted wagering brand. TAB was the major partner of the Spring Racing Carnival and the TAB International Horse Centre, as well as the Victoria Racing Club's wagering partner.

Mr Attenborough said Tabcorp has a clear strategy to maintain wagering leadership in its chosen markets, across both digital and retail channels.

"We are focused on maintaining these positive turnover trends as we head into another busy schedule of major racing events," Mr Attenborough said.

"These include next month's Victoria Cup, the Inter Dominion Championship, the Australian Cup for the greyhounds and the 2013 Sydney Carnival featuring racing at the redeveloped Royal Randwick."

Tabcorp improved its share of the Australian wagering market in FY12 to an estimated 43.9%, growing turnover in the racing and sports markets, despite the highly competitive environment.

For more information:
Media: Nicholas Tzaferis, GM Corporate Affairs, 03 9868 2529
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