Tabcorp Holdings Limited (TAH) said it was disappointed that the Queensland Government had decided to increase taxes on electronic gaming machines ("EGMs") at all Queensland casinos from 1 July 2009. The company said it estimated that if the taxes had applied in the previous year, NPAT would have been reduced by AUD 20 million. The Queensland Government announced that taxes on gaming machines at Conrad Treasury in Brisbane and Conrad Jupiters on the Gold Coast would increase to 30%, up from 20%.

Local Australian newspaper The Age reported that a number of major corporate bookmakers are working jointly to produce figures that show they will contribute around USD 9.7 million to the racing industry in the 2008 fiscal year. The bookmakers are cooperating, the paper says, in an effort to deflect criticism from certain members of the racing industry that, because the corporate bookies compete directly with the TAB, racing’s financial future is being threatened.

Tabcorp Holdings Limited (TAH) said chief executive of Casinos, Walter Bugno, had resigned from the company. The gaming group said a global search for a candidate with significant casino experience was underway. Mr Bugno, 48, was chief executive Casinos for almost three years, and resigned to pursue a new business opportunity based in London. Chief executive officer Elmer Funke Kupper said Mr Bugno would continue to lead the Casinos Division...

TabCorp is pleading for immediate government intervention through tax cuts and increased protection for licensed tote operators in order to halt the slide of business towards its Northern Territory-based online rivals. According to a piece in The Age newspaper, Tab took USD 36.5 million in bets on the main Melbourne Cup thoroughbred horse race last week, which was 10.3 % more than on last year’s event.

Star City will unveil its plan today to turn the ugly duckling of Australian casinos into a harbour-front entertainment and gaming complex worthy of global attention. The 13-year-old complex, which was built with its rear to harbour, will be turned around as part of a proposed AUD 475 million makeover. "For the first time, Star City will be facing the harbour and the city, and that will give us an advantage that no other casino in the world can match..."

Melbourne (Reuters) - Tabcorp Holdings Ltd, Australia's top gaming group, reported an annual net loss reflecting the loss of its Victorian slot machine duopoly and a surprise write down on the value of its wagering business. However it reported a flat profit before one-offs, slightly ahead of broker forecasts, and said it would hold its dividend steady, even though gamblers were tightening their belts in the face of higher interest rates, grocery and petrol bills.

Sydney (Reuters) - Australian gaming group Tabcorp Holdings Ltd is considering a split of its casino and gaming operations, the Australian Financial Review said in an unsourced report on Wednesday. The plan envisages housing Tabcorp's casino operations in a separate entity to enhance their takeover appeal to rival casino owners such as Crown Ltd, it said.

Australian gaming giant Tabcorp Holdings has lodged an application with the Northern Territory State Government for a racing and sports wagering license, signaling a desire to compete in the fast growing corporate bookmaking market. The license application forms a key part of Tabcorp’s response to competition changes in the Australian wagering market.

Plans for punters to place bets from home using their TVs and remote controls are headed for a parliamentary showdown. The Federal Opposition will today announce plans to introduce legislation to block a move by Tabcorp and Foxtel to enable gambling via the Sky Racing Channel. Under the controversial proposal, Tabcorp account holders will be free to gamble on all thoroughbred, harness and greyhound races with their remote controls.

In Australia, gaming operators Tabcorp and Tatts Group are set to lose long-held monopolies on operating poker machines in the state of Victoria following an announcement by Premier John Brumby last week. The State Government announced that pubs, hotels and clubs would be allowed to hold their own licenses when the two companies’ current permits expire in four years rather than leasing machines from Tatts or Tabcorp.

Sydney (Thomson Financial) - Australian gaming groups Tatts Group Ltd, renamed from Tattersalls Group Ltd., and Tabcorp Holdings Ltd. said on Thursday that trading in the shares of the two companies had been suspended following a decision by the state government of Victoria which could affect a key source of revenue for the two groups. The government of the southeast Australian state announced plans to abolish the two companies' duopoly in the state's slot poker machine licences and will allow hotels and clubs to directly bid for licences beyond 2012.

Tabcorp Holdings Ltd will spend more than the AUD 300 million originally planned for the expansion and refurbishment of its Star City casino in Sydney, after reporting a dip in underlying profit. The gaming company's reported first half net profit was AUD 273.4 million - up 22 per cent. But normalised net profit before non-recurring items was down 3.1 per cent to AUD 261.9 million, crimped by the impact of equine influenza (EI) and smoking bans in New South Wales.