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.