The Centaur

Reefton, Being a club person how do you think sponsors will react when they rightly or wrongly assume they are supporting an outfit like Ladbrokes? I'm betting quite a few won't want anything to do with racing.

Are you Einstein or something? The deal is designed to be confusing. I doubt there has ever been a deal similar or maybe you know of one. People still scratching their heads.

Well you got plenty views (about a 100). Yes definitely unlucky looked full of running. I think its all got to do with recent events. The safety culture very evident. Notice how all the horses kept a straight line in the straight.

Extra link before it gets paywalled. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/winston-peters-says-the-tabentain-deal-appears-too-good-to-be-true/S7CS6JFTN5AETJLVOLGVF34R5M/

Where did "we" hear all the in depth stuff???

Don't know if its just me but its already started. Justin Evans chipping in with sport on TV. Don't think he knows the first thing about sport but instructions from the boss can't go against that can we now.

Another piece from Gary Chittick https://waikatostud.com/the-corner-with-garry-chittick-59/

When will it sink thru. George, Sharrock, McKenzie, TAB Board etc. are sports industry people. Sure they may genuinely wish racing flourish but when it comes to splitting racing and sports income they are hopelessly conflicted and compromised.

https://www.theoptimist.site/ And de Lore was the guy pushing hardest for outsourcing. Perhaps he should have defined what outsourcing actually meant.

Just listened to David Bennett the National racing spokesman being interviewed by Sean Plunkett a few days ago. Clearly both were confused about the intricacies of the deal but Bennett's statement that he wasn't privy to the details is alarming. Surely the opposition should be able to function in a democracy. They should have been told particularly given the TAB's long history and public involvement with the TAB.

I would actually be alarmed at NZTR. Their silence has been shocking. Only a few aware of the details. They weren't directly party to the deal so didn't need to be secretive. They required to be consulted which meant consulting with all groups e.g. jockeys, trainers etc. Racing had leaverage over the TAB. That leverage has been lost as the sports people always wanted. Given away by George & Sharrock without a bleat.

This statement from Entain should alarm participants in racing. “We believe this 25-year strategic partnering arrangement will be a game changer for sports betting in New Zealand and we are pleased that it will help provide significant financial benefits to the three New Zealand racing codes and the vast array of national sporting organisations. Reworded "It's going to be a game changer for sports betting and with a bit of luck might benefit racing."

So where are the details of the "deal". We were promised the details when the minister approved the deal. What did NZTR know about the deal when they blatantly tried to persuade the minister. Now from NZTR we have... “Now that the approval has been given, NZTR intends to confirm the framework and test it against all budgets and industry priorities before making a formal announcement of our initiatives and stakes increases on 15 June at Karaka on the eve of the 2023 National Weanling and Broodmare Sale.” So they are happy as Larry like a boy in a lolly shop now can increase salaries and carry on as before. After all aren't we all supposed to be gullible.

As I mentioned before the conflict of interest of Sharrock, George and previously McKenzie is huge. People think just because Sharrock is from a racing family they forget Sharrock made his mark in professional sports and still involved with his firm which has links to Ladbrokes.

Bookmakers have always operated in a competitive environment. Thats why on track the bookies form whats called the ring. You just can't have bookmaking without competition. The 25 years is an amateur hour decision. Its like giving Samsung a 25 year contract to supply government phones and banning everybody else from buying any other brand from overseas. I think a strong case can be made to the Commerce Commission to stop this deal as it stands at the moment.

The asset is the monopoly. An intangible asset. Now if a government comes along and removes the monopoly what happens then? I would have thought that would be the first aspect to the agreement. Will Entain be able to sue the government? Bookmaking is all about competition. The New Zealand model is an anomaly. There is no way NZ punters will stop looking at more competitive odds overseas.

Assange, I'm trying to get you out of jail. Plenty letters etc. to politicians. I believe May24 was supposed a special day protesting. Hope its effective.

I notice that the CEO of Rugby NZ has resigned and also that there had been calls for his resignation for not fronting the media. I have never seen Mike Tod ever fronting the media. Also if the Entain deal was such a marvellous achievement one would have thought he would have stuck it out even at reduced salary.

TV one about to reveal how the racing industry has been "saved"

The National guy is just going on what the codes say. The time is now for NZTR to come out with the details if they had any.

Wow look at this... I must be blind stakemoney surely must have doubled. "Mike has done an incredible job of transforming TAB NZ since he took over as CEO at the beginning of last year. He has implemented and executed a strategy that has delivered the partnering arrangement with Entain, grown customer numbers to record levels, implemented world-first new products, lifted customer satisfaction and staff engagement scores to their highest levels in over a decade and assembled one of the best leadership teams in the industry. Our racing and sporting stakeholders are set to benefit from an outstanding legacy that he leaves."

So when the minister approved this crazy deal we were going to learn more. Instead we have ENDS Note for editors: TAB New Zealand and Entain will not be commenting further on the proposed strategic partnering arrangement until after completion on 1 June.

Oh.... so its a done deal therefore must be good. Like all their other deals OpenBet, Paddy Power, that Australian system ditched after $20M and all the deals with dodgy outfits. Yeah I know the odds I suggest you do the form. As for form analysts hope you are better than John Allen.. Launching TAB NZ’s new property, NZRB Chief Executive John Allen stated that the portal would raise vital funds for New Zealand racing stakeholders, as the governing body continues its revamp of the sport. “We estimate this initiative alone will increase returns to the industry by $17 million – $19 million in annualised profit, rising to approximately a $30 million increase in net betting profit as a result of the Fixed Odds Betting change from 2021/22,” said Allen. “Our partners on this project, OpenBet and PaddyPower Betfair are world class operators. What they have done is ensure the New Zealand TAB, a significant and valuable industry asset, can now compete with the rest of the world, increase our revenue and in turn, our distributions back to racing and sport”.

I like your first sentence. I gave my personal details to NZTAB. It was never my intention to give it to an overseas bookie with lots of other gambling sites. If TABNZ do that its another case of acting illegally.

Well you can bet Entain will be lobbying hard. NZ & McAnulty should be a pushover. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/may/21/ladbrokes-owner-entain-dishonest-lobbying-gambling-reforms