Guerin Report with NZ Entain CEO Andrew Vouris

[Wingman]

Mr Vouris,  as one would expect six months into his tenure, is upbeat and he had figures to defend his positive attitude. He has a background in gambling and  comes across as being focused on selling bets to customers who want to be involved with an innovative operator.  He is clear that growing the sports market and then getting new sports customers to get involved in major horse racing days such as Melbourne cup day etc is the key to achieving their growth goals. His gripe with NZ racing is the lack of consistency. He points out abandonments in the last 12 months are up ten percent.

At  no point did he criticize any one or any entity however read between the lines when Michael Guerin asks him "If you had a magic wand?' to which he replies;

"Racing to be on our best tracks, at the right times, with the best fields we can possibly put together".  

[Shab]

Retail growth he talks about be the punters they’ve restricted going betting on machines cos they can’t get bet on their accounts.

[Huey]

9 hours ago, Wingman said:

 

At  no point did he criticize any one or any entity however read between the lines when Michael Guerin asks him "If you had a magic wand?' to which he replies;

"Racing to be on our best tracks, at the right times, with the best fields we can possibly put together".  

More of the same, it won't work.

He came across as particularly nervous & somewhat as though the interview was rehearsed , certainly no puncy confidence in his answers.

[Chief Stipe]

10 hours ago, Wingman said:

"Racing to be on our best tracks, at the right times, with the best fields we can possibly put together".  

Which is what the entire industry should be working towards.  The Holy Grail.  it's what makes OZ racing so attractive to the punter.  I'd add to that the need for the training of Jockeys to be stepped up.  The majority of them need pace reading training.  Although I have noticed that recently some of the newbies are taking the initiative.  Hopefully more will follow their lead.

[Special Agent]

49 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Which is what the entire industry should be working towards.  The Holy Grail.  it's what makes OZ racing so attractive to the punter.  I'd add to that the need for the training of Jockeys to be stepped up.  The majority of them need pace reading training.  Although I have noticed that recently some of the newbies are taking the initiative.  Hopefully more will follow their lead.

Various groups within the industry will say they are working together when the fact is in reality they are not.  The backstabbing and egotistical attitudes are disheartening.  If everyone was working towards making racing the best it can be they wouldn't be jealous of other participants and clubs, and wouldn't be trying to strip others of glory or funds.  There is room for everybody.

Poor riding is a definite turn off.  Riders can't improve without practice and opportunity.  NZTR have concepts in place to promote improved skills, like the elite riders programme.  Some fall outs from it prove it needs tweaking.  Personally I think the name of it alone lends itself to problems of attitude on two counts.  I'm not sure that everything requires a label.

[Chief Stipe]

 

[Murray Fish]

‘Strength to strength’ – Entain says its fully committed to New Zealand opportunityhttps://bitofayarn.com

Entain boss Andrew Vouris has insisted that the wagering company is committed to the full 25 years of its partnership with TAB NZ, with intention to retain its NZ$200 million annual contribution past 2028.

By Warwick Barr 

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Wagering 

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November 25, 2025

 

 

Entain Australlia and New Zealand CEO Andrew Vouris has restated his company’s commitment to New Zealand. (Photo: Entain)

Global wagering giant Entain insists its commitment to its investment in New Zealand racing remains strong, with an expectation it will be able to maintain current funding levels beyond an initial guaranteed five-year period.https://bitofayarn.com

Entain’s Australian and New Zealand chief executive Andrew Vouris says data from the company’s partnership with TAB NZ, formed in 2023, suggests that an annual contribution of around $NZ200 million will continue after 2028.https://bitofayarn.com

Under the terms of the arrangement, including ongoing profit share, Entain has guaranteed to provide funding to TAB NZ for more than $1 billion for the first five years of the deal.

Entain made an upfront payment of $NZ160 million to secure the wagering licence, while it shelled out another $NZ100 million, subject to the passage of legislative amendments, such as the introduction of geo-blocking, which effectively gives the company a New Zealand wagering monopoly.

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The deal was met with widespread approval and Vouris says there is no chance of Entain walking out on the New Zealand racing industry, providing wagering continues on an upward spiral.

“We’re certainly trending that way … but a couple of things need to go for us,” Vouris told Trackside NZ’s Guerin Report.

“We need to deliver on our core promise … which is to go back to basics, make sure that we’re in the business of selling bets, reinvest that back into innovation, and make sure we capture all of the grey market that was there.

“Second fold is we need the racing industry to, I guess, make sure they deliver on what customers want. 

“Customers want consistency of racing on our best tracks at the right times with the optimal field sizes, and those field sizes are between 10 and 14.

“I think if we both do that, then we’ll deliver on that outcome.”

Entain has taken a back-to-basics approach to its presence in New Zealand.”

Under Vouris’ tenure, Entain has shuttered the TAB Racing Club because it did not align with its values as a core wagering business. It follows a similar strategic change to its Australian business.

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“We’re not in the race ownership business,” he said. “We’re in the selling-of-bets business. 

“When we’re looking to deploy capital, I want to make sure it’s going into innovation and technology. That’s where we’ll get the best returns, and so that was the decision.”

The TAB NZ/Entain agreement is for 25 years and Vouris is adamant the company is “here for the long haul”.https://bitofayarn.com

“The business is actually growing really, really well, and we can see a future path for bigger growth,” he said. 

“So from my perspective, we deliver on what we’re here to deliver on, which is go back to selling bets and innovate in technology for the benefit of the customer. 

“We’ll do what we need to do, and if racing does what it needs to do, then there is a really, really strong business here that will live well beyond the 25-year partnership.”

Entain shutters TAB Racing Club as CEO focuses on selling bets

Vouris’ comments come as Entain is shedding 120 jobs in its Australasian sector amid an expected $60 million annual reduction in expenditure.

Entain has already cut its Australian and New Zealand workforce by 60 people, and more employees are expected to leave in the coming weeks.

It follows a major swing in strategy since the departure of former chief executive Dean Shannon in June.

A host of senior executives have also left in a major reset amid financial regulator AUSTRAC bringing civil charges against the firm.

Entain cuts 120 jobs, exiting ‘non-core’ business as part of Australasian strategy pivot

AUSTRAC’s action involving anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing safeguards remains ongoing with a Federal Court date set down for November 2026.https://bitofayarn.com

But Vouris says the outcome of the case will have no bearing on Entain’s New Zealand business.

“Whatever happens in Australia with AUSTRAC, it won’t be impacting our New Zealand business at all,” he said.

“New Zealand is totally looked at separately, and we’re growing from strength to strength.”

Entain now has a legislated monopoly in New Zealand after the passage of legislation in June which enshrined it as the sole licensed wagering provider in the country of five million people.

Vouris said the previous ‘grey market’ occupied by overseas operators was worth around $180 million, but that hadn’t just disappeared overnight.

“Just last week, we found 200 illegal offshore operators still offering sports and racing products to New Zealanders,” he said.

“It’s important because we paid a lot of money for a monopoly, and we want to make sure that we get a monopoly.https://bitofayarn.com

“It’s a monopoly we have. But just to be clear, there was zero incentive of an offshore wagering operator cross-selling sport into racing.  It’s our full incentive to make sure that gets done, and that’s why we’re seeing 47 per cent of customers that had never had a racing bet now betting on racing.”

 

[Chief Stipe]

58 minutes ago, Murray Fish said:

“It’s a monopoly we have. But just to be clear, there was zero incentive of an offshore wagering operator cross-selling sport into racing.  It’s our full incentive to make sure that gets done, and that’s why we’re seeing 47 per cent of customers that had never had a racing bet now betting on racing.”

Mmmmm that's interesting some online critics suggested the scavenging would be the other way i.e. racing to sports.