Ladbrokes making a move Down Under?

With the Victorian retail licence up for grabs in 2012 (TABCorp currently hold the licensed monopoly for off-course betting shops in the state of Victoria), it was only to be expected that the big players might get involved. Tabcorp might re-bid, Tattersall's/UniTAB might add to their control of Queensland and SA or perhaps a firm like Betfair might make a bid, considering they are probably favourite to buy the Tasmanian TAB.

Well, UK betting giant Ladbrokes have voiced their intention to bid with a well-publicised tour of Melbourne.

British betting giant wants to control punting in Victoria

Here's the original market from IAS, it's changed a bit already (although Mark Read is never afraid to tweak odds purely for the publicity). Latest odds can be found here.

Mainland Aussie govts are very insular. It took a 'rebel' state in Tasmania to give a licence to Betfair, I can't see a non-Australian firm getting the licence. But I've been wrong before and no doubt will be wrong again!

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