WA’s state-owned gambling agency targets customers with promotions to maintain profits (19 Dec 2024)
Article summary: Western Australia’s state-owned betting agency, WA Tab, has come under fire for using targeted gambling promotions despite a federal inquiry recommending their immediate ban due to the risk of community harm. Managed by Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA), WA Tab’s latest annual report cited “targeted generosities and customer management” as key factors in boosting profits, which fund the state’s racing industry. Critics argue such inducements encourage risky gambling behaviour, particularly among amateur gamblers.
Curtin MP Kate Chaney, a member of the federal inquiry into online gambling, condemned WA Tab’s practices, stating: “The state-owned bookmaker has an obligation to serve the public, not to boost its profits by exploiting vulnerable gamblers with addictive incentives.” WA Greens MP Brad Pettitt echoed her concerns, calling it “neither responsible nor ethical behaviour from a state-owned company.”
RWWA defended its approach, claiming it had reduced inducements and focused on offering promotions only to customers likely to use them. However, the agency’s $13.8m advertising spend was credited with driving strong performance. RWWA’s CEO Ian Edwards warned that any federal ban on gambling promotions would severely impact industry profitability.
Chaney criticised such profit-driven thinking, remarking: “We need to prioritise the community, not profits – and that means putting the brakes on incentives and ensuring a responsible, harm-minimising approach to gambling.”
Related article: Time to punt TV gambling - Chaney (10 Aug 2024)
