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INTERSTATE corporate bookmakers have been given the nod to sponsor NSW sporting teams and advertise according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Centrebet, which is registered in the Northern Territory, received a letter on Friday from the NSW Government's Office of Liquor, Racing and Gaming saying it would comply with a High Court judgment in March declaring the outdated legislation a restraint of trade. That will free the listed bookmaker to upgrade its sponsorships, which include the NRL's Cronulla Sharks, the AFL's Sydney Swans and the FFA's Newcastle Jets.
The letter said: "The High Court judgment in Betfair P/L versus State of Western Australia has raised constitutional issues over the validity of Section 30 in its application to interstate wagering operators ... Until these issues are resolved, this office will not be initiating any prosecution action under Section 30 for advertising by or on behalf of a wagering operator licensed in an Australian jurisdiction. Should this position change, appropriate warnings will be given to wagering operators and publishers."
Centrebet will use the spring racing carnival in Melbourne to launch its Victorian campaign, with advertising already secured at railway stations in Flemington and Caulfield.
"We intend broadening our association with the AFL over the finals period as we seek to manage the transition from football to racing in Victoria," a Centrebet source said. "This will be a win-win situation for everyone."
The Victorian Government is not expected to oppose Centrebet's promotions.
The outdated state laws were designed to protect the state-owned totalisators. But the betting behemoth, Tabcorp, based in Victoria, has recently taken out a Northern Territory online wagering licence so it can compete with Centrebet and other Darwin-registered operators.
