TABCORP ONE STEP CLOSER TO TAP-IN-PLAY LIVE BETTING
Tabcorp is one step closer to including live, in-play wagering into pubs and clubs, following regulatory clearance for its tap-in-play device in New South Wales. The puck-shaped station allows patrons to build a live bet on their own smartphone and finalise it by tapping the device inside the venue, shifting in-play wagering beyond traditional self-service terminals, over-the-counter bets or call centres. Approval from the Australian Communications and Media Authority and Liquor & Gaming NSW clears a critical hurdle for deployment across the state’s hospitality network.
For Tabcorp, which holds retail licence agreements covering around 3,700 pubs and clubs across multiple jurisdictions, the initiative forms a central plank of its revamped retail strategy. In-play betting currently represents a small fraction of domestic turnover compared with international markets, and the company sees venue-based activation as a pathway to lift engagement and wagering volumes. The rollout is tied to a broader commercial reset that will see venues charged for terminals and compensated via turnover-based commissions, alongside incentives aimed at driving foot traffic and on-premise participation. Further expansion will depend on state-level approvals, with regulators expected to closely scrutinise both harm-minimisation safeguards and operational settings before wider adoption.
Additionally, The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has concluded that Tabcorp’s Tap in-play service does not breach the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA).
After investigation, the Australian Communications and Media Authority determined the service qualifies under the “place-based betting service” exemption in section 8BA of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
This exemption, introduced in 2017, clarified that in-venue in-play betting via electronic betting terminals (EBTs) is permitted. The ACMA found that Tap in-play uses updated technology but operates within the same legislative framework.
While acknowledging that in-play betting presents elevated risks for gambling harm, the ACMA noted that the IGA restricts such betting to supervised venue environments. It also found that consumer safeguards within the Tap in-play system, including a Real Time Intervention (RTI) strategy, are stronger than those currently applied to traditional EBTs.
The ruling applies specifically to the way the service operates within Tabcorp venues. Any broader rollout remains subject to separate state and territory regulatory approvals. If approved, the ACMA will continue monitoring the service’s implementation, with Tabcorp required to report on RTI performance, system updates, and any customer-related incidents.
