WA's TAB to combine with Victorian counterpart

The State's punters are set to benefit from a move initiated by Racing and Gaming Minister Pam Beggs which will see Western Australia's TAB operate combined win and place pools with its Victorian counterpart. 

Mrs Beggs finalised negotiations for the pool amalgamation with Victoria's Racing Minister Neil Trezise during a conference of State Racing Ministers at Alice Springs. 

TABs in Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT currently bet into the Victorian pool and South Australia will be joining in September.

"WA's entry into the pool will mean all States and Territories - except Queensland and New South Wales - will offer identical win and place dividends," Mrs Beggs said. 

"The arrangement will bring many gains to punters and WA's racing industry - including an immediate drop in commission rates which will mean that more money will be returned in dividends. 

"A further advantage will be that larger pools are less likely to experience dramatic dividend fluctuations, so local punters will not find provisional dividends varying in such large degrees prior to the start of a race." 

Mrs Beggs said it was hoped the move would also help regain many of the WA bettors who had transferred their betting into the larger Eastern States pool. 

"The easy access to the larger pool and reduced commission should attract these punters back to the WA TAB." 

The technical arrangements for betting into the Victorian pool are expected to be finalised by August. 

Mrs Beggs said she had also used the ministerial conference as a forum to promote WA's favourite numbers betting system. 

"I put forward the case that favourite numbers was an ideal system on which to base a national pool - and this suggestion received an enthusiastic response from the other States." 

Mrs Beggs said she would continue to push for a study on the establishment of a national favourite numbers. 

"The ministerial conference has been a significant one for WA's racing industry with the finalisation of a combined win and place pool, as well the possible extension of favourite numbers, can only bring hope for its future."