ACCC approves sale of ACTTAB to Tabcorp Group

The sale of the ACT's betting agency ACTTAB to Tabcorp Group has been approved by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

The move allows the ACT Government to go ahead with its planned sale of the online and store-based wagering business.

ACTTAB is one of the last betting agencies still in government hands.

ACCC Commissioner Jill Walker said the proposed acquisition would only result in a marginal increase in market concentration as ACTTAB has not been a vigorous competitor in wagering markets.

The ACCC found that while Tabcorp and ACTTAB both offered wagering products to punters nationally, via the telephone and internet, there was limited overlap in their local retail outlets.

ACTTAB and Tabcorp each have exclusive licences to supply off-course wagering services in their home states - ACTTAB in the ACT, and Tabcorp in Victoria and NSW.

"The ACCC determined that Tabcorp would continue to be competitively constrained by the corporate bookmakers and other state-based operators," Dr Walker said.

She said acquisition would not have a material impact on the national supply of pooling services in Australia.

ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher welcomed the ACCC's decision not to block the sale.

"I think the decision of the ACCC vindicates some of the reasons we decided to sell ACTTAB," she said.

"Even the sale of it doesn't have a material difference on the way the industry is run or managed."

But Opposition spokesman Brendan Smyth said there were still many unanswered questions about the sale.

He said he wanted to know whether the ACT had secured the best deal.

"There are lots of unanswered questions about the process, there are unanswered questions about what the financial arrangements the Government is entering into for 50 years," he said.

"In effect Tabcorp will get a 50-year holiday from paying taxes and we have to ask is that good for the people of the ACT."