INTRALOT, the leading Greek gaming operator, have suddenly decided to stop providing its keno and scratchcard services in Victoria, Australia. The agreement between INTRALOT and the Victorian authorities was supposed to last 10 years but it it was terminated on the seventh year of operatibg and the worst of all is that both sides, involved in the controversial collaboration, were not happy at all with the outcome and the accomplishments while the contract was valid.
Denis Napthine, the Victorian Premier, commented that everyone, involved in the deal – players, clients, taxpayers, should be satisfied with the final result. As a matter of fact, it was expected and nobody should be surprised.
Napthine made the comment right after the announcement of the Greek gaming giant that the keno and scratchcard games will no longer be available on the Victorian gaming market.
John Brumby, the previous Victorian Premier, gave the Greek provider the opportunity to freely operate on Australian soil, an action, which made the Tattersall’s authorities devastated. The company, which is also known as Tatts Group Limited, used to provide a wide variety of gaming products and services. However, the former Premier substituted Tattersall with INTRALOT 7 years ago.
As soon as the deal was completed, Brumby said that according to estimates, made my reputable experts, the state’s proceeds will be in excess of £3 billion.
However, things didn’t go as smooth as expected. During the years, the £3 billion proceeds created a lot of hassle. Experienced market analysts and punters say that during the last seven years, the gambling affairs in Victoria got more and more complicated because of the INTRALOT’s presence.
The Minister of Liquor and Gaming Regulations fired several politicians, including Daniel Andrews. According to Minister Edward O’Donohue, a great amount of money was invested and respectively lost by Daniel Andrews. O’Donohue considers the lottery contracts, signed by Andrews, to be absolutely useless and even “scandalous”.
Up to now, INTRALOT left the Victorian gambling market with $63 million debt for court expenses and damages they made to the local gaming industry. This amount has been accumulated during the seven years of operating within the Australian state.
When asked for a comment, regarding the complicated situation, the current Minister said that “It’s an absolute stuff up”.
The previous monopolist on the Australian gambling market, The Tatts Group Ltd. has recently announced that the authorities will make their best to conquer the Victorian gambling sector once again and become a major provider of gaming products and services. The lottery agents were overjoyed to hear the exciting news because if The Tatts Group become the main gambling provider, they will be supposed to pay smaller taxes. Plus, the players will have the opportunity to choose among a wider variety of games they can participate in.
Daniel Andrews commented that if he was in Edward O’Donohue’s shoes, he would never let INTRALOT escape justice or receive even a dollar as a compensation because the money belong to the Australian gaming sector and it is not acceptable to be given to INTRALOT.
