Crownbet joins fight against Tatts-Tabcorp merger

Online betting firm joins the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission in asking a federal court to review the merger approval given by the Australian Competition Tribunal.

The Tatts-Tabcorp merger just became more complicated following the filing in the Australian Federal Court of an additional appeal against the Australian Competition Tribunal’s approval of the merger.

The Crownbet online gambling company filed the appeal, joining that of the earlier Australian Competition & Consumer Commission requesting a review of the ACT decision. The ACCC claims the ACT made three reviewable errors in granting permission for the merger, a position with which Crownbet agrees.

Explaining Crownbet’s decision to appeal against the merger, a spokesman said that the proposed merger is “bad for punters and for competition,” and that Crownbet had become involved to ensure that the possibly adverse consequences were properly considered.

The Court is scheduled to hold a directions hearing this week at which timelines will be set for the appeal.

Tabcorp issued a statement earlier this week expressing confidence in its case for a merger despite the ACCC appeal, and forecasting completion for the last quarter of 2017.

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