Racing Queensland to hike fees

If Racing Queensland gets its way in a proposal to hike racing fees, the Aussie gambling group Tabcorp will likely suffer a A$ 3 million hit on its net profit after tax, the company said in a press release Wednesday.

Tabcorp has been advised of Racing Queensland’s proposed Race Information Fees for 2014-15.

The proposed fees, which cover wagering on Queensland thoroughbred, greyhound and harness racing, are:

* Totalisator bets will be charged at 1.5 percent of turnover for Standard Meetings and 2 percent of turnover for Premium Meetings.

* Non-totalisator bets (fixed odds, tote odds derivatives and exchange bets) will be charged at 2.5 percent of turnover for Standard Meetings and 3.5 percent of turnover for Premium Meetings.

There are 81 proposed Premium Meetings in FY15 made up of 34 thoroughbred, 18 harness and 29 greyhound meetings. There are 1,549 proposed Standard Meetings in FY15.

If the proposed fees had applied to Tabcorp’s turnover on Queensland racing in FY14, and in the absence of any mitigating strategies, the estimated NPAT impact would be approximately $3 million, the statement revealed.

Racing Queensland is holding a 28-day consultation period on the proposed fee structure, with the new approval period to commence on 1 July.