Waterhouse sports betting deal with National Rugdy League is off

The news earlier this year that high profile Australian bookie Tom Waterhouse had secured a A$50 million sports betting agreement with the National Rugby League was apparently premature – the deal has been quietly abandoned.

Shane Mattiske, an executive with the League broke the news during a television program this week, carefully avoiding giving any reasons but confirming that both parties had abandoned negotiations after failing to come to agreement on the terms and conditions of the deal…something that most industry observers were under the impression was done and dusted.

Whether that leaves a door open for Tabcorp – the previous NRL wagering partner – to re-enter from the wings is unknown, but the betting group will have to substantially up its ante if it is to equal or overtake the Waterhouse deal in terms of value.

Speculation on the reasons behind the collapse of the Waterhouse agreement has inevitably started, with some experts pointing out that Tom Waterhouse Jnr.’s controversial and high profile celebrity status as a television sports commentator had not gone down well with League officials, who apparently felt that it was not the way they thought sports promotion should be undertaken.

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