Totalisator Agency Board
The Totalisator Agency Board, universally shortened to TAB or T.A.B., is the name given to monopoly totalisator organisations in Australia and New Zealand. They operate betting shops and online betting. They were originally government owned, but in Australia most have been privatised. In Victoria, for instance, the Victorian Totalisator Agency Board began operating in March 1961 as a state enterprise,[1] and was privatised in 1994.[2]
Australia
Most Australian TABs have been progressively privatised, beginning with Victoria in 1994.
TABs in Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania were re-branded as UBET in 2015.[3]
The TABs have extensive radio networks in Australia, except in Victoria and Tasmania where other parties own equivalent networks. All these networks share the National Racing Service, a continuous broadcast of thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing. This makes up the bulk of these networks' content. Collectively, these networks own more radio licences than any other group in Australia – however, their terrestrial coverage is less than the ABC as they generally have tiny wattages. The heir of the NSW TAB also owns a national racing subscription TV service.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, the TAB owns TAB Trackside, a former near-national free-to-air and national subscription TV service. In the analogue era, most New Zealanders could sit at their TV with a standard aerial and watch racing. This channel is now only on Sky TV.
The New Zealand TAB was replaced by the New Zealand Racing Board in 2003, however the physical premises have retained the TAB branding.
Radio TAB is also used to live sports coverage (including horse racing) in parts of Australia.
See also
Notes
- The Melbourne Cup Research Guide
- TABCorp history Archived 24 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- TAB gets a makeover to UBET