The announcement today that they have purchased the Golden Casket lotteries business is significant for newsagents in Victoria, Tasmania, Northern Territory and Queensland.
The management of Tattersalls’ lottery business is to move to Queensland under the management of Bill Thorburn. Thorburn is well regarded in the retail network and, obviously, by Tattersalls. This is a difference in practical retailer support offered by Tattersalls compared to Golden Casket – if the Casket approach is adopted across the Tattersalls network. For example, the Golden Casket in store collateral supporting instant lottery ticket sales and superdraws is more plentiful and robust than that from Tattersalls. Don’t get me wrong – I’m happy with what Tattersalls provides but I know that in this case the grass is greener…
Golden Casket pays a trail commission to retail outlets from online sales. Tattersalls does not pay such a commission. This trail commission was well negotiated by the Casket Agents Association in Queensland. Hopefully their successful approach can influence the seemingly ineffective Victorian Lottery Agents Association.
Another difference is in the area of who sells the products. In Queensland, the Government has enshrined legislation that latter products can only be sold by small business – with a definition tied to number of employees. Elsewhere in Australia no such protection of small business exists. Through this transaction there is an opportunity to focus the attention of other state governments on the leadership position taken by the Queensland government.
Now all we in Victoria need is certainty that Tattersalls retains its current licences.