WA newsagents and others may be interested in analysis released yesterday about speculation on the value of WA wagering should it be put up for sale.
WA newsagents and others may be interested in analysis released yesterday about speculation on the value of WA wagering should it be put up for sale.
Mark, I think your have confused Lotterywest with the WA TAB. While they are both government owned they are separate entities independent of each other. While there has been ongoing talk by the state government about selling the TAB the same government has steadfastly stated the Lotterywest business is not for sale.
Thanks Steve. Fixed it. It came to my attention because of discussion when I was in Perth yesterday that this consideration may open discussions about Lotterywest.
No Worries Mark. The major sticking point for selling the WA TAB is concerns within the racing industry about the ongoing funding of racing under private ownership with concerns that money presently put back into prize money and funding infrastructure will be syphoned of as profit, this is really only a concern of people directly involved in racing and wagering.
The problem any government would have with selling Lotterywest is the unique structure of being government owned but self funding with all profits ploughed back into the community via grants. You cant go anywhere in WA without seeing the Lotterywest logo on everthing from community faculties and emergency services vehicles to cultural events that Lotterywest has helped finance. Even people who have no interest in the actual lotteries respect what it does for the community.
Selling it would be political suicide.
I agree Steve Lotterywest have done an amazing job of connecting themselves with the community.
Steve I agree that selling Lotterywest would be political suicide. Their community engagement is exemplary as I have written about here previously. However, dumber things have been done by politicians when they see a bag of cash in front of them.