Local CEO Luke Brill says he will take the case to the highest courts if necessary
After exposing flaws last week in the Australian News Agents Association, which has been campaigning against his company, Lottoland Australia CEO Luke Brill expanded his defence of the company this week by warning that any “synthetic lottery” ban imposed by the federal government would be challenged.
Brill said in a statement that his Lottoland, which serves 700,000 Aussie punters, would fight for its legitimate and licensed role in the market as an industry disrupter, if necessary going to the highest courts in the land.
Lottoland is under threat of a federal government legislative ban after local opposition Tatts allegedly financed a campaign led by the Australian News Agents Association and others urging government action against the company.
Government responded by proposing legislation against “synthetic” lotteries like Lottoland from “placing, making, receiving or acceptance of bets” on the outcome of “Australian and overseas lottery draws.” The legislation has yet to be passed by parliament.
Brill was characteristically outspoken in his criticism of Tatts and Tabcorp for seeking government action against his company, saying:
“What you’re seeing from Tatts and Tabcorp at the moment is them acting like a monopoly.”
Last month Brill offered participatory incentives to Australian newsagents who worked with Lottoland; whilst his offer was rejected out of hand by the Australian News Agents Association, it is being seriously considered by the Victorian Association for Newsagents and Newsagents Association of NSW and ACT (NANA), which have also expressed concerns regarding the possibility of a Tatts monopoly.
