The generous tax breaks "and pathetically weak laws" exploited by corporate bookmakers "are under threat after the success of Nick Xenophon and his party at the federal election last weekend," according to Patrick Bartley of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. As "the dust settles on one of the most controversial elections since the federation," Xenophon is demanding examination of the treatment of corporate bookmakers in Australia. Despite turning over around A$10B ($7.5B) last year, Sportsbet, William Hill, CrownBet and other operators licensed in the Northern Territory paid just A$575,000 ($432,000) "each in wagering taxes, around 40 times less than what traditional operators such as Tabcorp pay." The Northern Territory government, which has been "inundated with in fighting within its own ranks, has been targeted by Xenophon and his party members for a number of years." Racing execs "were horrified by the extraordinary profit margins held by these corporate bookmakers and the lack of returns" that Australian racing has realized (SMH, 7/6).
