Australian wagering giant Tabcorp selects French supplier PandaScore as its dedicated esports data and odds provider

One of Australia’s biggest operators, Tabcorp, has partnered with specialist esports supplier PandaScore to expand its esports offering in Australia.

Tabcorp will initially incorporate PandaScore’s esports data and odds services for the Big 3 esports titles: Counter-Strike, League of Legends and Dota 2. Tabcorp is keen on integrating the full suite of PandaScore titles, markets and products to drive future expansion in esports.

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The agreement will see Tabcorp offer an expanded range of markets and market lines, including PandaScore’s lucrative player markets.

Powered by PandaScore’s market-leading esports products, Tabcorp’s multichannel distribution will see its levelled up esports offering available over digital and physical options, including web, mobile app, betting shops and terminals in licensed venues.

For Tabcorp Trading General Manager, David Beirne, “this partnership with PandaScore is invaluable to our investment in esports. It gives us access to dedicated esports trading and odds creation services for the most popular titles, with eyes to build out a full esports offering fit for the next generation of bettors. This partnership is another step in creating the ultimate sports entertainment experience for our customers.”

Oliver Niner, Head of B2B at PandaScore stated that he’s “very excited about working with one of the biggest operators in Australia. Tabcorp is an Australian institution with outstanding visibility and market penetration and a pedigree for success. Rolling out our best-in-class esports products to a market leader in Australia builds on our existing successes in this market, and it’s one we’re confident we can continue fostering growth in.”

Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd expects its second-half profit before tax to be down sequentially, despite an increase in revenue.

The Australia-listed firm said it anticipated profit before tax for the six months to December 31 – excluding currency exchange impacts and one-off items – to be in the range of AUD8 million (US$5.2 million) to AUD10 million. That would be in comparison to the AUD14-million profit achieved in the first half this year.

Revenue for the July to December period is expected to “show an estimated growth of 12 percent” compared to the AUD121.4 million reported in the six months to June 30, Ainsworth said in a Wednesday filing.

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The company said the estimate was “based on preliminary management forecasts, subject to period end closure and audit procedures”.

“These results reflect the positive momentum achieved across the business,” stated the firm.

It added: “All geographical regions experienced solid growth in the period apart from the digital segment which suffered an initial decline following the reduced contributions from Game Account Network Ltd (GAN), following the acceleration of revenue arising from the termination of exclusivity arrangements reflected in the first half of calendar year 2024.”

Ainsworth however noted that gross margins were “negatively impacted” compared to the first half of 2024, “which was the primary factor contributing to the lower profitability experienced in the period”.

The firm said it expects full-year 2024 gross margin to be “approximately 62 percent” compared to the reported margin of about 67 percent in the first half this year.

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“The forecasted margin has been adversely affected by a range of factors, including product mix of products sold within Latin America, competitive market conditions and the under recovery of production variances expensed in the current period,” noted the gaming supplier.

Ainsworth’s chief executive, Harald Neumann, said: “I am encouraged by the growth in revenue in the period and expect growth to continue in coming periods as we release the next suite of game offerings across our global markets.”

Mr Neumann said the initiatives undertaken by the company were showing “progressive improvements in game performance” within the markets where the company operates.

“Additional game releases and hardware initiatives are expected to maintain the growth experienced in coming periods,” added the CEO.

In Tuesday’s filing, Ainsworth also said it had “experienced a cybersecurity incident,” which was “currently under investigation and assessment”.

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“Despite some disruptions experienced in internal business systems and operations, through cautionary measures implemented, it is currently not expected that this incident will have any material adverse impact on the forecasted results” for the second half this year, stated the firm.

Australia’s ban on gambling advertising will not be introduced this week. This may also be the last week the Australian Parliament sits this term, making the bill’s progression uncertain.

The government has been further discussing gambling regulation since an inquiry last June. The late Member of Parliament Peta Murphy’s report included 31 recommendations, including a full ban of gambling advertising.

Gambling is a particular issue in the country. According to research, Australians lose around $25 billion on legal gambling every year, the largest per capita losses globally.

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Earlier this year, ReadWrite reported that “one million gambling ads had been aired in one year in Australia,” according to an open letter signed by prominent Australians. Despite these external and internal pressures, the parliament is still yet to respond to Murphy’s report or make the proposed bill public.

Competition Minister Andrew Leigh said that the government was prepared to bring in restrictions “immediately” but that they still don’t have enough numbers to pass the bill.

“It’s quite clear at the moment … the numbers aren’t there to progress the reforms the government has put through, which would significantly curtail gambling ads around major sporting events so there would be a blackout period before and after sporting events,” he said.

“If we thought the numbers were there, we’d put it to the parliament immediately, but the fact that the numbers aren’t there says everything about the way in which the opposition is moving into blocking mode.”

This directly contradicted the view from sport minister Anika Wells, who said that a ban on gambling ads was not ready for parliament yet.

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She said: “I’ve got national sporting organizations and professional codes who are worried about how this will impact the viability of their financial model … I think it needs more nuanced work.”

The Labor government continues to be split on the issue of a full advertising ban, with some believing a partial one is the better decision.