Wednesday, August 16, 2006

As reported by the UK Times: "When Tattersall's announced in June its bid to
run the UK lottery, few outside the gambling world had heard of the
Australian lottery and gaming-machine operator. One Sydney analyst described
it as 'not your typical corporation'. "Indeed, Tattersall's colourful past
is sure to fascinate the panel that picks the winning bid after the deadline
for entries passes in December. For more than 100 years it was run rather
like a secret society, and is accused in Australia of preying on problem
gamblers. "The competition for the lucrative 10-year licence to operate the
lottery from 2009 will be the most intense yet. The winner must satisfy a
rigid set of tests set by the UK National Lottery Commission. It must be a
fit and proper organisation with a proven record and, most of all, meet the
strict regulations governing the lottery. ".It said the bid was part of a
strategy to diversify and expand internationally, as outlined in its
prospectus ahead of its July 2005 listing on the Australian Stock Exchange."