eGaming Review December 2013 | Page 31

COSTLY AND CLUTTERED The greatest barrier to entry would appear to be the requisite investment not just in terms of licensing, but gaining a foothold and growing market share. “That’s difficult because a number of very successful operators are already here and have their market share,” Nettleton says. Australia’s population of just over 20 million people, of which only a small percentage are regular gamblers, represents a market some way short of being a bottomless pit of gaming revenue. "WITHOUT THE RIGHT MARKET KNOWLEDGE ANY INTERNATIONAL COMPANY COULD BE CREAMED BY THE LOCAL PUNTERS" - GRAHAM KEATING, INDEPENDENT GAMING CONSULTANT One of the most costly areas requiring investment is advertising, with television spots, racetrack sponsorship and sports team partnerships familiar modes of advertising, but costly all the same. According to a report by data company Nielsen and first published by the Herald Sun newspaper in Australia, Australian sports betting sites’ spend on TV, radio and print advertising has climbed to $50m over the past year. Tom Waterhouse by far the biggest spending brand with a combined outlay of $9.6m. It outspent its nearest advertising competitor Tatts Bet by $6m, followed by Swedish-listed operator Unibet and bet365 which both 7V