Paul Bittar, Director of International at Tabcorp/Sky, replacing Paul Cross at the WoTA Board

You are the new Tabcorp representative in the Board of the World Tote Association since the beginning of February – Can you please tell us how you see your role?

My role is principally to – in conjunction with the new CEO and Executive team – develop a growth strategy for the international business of Tabcorp and reshape the way Tabcorp engages with both its domestic and international partners on rights distribution and commingling opportunities. I’ve been inside Tabcorp for 18 months with one of my team (as consultants) and our work has identified that some of the legacy positions of Tabcorp are not appropriate for the next set of challenges to wagering on horseracing, so we are focused on repositioning Tabcorp’s international business in that context.

Tabcorp is one of WoTA’s founding members.  Seen from the outside, what do you think should be WoTA’s priorities going forward?

We think the priorities of WoTA should be to establish standards for members that enhance the opportunities for global commingling. We see this as principally focused in three areas being standards and targets for all members for: (i) move to bet-by-bet protocols, (ii) establish a consistent set of betting rules, and (iii) facilitate the removal of regulatory and commercial blockers that preclude alignment on commingling rates.

While each territory or member will have their own unique challenges (eg regulatory), we don’t believe this should preclude WoTA from setting a path for all members to achieve these outcomes and support members in their efforts to align.   

Tabcorp is preparing for new challenges that include a restructuring of parts of the business. Can you briefly describe the changes and the long-term goals? Where do you see Tabcorp in a 10 – 15 years perspective?

Tabcorp had a set of structural and asset advantages that any business in global wagering would dream of but was simply unable to adapt to the challenges of competition. Australia is one of the most fiercely contested, regulated wagering markets in the world, and Tabcorp focused on trying to maintain and reclaim B2C market share when faced with elite competition, most particularly Sportsbet (part of Flutter), and saw its market share decline significantly over a 15-year period. The recent changes and goals place a different lens over the structural and asset advantages Tabcorp still has, and you will see a much nimbler and more energetic organisation as a result (in fact we already are).  

Ideally Tabcorp will reposition itself successfully in the global landscape, leveraging its assets more strongly in that environment and take advantage of the undoubted market consolidation that will take place.

What do you do when you are not the International Director at Tabcorp?

I much do the same thing as I do when I’m at work! I follow global horseracing very closely, particularly British Racing which I’m forever in love with, I constantly consume racing and sport, particularly football and golf, and I also spend a lot of time with my family. We’re blessed to live by the beach and in an amazing part of the world.  

Please tell us what is your best memory of a sport (horseracing or other) event you have attended?

The list of elite and amazing horseracing events is very long, I’ve been incredibly fortunate. Royal Ascot week of 2012 a highlight as I was fortunate enough to be CEO of British Horseracing and saw both Frankel and Black Caviar win. Having said that, the single best sporting event I’ve attended – and by some margin – was the US Masters. Never have I gone to an event with such high expectations and then had them blown out of the water. It’s just the most incredible event, and I’ll forever be grateful for the mates I shared it with and for some time with Sir Nick Faldo in the Butler Cabin commentary box.