Wagering

Wagering

What will be the five biggest stories in wagering in 2026?

As the calendar turns into another year, it's time to turn our focus to the crystal ball to see what might shape the wagering industry headlines of 2026, and there is a certain familiarity to our predictions.

Latest in Wagering
BetMakers
“A superior racing experience” – Stake steps up racing offering with BetMakers partnership

Tote pools on global racing are on the agenda of Stake.com after it inked a deal with Australian wagering tech company BetMakers.

Andrew Catterall
Catterall to replace Swanell in key PointsBet executive role

PointsBet’s transformative year has ended with confirmation that Sam Swanell will step down from the Group CEO role after nine-and-a-half years, with Andrew Catterall promoted in his place.

Darren Holley
Christmas exit for betr’s Holley

Darren Holley, betr’s chief financial officer, will leave the publicly listed wagering company at the end of 2025 after spending five years in the role during a transformative period for the BlueBet and betr brands.

Rob Wood
Rob Wood to depart Entain’s global business in early 2026

Rob Wood, a fixture at Entain for 13 years, will leave the global wagering company in 2026.

Hastings Park
The uncomfortable global dance between gambling and racing

In almost every major racing jurisdiction in the world, the relationship between horse racing and gambling and/or wagering is under the spotlight. Recent developments in North America, England and Australia show how tangled that relationship has become.

Barni Evans
“A missed opportunity” – Wagering industry blasts Queensland POCT call as counter productive

The Australian wagering industry has broadly condemned the Queensland government’s decision not to adopt a recommended cut in the Point Of Consumption Tax rate.

Bookies set for Queensland POCT change disappointment 

Queensland is likely to retain the highest Point Of Consumption tax among Australian states, with Racing Minister Tim Mander set to ignore industry pressure to cut the wagering levy to 15 per cent.

CrownBet lives again as Betfair Australia steps into dedicated fixed-odds play

A “strategic diversification” by Crown Resorts will see Betfair Australia revive the CrownBet brand and enter the competitive fixed-odds betting market.

More than a feeling – Does the Australian tote still have a pulse?

Gillon McLachlan has made the formation of a national tote the centrepiece of his reform of Tabcorp since taking over as chief executive in August 2024. For the one-time wagering behemoth, there is a lot more at play than just extra liquidity.