Tabcorp gives out special dividend as profit rises 64pc

Plans from Tabcorp chief executive David Attenborough to use digital tools to save betting in pubs, clubs and TAB outlets have been given a boost by a rare spot of growth in the retail wagering segment.

Mr Attenborough said bets placed in retail outlets rose modestly in the second quarter of 2014-15, although some of this effect was due to Tabcorp including turnover from Canberra outlets for the first time after it bought ACTTAB. The growth was not enough to reverse a decline in retail turnover for the half, but it reflects Tabcorp's unwillingness to let retail betting slide quietly into the night and instead focus on the rapid growth in digital wagering.