New prime-time television ads aimed at securing a fairer deal for pubs and clubs depict Australia's largest Judi Online betting companies sending most of their local profits overseas.
The advertising campaign by the Aussie Fair Play Coalition - jointly formed by the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) and Tabcorp - features depictions of forklifts carting stacks of cash into shipping containers branded with the names of online bookmakers such as Sportsbet, Ladbrokes and Bet365.
'Where are these heading?' a character in the ad asks as he gestures at the money-laden containers readied for shipping offshore.
'Isle of Man, Dublin...
maybe Malta,' a second voice responds.
'This money should be going back into Australian industries and Australian communities,' a voiceover intones at the end of the ad.
The new prime-time advertising campaign by the Aussie Fair Play Coalition aims to secure a fairer fees and taxes deal for pubs and clubs carrying betting facilities
The ads depict forklifts carting stacks of cash into shipping containers branded with the names of online bookmakers such as Sportsbet, Ladbrokes and Bet365
Information filed with ASIC showed foreign-owned bookmakers shipped more than $500 million in profits offshore last year while paying lower gambling taxes and fees to the racing industry than Tabcorp
The line refers to Tabcorp's main argument that its large online rivals are all foreign-owned, many registered in low-tax jurisdictions such as those quoted in the ad.
The campaign will run widely in prime-time slots on channels 7, 9 and 10, as well as radio, print and digital news.
The message is based around information filed with ASIC showing foreign-owned bookmakers shipped more than $500 million in profits offshore last year while paying lower gambling taxes and fees to the racing industry than Tabcorp.
The ads seek to level the playing field between pubs and clubs carrying TAB betting and the online bookmakers by having all of them pay the same state wagering fees and taxes.
The Fair Play Coalition has scored an initial victory with the Palaszczuk government in Queensland agreeing to unwind a 2014 agreement with Tabcorp that had it paying more than online bookmakers.
It now hopes other states will follow suit.
Queensland will raise the point of consumption tax - a tax that affects all those offering gambling services in a state in equal measure - from 15 per cent to 20 per cent in December 2022.
Afavourable tax regime for online wagering companies in Australia has seen their combined market share overtake that of TAB
The AHA and Tabcorp argue that racing coverage in Australia will become unsustainable because while they mostly pay for it to be broadcast in Australian pubs and clubs, more and more of the wagering on the events goes to the online agencies.
Meanwhile, a favourable tax regime for the online outfits has seen their combined market share overtake that of TAB.