10 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 PGRI INTERVIEWS Paul Jason: Thanks very much for joining us in what must be a crazy busy time for you, Sue. Sue van der Merwe: It’s a pleasure Paul, always happy to speak with you and to share insights with the lotteries community. It’s an exciting time for us at The Lottery Corporation having only begun life as a standalone ASX-listed company on June 1, albeit we’ve been operating lotteries in Australia in one form or another for more than 100 years. Your business was previously part of the Tabcorp Group? Sue van der Merwe: Yes, that’s right. Before that, the lotteries business that we run was part of the Tatts Group. A Tabcorp-Tatts Group merger in late 2017 brought together six complimentary businesses to create three businesses under the Tabcorp brand – Lotteries and Keno was the largest business contributing 56% of FY21 revenues. I was Managing Director of the Lotteries and Keno business, which we’ve now demerged from Tabcorp. What was the rationale behind the demerger? Sue van der Merwe: The decision to pursue the demerger followed a strategic review by the Board which considered a number of potential alternatives to maximize shareholder value. From a leadership point of view, it’s allowed us to solely focus on lotteries and Keno, whereas within the Tabcorp Group the focus was shared with the wagering and gaming businesses. I’m excited to have assembled an experienced, passionate and talented leadership team to drive our performance. PGRI INTRODUCTION: As the driving force behind Australia’s leading lottery and Keno games and one of the best-performing lottery businesses in the world, The Lottery Corporation operates a diversified and balanced portfolio of high-profile brands under exclusive and/or long-term licenses and approvals, bringing Australia’s largest lottery games to more than 8 million active customers. The successful demerger of the Lotteries and Keno business from the Tabcorp Group on 1 June 2022 enabled the creation of The Lottery Corporation as a standalone entity listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. It was a watershed moment for a business that dates back to 1881 when George Adams organized the first Tattersall’s public sweep on horse racing’s Sydney Cup. The Lottery Corporation’s story spans more than 140 years, with brands that are entrenched in the hearts and minds of Australians and today is one of the highest performing lotteries globally and the leader in the Australian lotteries and keno market. It’s business is one of significant scale and reach with the equivalent of 46% of the Australian adult population purchasing a lottery ticket in the past year, an extensive retail footprint of more than 7,200 outlets comprising one of Australia’s largest retail franchise networks, 4.1 million active registered lottery customers and high performing digital channels. The Lottery Corporation has a proud history of delivering life-changing wins to its customers and making a meaningful difference in Australian communities. We are very pleased to bring to you this discussion with Sue van der Merwe, CEO of The Lottery Corporation. Sue, who also chairs the Asia Pacific Lottery Association, shares her views on the industry, The Lottery Corporation’s future, the role that lotteries play in the community, and balancing the needs of The Lottery Corporation’s stakeholders. Shaping the Future of Lottery in Australia Sue van der Merwe Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, The Lottery Corporation
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