Hi, Cameron398.

The Federal Gov't has confirmed they will not block Betfair from operating in Oz. All Betfair now needs is any one State to give them the green light. I am led to believe that there is a strong possibility that Tasmania will be the first to put their hands up, and that Betfair will be up and running here mid 2005.

An article in one of the Sydney newspapers stated the TAB cannot legally block races from Betfair. They quoted a case early last century where one of the Sydney radio stations was "illegally" broadcasting races from a race-caller perched in a tree, and when taken to court the radio station won the case. I can't remember the details but the newspaper said the same/similar laws apply to Betfair and would not be successfully prosecuted if litigation against them arose.