Australia-licensed online bookmakers are complaining that the country’s new gambling legislation gives an unfair in-play betting advantage to rivals Tabcorp and Tatts Group.

Last week, Australia introduced the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016, which seeks to close loopholes in the original IGA that permitted Aussie bookmakers to offer online in-play sports bets via so-called ‘click to call’ voice activated smartphone apps.

But bookmakers who will suffer from this in-play crackdown believe the government has left one glaring loophole in place intended to benefit domestic operators Tabcorp and Tatts, which recently announced plans to merge into one giant betting behemoth.

The legislation introduced last week contains language that permits wagering services that “involve the use of electronic equipment made available to any customers” in retail outlets. The language is intended to allow the use of electronic betting terminals in pubs, clubs and betting shops run by Tabcorp and Tatts.