After 42 years of Federal Group’s gambling monopoly in Tasmania, opponents now call for the license renewal to be put to tender.

In 1968, when Tasmanians voted in favor of a development that would see the state become home to Australia’s first legal casino, the Federal Group has held the exclusive rights to the state’s gambling business.

Federal’s Wrest Point Hotel was relaunched as Wrest Point Hotel and Casino in 1973, and after nine years, the company opened another casino in Launceston.

Federal Group has maintained a legislated monopoly on Tasmania’s gambling venues and poker machines as agreement was renewed in 1993 and again in 2003. Neither deal was subjected to an open tender process and were negotiated behind closed doors between the Tasmanian government and Federal Group officials.