Tabcorp is considering plans to reassure frustrated gamblers following the collapse of the nationwide betting network, which cost an estimated $ 120 million in revenue over the weekend.
The computer crash is attributed to a power failure, which also affected the TAB’s sophisticated backup systems.
A thorough investigation continues as TAB tries to determine the source of the problem, including the unlikely possibility that the network was hacked.
TAB players were furious when they did not place bets or could not access their betting accounts through TAB agencies or through telephone and online outlets.
The TAB system crashed shortly after 11 a.m. on Saturday and remained inoperative until 3 p.m. on Sunday when the nationwide betting network was finally restored.
After the PR disaster, TAB is expected to serve its customers with various betting incentives, including bonus bets and odds for those bothered by the betting crash.
Punters received an error message when the TAB website and betting crashed.
The Daily telegraph understands that the computer failure means TAB lost nearly $ 120 million in betting sales.
TAB betting revenue is the financial lifeblood of the racing industry, and the crash has cost the racing industry wagering revenue of approximately $ 10 million.
The extent to which betting providers and the racing industry are dependent on the TAB betting network was also highlighted.
Corporate bookmakers saw a surge in new account holders over the weekend as TAB customers looked for ways to bet on the Golden Gift get-together in Rosehill and the Group 1 Stakes Day program in Flemington on Saturday.
But every corporate bookmaker has TAB based betting products these days and there was a knock-on effect from the TAB computer crash with delays in paying winning bets as dividends are tied to TAB.
Punters were frustrated after the system crash.
A closed TAB venue.
During the chaos on Saturday, the racing events were also affected and in some cases were canceled.
In Adelaide it was decided to cancel the Morphettville meeting on Saturday after the second race and to postpone it for Monday.
Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel delayed the Rosehill kick-off by 35 minutes on Saturday but said it was always the stewards’ intention to continue with the Golden Gift Meeting.
David Attenborough, CEO of Tabcorp, made a statement Saturday afternoon apologizing to customers and attributing the problem to “a major power interruption in an off-site data center that houses Tabcorp’s servers”.
TAB had technicians and computer experts work around the clock since Saturday to get the betting network back into operation.
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