International gambling giants may move in

AUSTRALIA -- As reported by the Herald Sun: "Pokies giants Tatts and Tabcorp could be stripped of up to 9000 machines in a gambling industry shake-up to be revealed within days.

"...An announcement will be made by Premier John Brumby the end of the month.

"Rivals Tatts and Tabcorp are licensed to operate all of the state's 27,500 suburban pokies until mid-2012, while Tabcorp holds a separate licence to operate the state's $700 million wagering network.

"...Industry sources believe the Government has been examining a pokies system, which would hand control of a third of the state's pokies to a new operator..."