Gillon McLachlan, the former long-serving chief executive of the Australian Football League, has been appointed to the top role at listed betting company Tabcorp. The appointment comes amid growing scrutiny from health professionals, players, gambling addicts and fans who want to break the tight link between professional sports and gambling.
McLachlan is expected to take over as Tabcorp’s chief executive in early August, pending necessary approvals. He will receive an annual salary of $1.5m, with a variety of bonuses that could lead to him earning many multiples of his base wage, according to details disclosed on the ASX.
Tabcorp’s executive chairman, Bruce Akhurst, said on Monday: “Gill has a deep understanding of sport, racing and wagering, combined with significant commercial acumen which was highlighted in the substantial growth of AFL revenues under his leadership.”
McLachlan stepped down as the AFL’s chief executive last year after a decade in the role. He was commended for guiding the game through the pandemic and for championing the growth of the women’s game. However, his tenure also coincided with a community push against gambling advertisements and promotions – an issue yet to be resolved by the federal government.
The 51-year-old will join an Australian wagering company facing public pressure from anti-gambling campaigners and commercial pressure from international bookmakers popular with younger customers. McLachlan said in a statement: “It’s about creating entertainment for our customers in a safe way and providing a unique customer omni-channel entertainment offering across digital, retail and the media business.”
