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Newsagents have been given a further three years breathing space before the big supermarkets can sell lottery products.
The deal done between the state government and the Tatts Group will cost NSW taxpayers $15 million.
Newsagents were given a five-year moratorium on exclusivity when the previous government leased the lotteries to Tatts Group in 2010.
The moratorium was due to end on April 1 this year.
Treasurer Andrew Constance said, under a signed memorandum of understanding, TattsGroup had agreed not to expand the network of franchises into supermarket chains for three years, ending at the end of March in 2018.
He said the government would provide support to the existing network of franchises to update their point of sale shop fittings to the standard required by Tatts under the franchise agreement.
Mr Constance said the government would introduce a dedicated $15 million newsagents assistance fund to support agents who required assistance to upgrade and diversify their businesses.
Lottery agents would be able to apply for contributions of up to $10,000 for approved shop re-fits for the point of sale of lotteries products.
“Today we are cleaning up another diabolical mess left to us by the last Labor government,” Mr Constance said.
What do you think of the deal?
