On a busy Friday night and Saturday afternoons at venues across Australia, savvy operators watch as patrons gather around digital screens, smartphones in hand, engaging in an activity that's breathing new life into Australia's traditional pub culture: digital sports tipping.
"We used to do it all by paper," Mr. Hall said, referring to the tipping cards that were once a staple of Australian sports bars. "Now, everything's different."
That difference comes in the form of SportsPick, a technology platform that's transforming how Australians engage with sports in their local pubs. In an era where digital entertainment threatens to keep people home, this innovation is drawing them back to traditional gathering places, creating what some call a renaissance in pub culture.
The transformation can be particularly visible in regional areas.
At the Commercial Hotel in Bega, a coastal town in New South Wales, publican Duke Creary has witnessed a remarkable shift.
"It's only the first year we've been doing it but yeah it's just that having the product there, has been such a boost throughout," he said, noting that 40 to 50 new regular patrons now visit his establishment weekly as a result of SportsPick.
This renaissance comes at a crucial time for Australia's hospitality industry, which has struggled to maintain relevance in an increasingly digital world. Traditional sports bars, once neighbourhood fixtures, have found themselves competing with home entertainment systems and mobile betting apps.
But rather than resist digital transformation, some venues are embracing it.
SportsPick's platform offers what industry experts call an "all-inclusive" approach: combining mobile apps, in-venue screens, and automated management systems to create a seamless experience that bridges the digital and physical worlds.
Remember the old days of manual data entry? Tommy Hall from The Cricketers Balmain does: "We don't have to do any data entry, SportsPick looks after all that. No more arguments about missed tips or lost cards – everything's digital, transparent, and simple".
Duke Creary from Commercial Hotel Bega: "You can do it on the app. You can do it in venue when you're having a beer and you can win prizes," reinforcing the value proposition that SportsPick has delivered for their patrons.
The impact extends beyond mere numbers. Publicans report seeing more families in their venues, a shift from the tradition in the bar scene.
"It's all new faces, they're bringing in the families," Mr. Hall said.
This community aspect might be the platform's most significant achievement. In an age where digital often means disconnected, SportsPick is creating what sociologists call "third places" — social environments separate from home and work where community connections flourish.
"Even though I have 45 tips for my first year, they're all coming into the venue,"
Mr. Hall emphasised. In the economics of hospitality, such regular patronage is gold dust.
The platform's success hints at a broader trend in Australian society: the desire for technology that enhances rather than replaces human connection. As cities grow and traditional community spaces disappear, pubs adopting this hybrid model might represent the future of social gathering spaces.
For Australia's publicans, the message is clear: the future belongs to those who can bridge the digital-physical divide while maintaining the essential character of their establishments. As Mr. Creary puts it simply, "It's been a change up that's worked."
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