The Federal Group says the government is yet to give formal notice of changes regarding the state's gaming operations, arguing changes cannot contractually occur without four years' notice.
In a submission to the government's Future Gaming Market policy, the company said it needed to have received formal notice by June 2019 under the 2003 deed if changes to arrangements were to take effect by the government's preferred date of July 1, 2023.
"Should notice not be provided by 30 June 2020, then the current arrangements automatically extend to 30 June 2025," executive general manager Daniel Hanna said.
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He said it was appropriate Finance Minister Michael Ferguson had not yet provided the company with a notice as there was no certainty over what they would be.
"The reason for that is that no legislation has yet been put to the Parliament," Dr Hanna said.
He said the government's intention to override the four-year rolling term constituted sovereign risk.
"That would be grievously unfair to the company and set a horrendous precedent," Dr Hanna said.
"No Tasmanian government has ever acted in this year."
He said the rolling term gave the company time to transition from current arrangements.
Under the policy, licences for electronic gaming machines would no longer be exclusively held by Federal, rather individual venues.
A licensed monitoring operator will be established under the new model to monito the network of poker machines.
That service is currently supplied by Federal Group's Network Gaming business.
A submission from the owners of the Exeter Hotel stated it was important to ensure the network operator did not price gouge under the arrangement.
It proposed ongoing monitoring costs be set by the government.
Identical submissions from the Sunny Hill Tavern and Black Stallion Hotel said ATMs should be allowed in gaming venues.
A submission from the Commercial Hotel said the cap of 30 poker machines for hotels should be lifted to 40, in line with clubs.
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Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
