Delivering Paddy Power Betfair's first-quarter trading update, Mr Jackson last week revealed revenues in Australia had dipped 2 per cent compared to the same period last year, but rose 6 per cent once currency fluctuations were taken into account.

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Mr Jackson told investors that the company would be interested in pursuing opportunities for "bolt-on" acquisitions in Australia if the price was right.

"I think we've got a fantastic business in Australia and if there are opportunities for us to do bolt-on M&As at sensible prices, we would do that," he said. "We'd be interested."

The comments come as Australia's online corporate bookmakers — such as Sportsbet, CrownBet, Ladbrokes, Bet365 and Betfair — brace for the introduction of new state-based digital wagering taxes, which, for the first time, will tax their wagering revenue based on where a bet is placed as opposed to solely where the wagering company is licensed.

South Australia has already introduced a so-called "point-of-consumption" tax at 15 per cent, while Western Australia's will begin in January, and Queensland has committed to following suit. NSW and Victoria have also signalled their intention to bring in point-of-consumption taxes, but neither has yet nominated a tax rate or introduction date.

Many in the wagering industry had been expecting the Victorian government to announce the new tax in last week's state budget, but it was not included in the budget papers. Treasurer Tim Pallas on Friday said it was still his intention to "make an announcement in the near future".

He said he had been speaking to counterparts in other states about the possibility of a "broadly consistent approach" to the tax's introduction.

"To be clear, I've been speaking to everybody," he said, "whether it's industry, sporting codes that think they'll be adversely affected, other states ... and, importantly, anti-gaming groups, to make sure we have a clear appreciation of their view and their expectations about what we deliver."