Gaming group Tatts Group Ltd has room on its balance sheet for acquisitions, with the lottery in New South Wales top of its wish list, the company said.
The New South Wales government may decide to sell the lottery to raise cash after seeing a steep drop in income from property taxes as house prices fall and less homes exchange hands.
A decision could be made public on November 11 when the government announces revised budget measures.
"Were mindful that there's a lot of chatter about NSW lotteries. We want to keep ourselves fresh and ready for that. It could be $500 million-plus there if we can get hold of it," Tatts Group chief executive Dick McIlwain said in an interview on Friday.
In the first half so far, Mr McIlwain said Tatts had seen a strong start and maintained its forecast for less than 10 per cent profit growth for the full year.
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