Basketball in New Zealand has enjoyed a rebound in popularity to become the TAB's No 1 sport for betting in 2012/13 and it has also given the sport a healthy cash injection.
Courtesy largely of the TAB's broadcast of the NBA on its Watch&Bet world sports streaming service, as well as the popularity of the Breakers in the Australian National Basketball League, basketball has overtaken rugby union as the big-ticket betting product with Kiwi punters at the TAB.
New Zealanders bet more than $46.8 million on basketball in 2012/13, putting it in the No 1 spot for betting turnover for the first time, just ahead of rugby union at $45.4 million.
The TAB contributes a share of betting turnover and profit to each national sporting organisation on whose sport it takes bets and returned more than $4 million to sporting bodies in 2012/13.
"In our case, we'll receive well over $650,000 from the TAB for the year, which will help us promote the game in New Zealand,'' Basketball New Zealand chief executive Iain Potter said.
