Blog

A practical guide for Australian pubs, bars and clubs on how trivia, poker, sports tipping and entertainment can build community to start 2026 strong.

Detailed guide to set up your In-venue footy tipping competition in SportsPick

The Problem: Sports Tipping Was Stuck

Time to get your Competition ready for the big finish! There are a few steps you can take now, and a few to complete once the final results are in.

One-night-only access now available for Australia’s most anticipated fight of the year SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — In a landmark move for sports broadcasting in hospitality venues, Stan Sport has partnered exclusively with SportsPick Live (Entain Venues) to distribute the highly anticipated Sonny Bill Williams vs Paul Gallen boxing match live to pubs, clubs, and bars across Australia, without requiring a Stan Sport subscription . Taking place on Wednesday, 16 July 2025 at Qudos Bank Arena, the long-awaited showdown between two of Australia’s most iconic athletes is expected to be one of the highest-viewed domestic sporting events of the year. “This is more than a fight — it’s a moment of national interest, and we’re making sure venues of all sizes can tap into the demand,” said Mark Sturdy, Managing Director of Entain Venues. “By enabling one-off access without lock-in subscriptions, we’re removing barriers and giving operators real flexibility.” A Proven Crowd-Puller for Hospitality Venues Combining fierce sporting rivalry, cross-code fanbases, and major media attention, the SBW vs Gallen fight presents a significant commercial opportunity for venues to attract midweek foot traffic, activate screens, and increase spend per head. Midweek timing boosts visitation on a traditionally slower night. Boxing + NRL crossover appeal draws a broad demographic. Pre-fight hype + in-venue energy make this a must-show event. Through SportsPick Live’s national IPTV infrastructure powered by Nightlife Music , licensed venues can access the fight on a one-time basis, or via preferred rates for existing Stan Sport commercial subscribers. How to Access the Event Stan Sport Subscribers : Contact venues@stan.com.au to activate event access. Non-Subscribers : One-off access available via SportsPick Live. Contact venues@entaingroup.com.au to arrange screening rights for your venue. About the Event Broadcast live from Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena , the Sonny Bill Williams vs Paul Gallen fight marks a major moment in Australian boxing history — a long-awaited, headline-grabbing contest between two former footy legends turned professional fighters. After years of speculation, the grudge match finally lands on 16 July in what promises to be in front of a sellout crowd and massive national TV audience. 

Being The Community's Hub: The Morphett Arms Hotel Story Local pubs have always been about community and at the Morphett Arms Hotel, they've discovered how to take that community spirit to the next level. In an era where digital convenience often wins over social connection, this Adelaide venue has found a way to make their sports community even stronger and more engaged. The challenge wasn't about empty seats or silent screens - it was about creating something special that brings people together in new ways. As streaming services make home viewing increasingly convenient, venues need fresh approaches to enhance their community experience. A Platform to Increase Patron Engagement - Enter SportsPick The Morphett Arms found their answer in SportsPick, transforming their already vibrant venue into an interactive hub where every sports fan can be part of something bigger. What happens when you give an engaged sports community more ways to connect? You get an even more dynamic social atmosphere. At Morphett Arms Hotel, SportsPick isn't just another tipping platform - it's become a catalyst for deeper community connections. "People just like the social aspect of it. They come in and compare their tips... they all like to have a bit of chat about who they picked, and you know a bit of banter," says Aimee Barnett, the venue's Front Bar Manager of three years. The Secret Sauce 1. COMMUNITY FIRST, COMPLIMENTED BY TECHNOLOGY This isn't a story about filling empty seats - it's about enriching the experience for everyone who walks through the door. From regular AFL tippers to casual NFL fans, SportsPick has created new ways for their patrons to engage, compete, and celebrate together. Morphett Arms Hotel has used SportsPick to enhance its ability to be a social hub for the community. Through SportsPick's automated tipping competitions and national prize pools, Morphett Arms Hotel has enhanced the ability for patrons to share moments to enjoy sports and racing action with fellow enthusiasts. People in their community can win big, like Jimmy, a 20-year regular who hit the big-time winning the Punters Challenge Championship "Oh my God, I've got this Aimee's, I've got this!" Although Jimmy was ecstatic, the entire venue erupted in celebration. Why? Because at Morphett Arms, everyone's win is everyone's win. Jimmy took home the $20,000 National Prize Pool for winning SportsPick’s Punters Challenge Championship, and a local legend was built in the community. 2. SUPPORT THAT GETS IT With over 20 years of industry expertise, SportsPick's expert team gets it, providing support and resources for customers like Morphett Arms Hotel. If I've got any problems, I can just quickly send him a quick email, or a text and he'll get straight back to me The Result The Morphett Arms has been able to cultivate a range of local tipping competitions that had their patrons coming back repeatedly for competitions throughout the year, their numbers tell part of the story, with: 60 passionate AFL tippers 30 dedicated NFL fans 15-20 weekly Super Seven players In an era where technology can isolate, the Morphett Arms has found a way to use it to connect. To discover the SportsPick difference for your venue, contact us today.

We're pleased to announce that EV Live is evolving to become SportsPick Live – a strategic transformation that naturally reflects what we're focused on delivering: an all-inclusive sports entertainment platform that connects passionate fans with their local venues. This evolution goes beyond a simple name change. By unifying our brand under SportsPick Live, we're creating a more intuitive connection between our premium sports content and venue engagement solutions. The evolution into the SportsPick brand represents a significant milestone in our venue sports entertainment offering, combining our proven expertise with a more recognisable and accessible brand identity. This unified approach delivers clear benefits for our partners: Enhanced brand recognition with SportsPick, to tap into an established audience that drives visitation Seamless integration of premium sports content and engagement tools. Streamlined operations for venue partners Our Roadmap for Growth: As SportsPick Live, we're accelerating our development in two key areas: Content Expansion: We're actively expanding our network of premium content partners, ensuring venues have comprehensive access to the sports entertainment their customers demand – all through a single, trusted platform. Technology Enhancement: Our development roadmap focuses on introducing innovative features that maximise venue entertainment potential while reducing operational complexity, allowing our partners to focus on what matters most: creating exceptional customer experiences. A Smooth Transition: The transition to SportsPick Live will be implemented gradually across our platform and materials, with minimal disruption expected to existing customers throughout. You may continue to see the EV Live branding on some touch-points during this period – this is part of our planned rollout. We'll keep you informed of changes and updates throughout the transition process, ensuring you're always in the loop. Meanwhile you'll continue to enjoy the reliable service and support you've come to expect while we transition to a strong, cohesive brand that can resonate with your customer on all levels. Welcome to SportsPick Live – simplifying access to premium sports, as part of the all-in-one sports bar engagement platform.

As we close out 2024, I find myself reflecting on what has been a transformative year for both our business and the hospitality industry at large. When we launched our sports broadcasting platform in July, we saw an industry crying out for change – venue operators struggling with fragmented content delivery, rising costs, and complex operational demands. What we didn't anticipate was just how quickly the market would embrace our vision for a simplified, unified approach to sports entertainment. OUR JOURNEY SO FAR In just eight months, we've witnessed a remarkable evolution. We've secured partnerships with premium content providers including DAZN's Global championship boxing, and Power Slap's viral sensations. But more importantly, we've seen first-hand how these partnerships have helped venues transform their operations and enhance their patron experience. The problem we set out to solve was clear: the fragmentation of sports content was creating unnecessary complexity and cost for venues. What was identified was "It's a significant pain point for how to get sports into a venue." Our solution needed to be more than just another service – it needed to be a complete reimagining of how venues access and deliver sports entertainment and our partnership with Nightlife is instrumental in solving this challenge. LOOKING AHEAD: SPORTSPICK LIVE As we move into 2025, I'm excited to announce perhaps our most significant development yet: the evolution of EV Live into SportsPick Live. This isn't just a rebranding exercise – it's a natural progression that reflects our commitment to delivering an all-inclusive sports bar solution and connecting sports fans with their local venue. The integration with SportsPick represents everything we believe the future of venue sports entertainment should be: seamless, engaging, and profitable for our partners. By bringing together premium sports content with comprehensive engagement tools under one brand, we're creating what I believe will be the new standard in sports entertainment. OUR VISION FOR 2025 Looking ahead, our focus is clear: Content Expansion We're focused on adding additional content partners who share our vision for accessible, high-quality sports entertainment. Our goal is to ensure venues never have to look elsewhere for premium sports content. Technology Integration The SportsPick Live platform will continue to evolve, with new features designed to help venues maximise their entertainment offering while minimising operational complexity. Venue Support We're expanding our support infrastructure to ensure venues have everything they need to succeed – from marketing materials to operational guidance. OUR COMMITMENT TO THE INDUSTRY The challenges facing hospitality venues today are complex, but I believe they also present unprecedented opportunities. The cost-of-living crisis has made it more important than ever for venues to differentiate themselves and maximise operational efficiency. Our evolution into SportsPick Live reflects our commitment to helping venues not just survive but thrive in this environment. To our existing partners: thank you for your trust and collaboration in 2024. To those considering joining us: there's never been a better time to be part of this revolution in venue entertainment. As we look to 2025, I'm more convinced than ever that the future of the industry lies in simplified, unified solutions that put venues first. The early adopters of our platform have already seen the benefits of this approach, and we're committed to ensuring that more venues can share in this success. The hospitality industry has always been about bringing people together. With SportsPick Live, we're making it easier than ever for venues to create those memorable moments that keep patrons coming back. That's not just good for business – it's good for your communities. 2025 promises to be an exciting year of growth, innovation, and transformation. I look forward to sharing this journey with all of you.