Tabcorp fined $14,000 for illegal advertising

Australian sports betting firm Tabcorp has become the latest operator to be fined by New South Wales regulators, receiving a AUS$14,000 penalty (£7,826) for offering illegal inducements to gamble.

The operator received the penalty after pleading guilty to breaching New South Wales gaming law in a Sydney court earlier this week.

It follows an investigation by the New South Wales department of Liquor and Gaming into a promotional advert which featured on Tabcorp’s mobile phone app in October 2018.

The advertisement featured the line “HEAD TO HEAD SPECIAL – KHABIB VS MCGREGOR – if your fighter loses by decision, bonus bet back, up to $50”.

Under the New South Wales Betting and Racing Act, operators are prohibited from publishing any advertisements which “includes any inducement to participate, or participate frequently, in any gambling activity (including an inducement to open a betting account).”

However, operators can publish such advertisements if they are being offered to registered betting account holders only.

In the case of the Tabcorp advertisement, this could be viewed by any individuals who viewed the app, regardless of whether they had a Tabcorp betting account or not.

New South Wales Liquor & Gaming director of compliance operations Sean Goodchild said there was clear evidence that the Tabcorp advertisement was an inducement to gamble.

“Betting operators have an obligation to ensure that all advertising complies with NSW laws on gambling advertising,” Goodchild added.

Several operators including Ladbrokes, Neds, Sportsbet, Sportchamps and Pointsbet have all been fined by New South Wales Liquor & Gaming over the last year.

Operators found to be in breach of gaming law can face fines of up to AUS$55,000 (£30,748).

Explaining the regulators tough stance on advertising, Goodchild said: “Inducements are known to increase the risk of gambling harm so any breaches are taken seriously”.