Australia’s Federal Court has imposed AU$24.24 million ($16.8 million) in penalties on the providers and promoters of prohibited online poker services operated under the names PPPfish, Shuffle Gaming and Redraw Poker, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) announced on July 6th.
Brisbane Poker Pty Ltd was ordered to pay AU$15 million ($10.4 million), Rhys Edward Jones AU$9 million ($6.25 million) and Brenton Lee Buttigieg AU$240,000 ($166,700) for contraventions of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Combined with the AU$5 million ($3.47 million) penalty imposed on Diverse Link Pty Ltd in March 2023, total penalties in the proceedings now stand at AU$29.24 million ($20.3 million).
The court found the services allowed members of the public to play online poker against other players using virtual chips that could be purchased and sold for real money.
In sentencing Buttigieg, Justice Rangiah rejected the AU$120,000 ($83,300) penalty jointly proposed by the ACMA and the defendant, doubling it on the grounds of general deterrence, according to the judgment. The court noted Buttigieg, who promoted the services through a private Facebook group, made a profit of AU$44,400 ($30,800), compared with the AU$7.2 million ($5 million) benefit received by Jones and Brisbane Poker.
The proceedings began in April 2022 following an ACMA investigation. The court also restrained Jones from providing, and Buttigieg from aiding, prohibited interactive gambling services for five years.
“This decision sends a clear warning that offering online poker to Australians is illegal and there are serious consequences for those who breach the law,” ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said.
