The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has charged wagering service provider BlueBet Pty Ltd for allegedly unlawfully displaying three gambling advertisements on billboards, with the company facing a maximum fine of almost $955,000.
The Australia-based bookmaker is facing 43 charges for allegedly contravening section 4.7.1 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003, for allegedly placing gambling advertisements between 29 August and 11 September 2022 on billboards in different locations in the Victoria cities of Laverton, Point Crook, Rockbank, Ravenhall, and Werribee.
The 43 charges each attract a fine of 120 penalty units, with each penalty unit worth $184.92 at the time of the offence. If BlueBet is found guilty of all the charges, it faces a maximum fine of up to $954,187.
“All wagering service providers advertising in Victoria must comply with relevant legislation. Where we detect non-compliance – especially non-compliance that can exacerbate gambling harm – we will take a zero-tolerance approach and use all the enforcement powers available to us,” the VGCCC Regulatory Services Director Jason Cremona said.
“We launched our investigation after receiving an online complaint about the billboard advertisements from a member of the public.”
BlueBet was launched in late 2015 by founder and CEO Michael Sullivan. the company was initially licensed in New South Wales, but switched to a Northern Territory bookmaker’s licence in June 2021.
The bookmaker is an approved betting partner of the Australian Rugby Union, NRL, Tennis Australia, Football Federation Australia, Cricket Australia and PGA of Australia.
