Australian gaming group Tabcorp has been convicted and fined AU$ 15,000 ($9,590) for offering an inducement to people without a TAB betting account.
According to the press release sent by Medianet, the Magistrate from Downing Centre Local Court found Tabcorp advertised a promotion via its website which included an inducement to participate in a gambling activity.
In NSW, it is an offence to publish or communicate inducement advertisements to non-account holders. As a result of an internal failing, Tabcorp inadvertently caused its website to communicate a gambling inducement to non-account holders, which is an offence in NSW.
Liquor & Gaming NSW Executive Director Regulatory Operations, Jane Lin, said the regulator will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to the publication of illegal gambling inducements.
“Tabcorp is a large corporation and it is our expectation that an operator of this scale has strong internal controls and demonstrates greater vigilance to prevent members of the public being exposed to gambling inducements” Ms Lin said.
“In many cases gambling promotions can be legally offered to betting account holders who, unlike the general public, have made a conscious decision to open an account and have expressly consented to receive this information.”
“However, wagering operators can’t advertise or promote inducements such as offers of increased odds or bonus bets to entice people to open a betting account or to gamble more frequently.”
NSW bans the advertisement of any offer of an inducement to participate in a gambling activity, including an inducement to bet more frequently. It is also prohibited to offer any inducements to open betting accounts, refer friends to open betting accounts, keep a betting account open or consent to receive gambling advertising.
A maximum penalty of $110,000 applies to any corporation and $11,000 for individuals who publish prohibited gambling advertising.
