The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued a formal caution to Tabcorp for taking online wagers on a US college basketball match.
Tabcorp was scrutinized by the ACMA for accepting 37 wagers on the match on the third of January this year.
As per the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001, it is against the law in Australia to place online wagers on a game while it is in progress. The ACMA ascertained that Tabcorp had violated this legislation.
Tabcorp declared that they failed to shut down the betting market promptly due to inaccurate information provided by a third-party supplier, and also acknowledged that there was a technical error within Tabcorp.
Tabcorp stated that they paid out winning tickets and reimbursed losing tickets after recognizing the mistake, but only one ticket was reimbursed after the ACMA commenced its investigation.
The ACMA considered Tabcorp’s actions in handling the illegal wagers, as well as their commitment to enhancing their systems and procedures, and decided to issue a formal caution.
Alternative enforcement options may include fines under a breach notice, and the ACMA applying to the Federal Court for civil penalties or injunctions.
Its crucial to recognize that wagering while a contest is ongoing, such as placing bets on the subsequent point in tennis or the next delivery in cricket, poses a significant risk for individuals grappling with gambling issues, stated Fiona Cameron, a representative of the gambling oversight body.
These regulations have been in place for an extended period, and Tabcorp has had ample opportunity to ensure they refrain from offering wagers during matches for both domestic and international sporting events.
Cameron asserted that it would be more prudent to nullify all bets rather than distributing winnings, thereby preventing both the gambling enterprises and the bettors from profiting from this prohibited form of wagering.
She indicated that the gambling sector is now “under scrutiny” and must implement robust systems to curtail in-play betting, or they will face investigation by the ACMA.
