Online gaming giant Entain Pty Ltd has been fined AU$13,320 (US$8,820) by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) after it was found to have offered online in-play betting to customers via its two Australian sportsbook brands, Ladbrokes and Neds.
The bets were offered on an LIV golf tournament held in Bangkok last October with the sportsbooks accepting a total of 78 in-play bets online. Under Australia’s gaming laws, in-play bets can only be placed by calling and speaking to an operator and are not allowed to be offered in a purely online format.
The AU$13,320 fine is the maximum amount ACMA is able to issue for this particular breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and represents the first time it has ever been required to do so.
Entain reported to the ACMA that the breaches occurred due to its parent company inputting the incorrect start time for the event into their systems. As a result, 59 bets were accepted via Ladbrokes and 19 via Neds service after the event had commenced. It Entain only became aware of the error when alerted by a customer some three hours after the day’s play had started, after which time all bets were effectively voided, the watchdog said.
“Online in-play betting increases the risk for those people experiencing gambling harm as it provides fast outcomes and allows for higher frequency of bets,” explained ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin.
“Entain is a highly experienced wagering operator and it is disappointing it did not have internal procedures in place to prevent or detect the error.
“The ACMA made it clear to the industry last year that they must have robust systems in place to ensure that online in-play bets are not made available or accepted.”
The ACMA said Entain has since advised that it has reviewed and updated its in-play compliance policy to ensure similar errors do not occur again.
