An Australian bookmaker has been fined AU$100,000 by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) after allowing one of its customers to gamble through their online account for 35 hours in a 50-hour period, who lost AU$31,149 in the process.
According to information from the VGCCC, MintBet was found guilty of repeated breaches of its Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct, having allowed the customer to place 327 bets during the period in question. MintBet did not stop accepting bets from the customer despite the customer displaying “indicators of distress that may be related to problem gambling”, the VGCCC found. While it also found that MintBet had some systems in place to ensure individuals are not losing control in respect to their gambling, these controls were inadequate it explained.
MintBet will now be required to inform the VGCCC what improvements it will be making to its systems and processes, with further action possible should its response be deemed unsatisfactory.
“Victorian gambling providers must comply with their responsible gambling codes of conduct,” said VGCCC Deputy CEO Scott May. “They exist to protect people from gambling harm. Even if accepting bets online, providers must monitor for and intervene when customers are displaying indicators of distress.
“Gambling for an extended period is a key indicator of distress that may indicate problem gambling. There are serious consequences for any gambling provider that fails to comply with their own responsible gambling code of conduct. We won’t tolerate it.”
RelatedPosts
