Tabcorp Holdings Limited (Tabcorp) has paid a $262,920 fine for accepting online in-play sports bets, an activity prohibited in Australia.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found that Tabcorp accepted 854 in-play bets across 69 tennis matches from April to October 2023. Online in-play betting—placing bets after an event has started—is illegal in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood explained that the restriction on in-play betting aims to protect vulnerable individuals. Ms. Lidgerwood stated:
In-play betting heightens access to gambling and amplifies gambling-related harm, as it allows high-frequency betting on multiple outcomes during events. With the significant growth in online sports betting, it’s essential that all wagering services have measures to prevent illegal in-play bets.
Tabcorp reported that a technical issue led to the breaches, which began in April 2023 but was not resolved until October. Ms. Lidgerwood expressed concern that it took Tabcorp six months to detect and correct the issue.
Alongside paying the fine, Tabcorp has updated the ACMA on the new controls it has implemented and outlined further actions to prevent future incidents. The ACMA noted that Tabcorp voided all affected bets, ensuring that consumers were not impacted and that the company did not profit from the errors.
Tabcorp had previously received a formal warning from the ACMA in November 2021 for accepting in-play bets on a U.S. college basketball game.
