Australian iGaming operator falls foul of player inducement rules

In Australia and online casino operator Betchoice Corporation Proprietary Limited has reportedly been ordered to pay a fine of just over $17,000 after being found guilty of breaking New South Wales regulations when it comes to player inducements.

According to a report from European Gaming Media and Events, the Northern Territory-licensed firm is responsible for the Unibet Australia brand and was penalized by the Local Court of New South Wales on Sunday after an investigation determined that it had violated revised sections of the New South Wales Betting and Racing Act of 1998.

Illicit incentives:

European Gaming Media and Events reported that this particular piece of Australian legislation makes it an offence for iGaming operators to publish advertisements for anyone not already an account holder that ‘include any inducement to participate or participate frequently in any gambling activity including an inducement to open a betting account.’

Delinquent duo:

However, an examination conducted by the Liquor and Gaming New South Wales regulator reportedly discovered that Betchoice Corporation Proprietary Limited had contravened this stipulation on at least two occasions by including inducements within online advertisements that were available for any member of the local public to view. One infraction purportedly involved an announcement that was posted on the operator’s own Unibet Australia domain in February offering aficionados the ability to ‘earn $50 cash for each friend you refer’ while a second is aid to have encompassed a preceding November advert on the website for The Canberra Times newspaper that had pushed an associated ‘deposit $20, bet with $100’ offer.

Obvious infringement:

Sean Goodchild, Compliance Operations Director for Liquor and Gaming New South Wales, reportedly proclaimed that the two promotions had represented a clear breach because they had been an attempt by Betchoice Corporation Proprietary Limited to get online casino aficionados to open an account or place wagers.

Reportedly read a statement from Goodchild…

“Betting operators have an obligation to ensure that all advertising complies with New South Wales laws on gambling advertising. Inducements are known to increase the risk of gambling harm so any breaches are taken seriously. Under new laws that recently came into effect, wagering operators found guilty of promoting inducements to gamble face fines of up to $75,350 per offence and company directors can be individually and criminally liable.”