Tabcorp fined over breach of advertising law

The operator was found to have broken state law by offering bonuses via social media.

Australia.- The Australia lottery and Keno giant Tabcorp has been fined AU$30,000 (US$22,068) for breaching New South Wales (NSW) gambling advertising law.

The liquor and gaming regulator in NSW (ILGA) found that the company had conducted a campaign offering bonus bets through Instagram stories on December 13 – 14 2019.

Under the NSW Betting and Racing Act, it is illegal to publish gambling advertisements that induce customers to gamble through bonuses or other incentives.

The campaign targeted the Instagram accounts of Tabcorp account holders but also of 900 NSW residents who had closed their accounts.

The company put the breach down to human error. Magistrate Erin Kennedy ordered the company to pay the fine, which includes AU$12,276 (US$9,029) in legal fees.

Kennedy ruled that Tabcorp did not deserve special treatment or reduced punishment and that this sentence should serve as a deterrent for other operators.