Liquor & Gaming NSW Fines Online Bookmakers Over $1.1 Million for Illegal Gambling Advertising

Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) has continued its efforts to crack down on illegal gambling advertising by imposing fines totalling over $1.1 million on online bookmakers since 2016. The regulator has also seen a recent conviction and fine against another wagering company.

Huge fines for illegal advertising

Companies that have been prosecuted in court have faced fines exceeding $830,000, while L&GNSW has issued penalty infringement notices amounting to $270,000.

The latest operator to be convicted is IRPSX PTY LTD, trading as Bet Right, which was fined $20,000 for unlawfully offering boosted odds. The decision was made in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on August 7 following an L&GNSW investigation into the operator’s promotions. However, the operator was acquitted of three other charges.

According to the NSW Betting and Racing Act, publishing a gambling advertisement that includes inducements to participate in gambling activities is an offence.

Strict stance against illegal gambling

Jane Lin, Executive Director Regulatory Operations at L&GNSW, emphasized the regulator’s strict stance against illegal gambling inducements, stating “L&GNSW has actively engaged with online bookmakers and provided guidance on their compliance obligations, so there is simply no excuse for wagering companies to advertise inducements and they can be assured that the risk of being caught and prosecuted is extremely high.”

“In April, we issued 14 penalty infringement notices totalling $210,000 to wagering company, Betr, which represents the largest ever fine issued to a wagering operator for offering inducements in NSW history.”

“We will continue to monitor television, print and social media for this illegal advertising and advocate for the courts to issue higher penalties.”

The regulator will continue to monitor various media platforms for illegal gambling advertising and will advocate for higher penalties in court. Notably, companies like SportsChamps and Sportsbet have faced fines for gambling advertising breaches in recent years. A corporation can be fined up to $110,000 per offence, while individuals may face a $11,000 penalty for publishing prohibited gambling advertisements. Each penalty notice carries a fine of $15,000.