The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has revealed that a recent investigation found that Ladbrokes, Neds, bet365, and Sportsbet breached online gambling regulations relating to in-play betting.
According to the ACMA announcement, Ladbrokes and Neds (owned by Entain), bet365 and Sportsbet all facilitated in-play betting through the use of ‘Fast/Quick Codes’ on sporting events. These codes are provided to customers through a betting website or app to build an in-play wager. The code is then quoted by the customer when they place the wager over the phone.
However, this is in direct breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. The rules state that in-play betting is allowed over the phone, but only when the full wager is made on the call. This means providing all information such as bet amount, bet type, and bet selection. The bet must not be pre-made via any online application that provides fast codes or similar.
When providing customer codes the ACMA deemed that the betting information encapsulated in the Fast/Quick Codes had been communicated to the wagering service via the website or mobile app.
No Regulatory Action
Following the investigations, all three gambling operators have now taken steps to ensure that any future use of Fast/Quick Codes is compliant with local online gambling rules. Those steps include creating codes prior to an event and making them generic for all customers so they cannot facilitate in-play betting.
As a result of the steps the companies have taken, the ACMA has opted not to take any further action.
More Websites Blocked
Last week the ACMA announced that it added eleven unlicensed online gambling and affiliate marketing websites to its list of sites blocked in the Australian market.
The ACMA requested that internet service providers (ISPs) block access to:
- Greenspin
- Slotman
- Jeetcity
- Betibet
- Candyland Casino
- New Vegas
- Thunderpick
- Golden Lion
- Digits 7
- Sector 777
- PayID Pokies
The ACMA has found that all websites listed are in direct breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
Ciaran has been working within the Gambling Industry as a deep analyst since 2019. His deep knowledge and understanding of all the gambling regulations, and processes makes him a true asset, and an always valuable point of view for Gambling Industry News, allowing us to cover every topics from a brand new perspective.
