Australian online bookmaker VicBet has been fined $130,000 by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) for targeting customers with prohibited offers.
According to the VGCCC’s statement, the fine was issued following an investigation which revealed that the had breached its licensing conditions.
The breaches included:
- Offering bonus credit to a user that requested their account be closed
- Sending promotional materials to self-excluding customers.
In the first breach VicBet offered a $1,800 bonus bet to a customer. This was after the customer had requested that their account be closed. The customer accepted the offer and was provided with the bonus credit. It’s an offence to encourage a customer to keep an account open by offering free credit or bonuses. The VGCCC fined VicBet $50,000 for this breach.
The second breach saw the company send gambling promotional material on multiple occasions to a customer who had previously permanently self-excluded from VicBet. This contravenes the Victorian Bookmakers’ Association Code of Conduct. The penalty for this breach was $80,000.
CEO Annette Kimmitt AM said:
“Breaches can have serious consequences, not only in terms of punitive actions against the companies we catch out, but for people whose lives are affected by this behaviour.
It is an egregious betrayal of trust, for example, to continue to send marketing materials to a person who has self-excluded from a gambling venue or closed a betting account.”
On these occasions, VicBet failed to live up to both its legal and social licences to operate, which include minimising the risk of harm to customers.
Industry must respect the wishes of people who decide to have a break from, or quit, gambling. This means taking all reasonable steps to enforce harm prevention initiatives that customers commit themselves to, such as self-exclusion programs.”
This fine means that the total fines issued in 2025 has now reached $8,613,232 / £7,039,786 in less than a month.
An experienced iGaming commentator and analyst based in New York City - Jenny reports on regulation and gambling industry news and events.