Unibet fined AU$60,000 in NSW for illegal advertising

The penalty was imposed in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court after the operator was convicted of offering illegal inducements to players in the Australian state.

The ruling followed a Liquor & Gaming NSW-led investigation into Unibet promotions, which featured inducements to participate in gambling and open a betting account. These included “price push” offers, a form of enhanced or special odds.

The NSW Betting and Racing Act prohibits operators from offering any form of inducement to participate, or participate frequently, in gambling. This includes opening a new wagering account.

Betchoice guilty plea

Betchoice pled guilty to two offences under section 33H(1) of the Act and was fined $30,000 per offence. The operator was also ordered to pay the regulator’s costs.

“Betting operators have an obligation to ensure that all advertising complies with NSW laws on gambling advertising,” Liquor & Gaming NSW executive director of regulatory operations and enforcement, Jane Lin, said. “Inducements are known to increase the risk of gambling harm, so any breaches are taken seriously.

“The advertisements the subject of this case were designed to entice people to engage with gambling products using special or enhanced odds, which is a breach of the legislation.”

This marked the second occasion that Betchoice has been fined for illegal advertising in the state. In July 2021, the operator was fined $48,000 for posting three illegal gambling adverts.