Tabcorp fined for Instagram advertising breach
Australian wagering giant to cough up $30,000 in fines and legal fees for inducing ex-customers to gamble on social media
Tabcorp has been ordered to pay A$30,000 (£16,565) in fines and costs for breaking gambling marketing laws in New South Wales (NSW).
The penalty was dished out in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on 25 November after Tabcorp pleaded guilty to publishing an inducement to gamble or open a betting account on Instagram.
The case relates to December 2019, when a former Tabcorp punter was sent a gambling ad offering bonus bets from Tabcorp on his Instagram account via the Instagram Stories function.
The Liquor & Gaming NSW regulator discovered Tabcorp had run an advertising campaign on 13 and 14 December via Instagram Stories to Tabcorp account holders.
However, details of 900 customers who had previously closed their Tabcorp accounts had also been provided to Instagram parent company Facebook to inform the ad campaign.
Under the NSW Betting and Racing Act, it is illegal to publish gambling advertisements that includes any inducement to participate in gambling or open a betting account.
The company said details of the 900 people had been included as a result of human error.
In her judgment, Magistrate Erin Kennedy considered that some of the affected consumers may have closed their Tabcorp accounts as they were trying to overcome a gambling addiction.
She further stated that Tabcorp’s compliance history did not assist the operator and that the conviction should serve as a deterrent to ensure Tabcorp complies with legislation in future.
Tabcorp was fined A$18,000 and ordered to pay A$12,276 in legal fees.