SportChamps fined A$17,500 for breaching gambling ad rules for fifth time
Online betting operator pleaded guilty in court after Liquor & Gaming investigation found firm persuaded players to open betting accounts
SportChamps has been fined A$17,500 (£13,799) for inducing players to open betting accounts, marking the fifth time the firm has been punished for breaking gambling ad regulations.
The online betting operator pleaded guilty in the Downing Centre Local Court having been accused of inducing people to gamble and open a betting account.
A Liquor & Gaming NSW investigation found that SportChamps ran adverts on its website and Facebook pages that read: “Punt for free. Learn the game” and “Receive a free bet each day.”
Both ads were deemed to have breached the Betting and Racing Act 1994, which outlines it is illegal for an operator to publish or offer suggestions to players to open a betting account.
Jane Lin, Liquor & Gaming NSW executive director regulatory operations, commented that SportChamp had previously been fined for breaching advertising rules four times – in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021.
Lin said: “It’s extremely concerning that this operator has amassed multiple convictions for breaching laws which are in place to protect people from gambling harm.”
Lin added that operators are allowed to advertise legally but reiterated firms cannot promote “inducements” such as increased odds or bonus bets to persuade people to open betting accounts.
SportChamps, in its latest offence, directed new accounts to a tournament betting lobby webpage which provided access to free and paid gaming tournaments.
The ruling stated: “A deposit icon took users to a page where they were asked to insert credit card details and the deposit amount, or they could make direct EFT deposits to SportChamps.”
Lin said: “Wagering operators can legally advertise their products in a variety of ways, but they can’t advertise or promote inducements such as offers of increased odds or bonus bets to entice people to open a betting account.
“Offences like these have the potential to undermine the entire regulatory framework, which is why we take a zero-tolerance approach to this type of advertising.
“NSW bans the advertisement of any offer of an inducement to participate in a gambling activity, including an inducement to bet more frequently,” Lin concluded.