Tabcorp Holdings Limited has been fined $262,920 for accepting illegal in-play bets on tennis matches. An investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found that Tabcorp breached Australian gambling laws. The company has since taken steps to prevent future violations and ensure compliance.

  • Tabcorp accepted 854 in-play bets across 69 tennis matches from April to October 2023. In-play betting, which involves placing bets after a game has started, is prohibited in Australia. This restriction is part of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
  • ACMA stated that the in-play ban is intended to protect vulnerable individuals from gambling harm. Authority member Carolyn Lidgerwood emphasized that in-play betting increases risk, allowing frequent betting on multiple outcomes during a single event. This can escalate gambling harm and accessibility issues.
  • Tabcorp attributed the breach to a technical error within its systems, which went unnoticed for six months. The error first appeared in April 2023 but was not resolved until October. This delay raised concerns about the effectiveness of Tabcorp’s system monitoring.
  • Tabcorp has since implemented new controls to prevent future in-play betting violations. The company informed ACMA of the measures now in place to detect and block illegal bets. This is part of their commitment to prevent similar incidents from occurring.
  • In addition to the penalty, Tabcorp voided all affected bets to ensure customers did not incur losses. ACMA noted that Tabcorp did not profit from the error due to this action. The company also has a prior warning from 2021 for a similar breach involving a college basketball game.