Tabcorp Holdings Limited has been fined AU$263,000 for accepting illegal in-play sports bets. An investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) revealed that Tabcorp took 854 in-play bets across 69 tennis matches between April and October 2023. Online in-play betting is prohibited under Australia’s Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The breaches were attributed to a technical bug in Tabcorp’s systems, which was not fixed until October 2023. Although Tabcorp voided all affected bets, ensuring no customer losses or profits from the error, the ACMA proceeded with the financial penalty.
ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood emphasized that the ban on in-play betting is intended to protect vulnerable individuals from the increased risks of gambling harm. Tabcorp has since implemented controls to prevent such errors in the future.
