Betr May Face Probe in NSW over Alleged Promotion Breaches

Not even a week after the long-anticipated launch of Betr, the newest bookmaker in Australia backed by News Corp, encountered a hurdle, a recent report suggests. 

Liquor and Gaming NSW to Look Into Betr over a Recent Promotion

Last week, The Australian Financial Review revealed that the online betting operator Betr may have breached the gambling regulations. Allegedly, the breaches relate to a promotion that emerged last week via News Crop’s newspapers. The promotion offered 100-1 odds for bets up to $10, valid for any horse racing as a part of the Melbourne Cup that is set to start on November 1, 2022.

“Liquor & Gaming NSW has serious concerns that this advertising may constitute a prohibited inducement under NSW gambling laws,“

said a spokesman for the Liquor and Gaming NSW

According to the recent report, the Liquor and Gaming NSW, the regulatory body in charge of regulating gambling and ensuring the integrity and compliance of operators, acknowledged that the recent advertisement may have breached the gambling laws in NSW. The regulator revealed it will need to further investigate the topic and said that if any breach is uncovered, it would respond “with the full force of the law.”

Fine Is Applicable, If Breaches Are Proved

The Liquor and Gaming NSW explained that print promotions cannot include “inducements” that may encourage readers to gamble. Also, it is prohibited for such promotions to encourage readers to participate more frequently in gambling activities or to create a gambling account. Currently, the Betting and Racing Act of 1998 acknowledges that attempts to publish or communicate “inducements” for gambling as an offense. The law reveals that even if the gambling ad explains that it is not applicable to NSW customers, operators may still be in breach of the regulations.

“A maximum penalty of $110,000 applies to any corporation and $11,000 for individuals who publish prohibited gambling advertising, including betting service providers, broadcasters, commentators or others,“

explains the Liquor and Gaming NSW

Under the Betting and Racing Act of 1998, breaches related to publishing or communicating inducements to participate in gambling are punishable. The penalty for individuals is set at AU$11,000 ($6,900). On the other hand, the maximum penalty applicable for corporations is set at AU$110,000 ($69,000). With that in mind, the gambling regulator is yet to dig into the promotions further and determine if Betr breached the rules.

Betr launched its services just before the famous Caulfield Cup and The Everest turf race, the richest race in Australia. Another long-anticipated event sports fans are looking forward to is the Melbourne Cup, set to start on November 1.