Victoria Upholds Penalty Against OkeBet Due to Self-Exclusion & Marketing Failures

The Australian state of Victoria has upheld a fine against online sportsbook OkeBet for inducing excluded players to gamble. Officials highlighted the importance of self-exclusion and protecting at-risk players from harm.

VCAT Upholds Earlier VGCCC Decision

In its latest release, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) said that its earlier decision that OkeBet violated Victoria’s gaming laws has been upheld by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

For context, the VGCCC had previously learned that OkeBet had been “sending promotional gambling material to self-excluded persons, and offering prohibited inducements to community sporting clubs.” Violations included cases of self-excluded players who were invited to play, as well as marketing material in local sports clubs.

For context, sportsbooks are prohibited from encouraging players to create betting accounts via inducements, such as gambling credit, vouchers, and other rewards or benefits. In addition to that, operators must absolutely not reach out to self-excluded players to offer them promotions.

In 2024, the regulator was tipped off about the unauthorized inducements and understood that some of the players who received these inducements suffered harm. In September that year, the VGCCC took regulatory action against the gaming company.

OkeBet later tried to appeal the decision in court, but the VCAT has now affirmed the VGCCC’s regulatory action. As a result, OkeBet has been censured and will be required to pay a penalty of AUD 100,000.

Australians Should Be Able to Rely on Harm-Minimization Tools

Suzy Neilan, CEO of the VGCCC, commented on the development, saying that her team is pleased with the VCAT’s decision. She noted that the dismissal of OkeBet’s appeal reinforces the importance of protecting local players from harm.

Local footy and netball clubs are often the heart of their communities, places where people come together to support one another. They should not be used as vehicles to promote gambling, particularly where those promotions include inducements that are prohibited by law.

Suzy Neilan, CEO, VGCCC

Neilan added that Australians should be able to rely on self-exclusion and other harm-prevention tools and that operators should respect this decision. She also said that the development emphasizes that wagering companies must make certain that their products and marketing materials are in line with Victoria’s law and gambling minimization requirements.

A few months ago, the VGCCC penalized some 12 gaming venues due to a variety of violations. Some of the halls in question were fined for allowing players to gamble outside permitted trading hours, while others were slammed with censure warnings.