The New South Wales (NSW) District Court has dismissed an appeal filed by the UK-based gambling operator Ladbrokes against the allegations it faced in terms of illegal advertising. The British gambling company was convicted for publishing illegal advertising materials which encouraged the local residents to place bets.
Ladbrokes’s appeal was dismissed by Judge Martin Blackmore on December 5th, with the Judge confirming the decision of the Local Court which in April 2017 to rule against the operator and impose it a fine of AU$35,000. Apart from the monetary penalty, the company was also ordered to pay AU$50,000 in legal costs after being being convicted for publishing gambling advertising materials which violated the Betting and Racing Regulation 2012 of New South Wales.
According to Sean Goodchild, who is the Director of compliance operations at the New South Wales’ Liquor & Gaming agency, it was a good thing that the NSW District Court dismissed the company’s appeal. He highlighted the fact that Ladbrokes’ gambling advertising was clearly against the law which is aimed at minimising possible negative effects that gambling could have on more vulnerable individuals and on the wider public.
Mr. Goodchild further explained that the Liquor and Gaming NSW has set targeting illegal gambling-related advertising and encouraging local placers to wager as one of its paramount priorities for the 2017/2018 period. He reiterated the agency’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting gambling and betting operators as well as their senior executive and management staff members for being irresponsible and for failing to comply with the laws of the New South Wales state.
Ladbrokes Has Breached NSW Gambling Advertising Laws Before
This is not the first time when Ladbrokes faces allegations of breaching gambling advertising laws in the state. The UK gambling operator has been previously convicted in breaching the New South Wales’ gambling advertising laws aimed at reducing possible negative effects of gambling and problem gambling-related risks. The company was first imposed a AU$7,500 fine in November 2015 for similar gambling promotions which were not in line with local advertising legislation. At that time, Ladbrokes also had to pay legal costs amounting to AU$18,000.
The illegal gambling promotional materials have been published in a local newspaper called The Sydney Morning Herald and on the video-sharing website YouTube, apart from the company’s website. They were aimed at advertising two special options. Customers, who wanted to take advantage of the offer, were provided with the chance to use an online bet slip in order to boost the odds’ favour for a single bet on a daily basis in a race which they choose. This could happen by using two special features, called “Odds Boost” and “Odds Boost Extra”.
As the Liquor & Gaming NSW’s Director of compliance operations reminded, Ladbrokes is not the only gambling company which has faced allegations of breaching the New South Wales’ gambling advertising laws. Other operators that have been accused for the same violations are bet365, Tabcorp, Crownbet, Unibet, Topbetta, Ubet, ClassicBet Pty Ltd and Sportsbetting.com.au.
- Author
Olivia Cole
