The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has cleared the largest sports betting operator in the country, Sportsbet, of any allegations of wrongdoing after the company faced some accusations that it had violated the existing ban on in-play betting in Australia.
Earlier this year, the government statutory authority targeted the sports betting company over the release of an allegedly suspended betting offer in terms of the Brownlow Medal, which the best AFL (Australian Football League) player receives every season. The recipient of the prize is decided by umpires at the end of the season, so the choice has become a much-loved and popular event among football fans in the country.
However, Sportsbet faced the anger of the country’s communications and media regulatory body after releasing an in-play betting offer during the ceremony that took place on September 18th, 2022. For the time being, placing a bet on live events is not legally allowed in Australia, so the Australian Communications and Media Authority noted at the time that the gambling operator might have violated the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001.
More specifically, potential breaches included subsection 15(2A), which suspends the provision of online in-play sports betting services in the country, and subsections 61DA(1A) and 61DA(3), which cover the advertisements of designated online gambling services.
No “Sporting Event” Definition Included in the Interactive Gambling Act, ACMA Says
At the time of the ruling, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) acknowledged that noted that the rules it tried to uphold against Sportsbet could not quite apply to the alleged legislation breach. For example, a “sporting event” definition was not included in Section 10B of the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001, which establishes rules for in-play betting in the country.
However, the awarding ceremony of the medal could not be regarded as a sporting event, so the ACMA took the matter into consideration, only to rule that Sportsbet did not offer an actual in-play betting product during the awarding ceremony. The ruling is considered fundamental for the way the regulator is willing to moderate gambling content in the country when similar law violations happen. The communications and media watchdog also took into consideration other popular offers rolled out by Sportsbet and followed the same pattern when making a decision.
Eventually, the regulator ruled that the sports betting operator did not violate the in-play advertising ban that is set out in the country under the provisions of the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 by authorising the broadcast of its offer during the Brownlow medal count.
Reportedly, the ACMA looked at similar in-play betting offers from the company on the Clive Churchill medal in the National Rugby League and the Norm Smith Medal in the Australian Football League. Both awards have been based on how players performed during an individual match, and the award winner was selected and unveiled at the end of the event by league officials or independent third parties.
The outcome of the sporting event had no effect on the selection of the winner. Neither one of the medals awarded at the time was considered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority as an award for a sporting event or an eventuality that cannot be predicted in the course of a certain sporting event. That is why the regulatory body did not consider Sportsbet’s services to be in-play betting services under the provisions of the IGA.
- Author
Olivia Cole
