Betr, the bookmaker backed by News Corp, has faced a monetary fine for trying to sign up a gambler, who has banned themselves from gambling services, as a customer ahead of the Melbourne Cup race.
The company suffered an AU$20,655 fine that was imposed by the Northern Territory Racing Commission for violating the state’s online gambling code of conduct. According to allegations faced by the sports betting operator, Betr had directly marketed an offer to the self-excluded customer to establish a sports betting account with its gambling platform.
According to anti-gambling campaigners, the case emphasises the need for urgent implementation of a national self-exclusion register, which is still expected to be launched, although local lawmakers decided to roll it out three years ago.
Carol Bennett, the CEO of the Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR), a local group battling gambling-related harm, said that it remained a mystery why the system was not established already. Ms Bennett further noted that the implementation of a national self-exclusion register is a measure regarding the bare minimum to protect gamblers from the negative consequences they can face as a result of developing compulsive gambling habits after being targetted by the industry. According to her, the establishment of a national self-exclusion register needed to be made a matter of paramount priority by the Federal Government.
As revealed by the Northern Territory’s gambling regulator, representatives of Betr contacted the person, called “Mr M” by phone and text message at the beginning of October, shortly after the customer had voluntarily entered the self-exclusion register of the state.
Betr Says Gambler’s Contact Details Were Sourced from Representatives’ Previous Employment
Currently, the self-exclusion register of the Northern Territory allows people around Australia to voluntarily suspend themselves from betting operators based in the state. The self-exclusion period can vary from months to years, or can be imposed indefinitely if the user wants so.
Betr, which is backed by News Corp, has an operating licence issued by the competent authorities in the Northern Territory. That is why it is required to comply with the state’s consumer protection rules. The gambling code of conflict in the NT makes clear that gambling and sports betting operators must not target self-excluded people without their consent. In its official decision regarding the fine, on October 5th, 2022, the Commission explained that Betr had not received a copy of the full list of the people who have self-excluded themselves from gambling services.
The gambling company refused to make any commentary on the situation, but according to the decision of the NT Racing Commission, it submitted that sales representatives of the operator had sourced the gambler’s contact details from their previous employment. Betr also revealed that the two representatives did not know Mr M had excluded himself from gambling at the time they contacted the customer. The communications took place between October 5th and 10th, 2022, which was shortly before the launch of Betr.
- Author
Olivia Cole
