The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) announced yesterday that it has handed BlueBet an AU$50,000 fine after finding the operator guilty on 43 counts of illegally promoting gambling.
BlueBet’s transgressions are centred around the operator’s decision to advertise betting on a number of digital billboards in Laverton, Point Cook, Rockbank, Ravenhall, and Werribee in August and September 2022. In all cases, the billboards were located on or above a public road. As the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 explicitly prohibits this form of advertising when it comes to gambling, the VGCCC ultimately determined that BlueBet had broken Australian law and punished the bookmaker accordingly.
Initially, BlueBet attempted to plead ignorance, but Magistrate Greg Thomas said he struggled to believe BlueBet’s breaches were unintentional due to the billboards’ positions being considered excellent for advertising to male individuals aged between 15 and 54. He further argued that if the bookmaker had indeed not intended to break the law, the breaches were acts of gross negligence on BlueBet’s part. The operator eventually pleaded guilty on all counts, and according to Mr Thomas, this was one of the main reasons that ultimately prevented BlueBet from being fined an extra AU$20,000. Other mitigating factors include BlueBet’s cooperation with the VGCCC and the operator carrying out actions to avoid future violations of this nature.
Annette Kimmitt AM, the VGCCC’s CEO, commented on the matter, saying that gambling advertising “has no place on public roads” as it carries the risk of exposing children and vulnerable individuals in general to wagering ads. She stressed that due to the public’s daily activities, it is far from easy to avoid such locations, and she believes that BlueBet’s punishment can serve as an example of what consequences await companies that “flout” the safety regulations of the VGCCC.
Australia’s Gambling Laws Could Change Significantly in the Future
Meanwhile, it is possible that gambling companies will lose the right to advertise online gambling on Australian TV, radio, and social media in the future. As reported by the online newspaper WAtoday, a regulatory advisory business is set to give the Australian Government feedback on whether ads promoting online gambling should be fully prohibited. The proposed ban was included among the 30+ recommendations outlined in the “You win some, you lose more” report on online gambling harm, which was published last year by the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, then chaired by the late Peta Murphy.
If the Government decides to move forward with this ban, it will implement the new regulations in several phases. The first stage will concern prohibitions surrounding ads on social media and online platforms, while broadcasters will be prohibited from promoting online gambling only during school drop-off and pick-up hours. Once the last phase rolls around, however, almost all forms of gambling ads will be deemed illegal. This prohibition has become a cause for worry among representatives of Australia’s sports industry and gambling market alike.
Ireland is also considering implementing further restrictions on how gambling can be promoted, but unlike Australia’s potential law, the plans mainly involve a pre-watershed ban. Similar to the reception in Australia, however, sports companies and gambling operators have expressed concerns regarding the ban and other aspects of the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022.
- Author
Daniel Williams
