Australia
Ladbrokes pulls out from self-exclusion scheme in Australia
Major betting company Ladbrokes has pulled out from the plans for a national self-exclusion scheme in Australia. The scheme was intended for people trying to quit gambling.
The scheme was proposed as a joint initiative of the country’s largest online-only bookmakers, such as Sportsbet, BetEasy, Ladbrokes and Bet365 and the industry group Responsible Wagering Australia. The scheme would permit punters to ban themselves across states and all wagering sites at once on smartphones, computers and tablets.
Other reforms include a voluntary opt-out scheme for gamblers to set betting limits when they sign up, and a ban on offering “inducements” to tempt Australians to open online betting accounts or to refer a friend to open one.
Federal Social Services Minister Dan Tehan is expected to announce within weeks that the National Consumer Protection Framework for online wagering has been approved by the states and territories and will set down an implementation timeline.
But with uncertainty surrounding who will develop the nationally consistent self-exclusion scheme and how it would operate, wagering industry sources say Sportsbet and BetEasy (formerly CrownBet) have been working with government officials on the development of a proposal.
Ladbrokes supports a multi-operator self-exclusion scheme, but this week blasted the “frustrating” delays in rolling one out. The Australian arm of the UK-based betting company insists a model already in force in the Northern Territory, the jurisdiction where most online bookmakers hold their licences in Australia, has proved effective and should be replicated by other governments.
“The design and implementation of most multi-operator self-exclusion schemes fails due to complexity,” Ladbrokes general counsel Patrick Brown said.
“Ladbrokes calls on Sportsbet and BetEasy (CrownBet) to work within Responsible Wagering Australia on multi-operator self-exclusion.”
In the UK, the gambling watchdog has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the country’s newly introduced self-exclusion system, GamStop, and has hit out at flaws allowing self-excluded gamblers to continue receiving bookmakers’ promotional material.
Ladbrokes position puts it at odds with the two biggest members of Responsible Wagering Australia, the industry group led by former Labor Party heavyweight Stephen Conroy, and has raised questions internally over whether Ladbrokes will remain a member.
Some wagering sources believe Ladbrokes, ranked the fourth most popular online bookie behind Sportsbet, TAB and BetEasy, is also unhappy about the incoming ban on sign-up inducements which it relies on to attract new customers. They said Ladbrokes joined the Conroy-led association just over a year ago, and has been privately accused of not sharing the same “proactive” approach of other member organisations to “protect the sustainability of the industry.”
Mr Conroy said Responsible Wagering Australia had been a leading supporter of the new consumer-protection reforms and would continue to work actively with government leaders to implement its measures.
He said the national self-exclusion register, to be funded by the industry, was an integral part of the reforms and “must be easy to use and apply across all operators.”
“All RWA members are strongly committed to this and currently offer simple to use self-exclusion options at an operator level whilst the federal government is implementing the national self-exclusion register,” Mr Conroy said.
Source: smh.com.au
Australia
VGCCC Fines BlueBet AU$50,000 for Gambling Advertising Breaches
BlueBet has been fined AU$50,000 by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) for breaching gambling advertising regulations.
The company was found guilty of 43 charges related to displaying gambling advertisements on or above public roads, contravening the Gambling Regulation Act 2003.
The charges stemmed from an investigation initiated by VGCCC, following a complaint from a member of the public. The breaches occurred over a two-week period in August and September 2022, with BlueBet’s gambling advertisements appearing on digital billboards at various locations, including Point Cook, Laverton, Rockbank and Ravenhall.
Magistrate Greg Thomas, overseeing the case, expressed scepticism about BlueBet’s defence that it was unaware of the breaches, given the strategic placement of the billboards to target males aged 15-54 years old. While no conviction was recorded, Magistrate Thomas noted the high degree of negligence exhibited by BlueBet.
VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt AM said: “Gambling advertising has no place on public roads where it is readily visible to children and other vulnerable groups. These places are especially difficult to avoid as part of day-to-day activities. This decision sends a clear message to wagering providers that flout these protections for our community.”
Although Magistrate Thomas considered imposing a higher fine and recording a conviction, he took into account BlueBet’s guilty plea, cooperation with VGCCC and measures taken to prevent future breaches. BlueBet has implemented changes to prevent similar incidents and has cooperated with VGCCC throughout the process.
Australia
VGCCC Introduces New Rules for Wagering Account Statements
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has introduced new standards for how activity statements should be presented to wagering account holders. The new standards require providers to use plain English and avoid unnecessary vocabulary. The use of colours is limited to black and red to represent losses.
The VGCCC took the measure after finding inconsistencies in the way information was displayed on sample activity statements across different providers. Account holders must be able to see how much of their own money they have lost, with free and bonus bets excluded from the net loss figures. Net wins must be shown with stakes deducted. The gambling harm taglines that appear at the end of wagering ads must be displayed on each statement.
The new standards came into force on April 1. Failure to comply could result in a penalty of 60 penalty units, equivalent to AU$11,538.60 for each non-compliant activity statement issued.
VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt AM said: “The days of inconsistent player activity statements are over. Wagering account holders will be better informed about their spending – and therefore better equipped to make informed decisions about their gambling – thanks to the clarity and fairness these changes bring.”
Australia
Swifts Join the Fight Against Gambling Harm
NSW Swifts and Giants have joined the NSW Government’s Reclaim the Game initiative.
Under the initiative, the Swifts and Giants will turn down sports betting sponsorship for the next two years, and will educate fans, players and staff about gambling harm in the community through messaging at home games and on digital and social media.
Reclaim the Game works with a total of 13 partners across 18 teams in six codes, including netball, AFL, A-League, cricket, NBL and NRL.
Since its launch in 2020, the initiative has reached millions of sports fans through more than 260 games, both on TV and in stadiums.
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said: “It is fantastic to see more NSW teams join Reclaim the Game and raise community awareness of harms linked to sports betting and gambling. These partnerships are a strong reminder that you don’t need to have a bet to show support for your team.
“Netball ranks among Australia’s top sports, boasting more than 1.2 million players nationwide and is also the top choice for female athletes.
“The new partnerships with netball come at the perfect time as community interest in women’s sport soars with record nationwide participation in the sport and the Diamonds reclaiming the World Cup in South Africa.
“Elite players are role models for young athletes and fans. The Reclaim the Game partnerships with NSW Swifts and Giants Netball will engage a vast young fan base, ensuring they are protected from betting ads and can develop positive associations with sport.”
Netball NSW CEO Tracey Scott said: “On behalf of Netball NSW, I am delighted to welcome Reclaim the Game to our family across the NSW Swifts and the Giants Netball.
“Alongside some of NSW’s other cherished sporting teams and codes, we are proud to join Reclaim the Game which looks to reconnect fans with their love of the games they follow.
“As the most popular community sport in the state, and the leading elite female code, we are committed to playing a role in educating our fans, participants and the broader community about the risks associated with gambling and the harm it can cause.
“The joy of our game is its theatre, especially at Super Netball level when the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball go head-to-head with the world’s best, and we always look to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone to immerse themselves into the excitement of our game.”
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