Tabcorp ups ante in in-play wagering dispute
Melbourne-based operator says regulator must enforce current laws and provide clear framework for in-play wagering
Tabcorp has called on the Australian federal government to “eliminate any ambiguity” around in-play wagering and criticised the Australian Federal Police’s (AFP) “failure” to investigate the potential illegality of the product offered by international rivals.
The operator’s comments formed part of its submission to an ongoing review into the country’s illegal offshore wagering market and also accused authorities of not enforcing the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA).
Tabcorp argued the IGA prohibited the online in-play activity currently provided by William Hill and bet365 and accused the two firms, and also Ladbrokes who has withdrawn the product, of “flouting laws and taking advantage of slow bureaucratic processes”.
“If regulators fail to effectively enforce laws, potential illegal activities will continue and possibly increase,” Tabcorp warned.
Last month the AFP said it would not be investigating the controversial in-play product, which enables customers to place in-play wagers online so long as the device’s microphone is switched on, a process which Tabcorp said didn’t meet in-play legal requirements.
“The IGA only permits betting on in-play sports in a retail venue such as a local hotel, community club or TAB agency, or over a telephone “wholly by the way of voice calls made by using a standard telephone service”,” Tabcorp said.
“Put simply, to place an in-play bet legally, customers are required to place their bet face-to-face or over the phone,” it added.
The review, which will report to the Minister of Social Services and the Minister of Communications by 18 December 2015, was first announced on 7 September by the former government minister Scott Morrison and is being led by the former premier of New South Wales Barry O’Farrell.
In addition to its focus on in-play betting, Tabcorp also said a national framework should be established for areas including advertising and credit betting, while emphasising that operators taking bets from Australian residents should all be licensed in the country.
According to the operator’s statistics, the government loses approximately AU$29m in taxes and the racing industry up to $65m in fees every year from illegal offshore wagering.