Sportsbet loses legal battle over staff defection

Sportsbet has suffered a setback in its case against its former customer services manager Kelli Carpanini and operator BetEasy in which it was attempting to prevent her and other staff defecting to the rival operator and breaching non-compete agreements, eGaming Review has learned.

The Paddy Power-owned firm filed an injunction with an Australian Supreme Court last month after Carpanini gave notice she was moving to Beteasy, a firm recently established by Sportsbet founder Matthew Tripp.

Sportsbet lawyers claimed Carpanini breached her six-month non-compete period by commencing work for BetEasy last month and had sought to impose a temporary injunction on her employment.

However the court judged in BetEasy’s favour yesterday and eGR understands Carpanini commenced her employment with the operator today.

Further court hearings, yet to be scheduled, will follow as Sportsbet seeks to prove that Carpanini breached other elements of her non-compete clause, including that she failed to keep communications confidential.

eGR also understands Carpanini will not be the last Sportsbet employee to move to Tripp’s new firm.

“We don’t condone the approach taken by Sportsbet, but we are pleased that sanity has prevailed and the Court has agreed with us,” a BetEasy spokesperson said.

Sportsbet said court proceedings were ongoing and could therefore not comment.

The matter was initially due to be heard in the Victorian Supreme Court on 21 March, however the case was adjourned with the consent of both parties.

eGR broke the news in February that Tripp was returning to the Australian online wagering market three years after he sold the Sportsbet business to Paddy Power.

After serving out a three-year non-compete period himself, Tripp and his business partners acquired independent sportsbook operator BetEzy and rebranded it to BetEasy. The operator is set to relaunch a completely new site in May.