Tabcorp has been ordered to pay $30K AUD in fines and legal costs for publishing an inducement to gamble or open an account on Instagram. 

Charges were brought in response to an investigation by Liquor & Gaming NSW, that found Tabcorp had run an advertising campaign on 13-14 December 2019, via Instagram Stories, aimed at Tabcorp account holders. 

Details of 900 New South Wales residents who had closed their Tabcorp accounts had also been provided to Facebook, Instagram’s owner, for the advertising campaign. 

The NSW Betting and Racing Act makes it illegal to publish gambling advertisements that include any inducement to participate in gambling or open a betting account. 

The gambling operator pleaded guilty to the offence on 25 November, at the Downing Centre Local Court, Sydney. Regarding the 900 former account holders’ details, the company said the information had been included due to human error. 

Magistrate Erin Kennedy warned Tabcorp that some of the 900 former account holders may have closed their accounts due to gambling problems, and that they shouldn’t have been exposed to gambling advertisements. 

Tabcorp was convicted and fined $18K AUD, with $12,276 AUD in legal costs. 

AYO.NEWS says:

With the total fine and legal costs amounting to just under €18,500 euro, we doubt Tabcorp is going to notice the financial penalty, but the negative press is very damaging to the Australian gambling industry’s cause, and plays straight into the hands of those pressing for further repressive legislation.

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