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The Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission has imposed a fine of A$313,140 ($209,000) on Sportsbet, Australia’s largest online bookmaker, following the discovery that the operator failed to issue mandatory gambling activity statements to more than 6,000 customers between 2022 and 2024.
Systemic Compliance Breach
The regulator determined that Sportsbet breached its licence conditions by failing to provide monthly activity statements to 6,131 customers, resulting in 51,525 statements not being issued over the 18-month period. These statements are legally required under Northern Territory regulations and serve as a consumer protection measure, providing customers with detailed overviews of their betting activity to help identify and manage potential gambling harm.
In its decision notice, the commission characterized the violations as “a distinct and recurring failure to comply with a core consumer protection requirement.” The regulator added that “the ongoing nature of the contraventions demonstrates a systemic failure in the licensee’s governance and assurance framework,” noting that the conduct created a “heightened potential for consumer harm.”
Technical Issues and Delayed Disclosure
Sportsbet attributed the failures to “several technical issues” and stated that it “regrets the incident” and “sincerely apologises” to affected customers. However, the commission raised additional concerns about the operator’s delayed notification of the breaches. The regulator found that Sportsbet waited five months after completing an internal investigation before informing the commission of the violations, which “reduced transparency and limited the commission’s ability to assess the issue in real time.”
Commission chair Alastair Shields addressed the penalty in a statement: “The assessment of multiple breaches has resulted in a substantial total fine, underscoring the seriousness of the non-compliance and the commission’s response to it.” Shields emphasized the regulator’s commitment to enforcement, stating: “The commission will continue to take firm enforcement action to ensure compliance and promote a safer wagering environment.”
Academic Criticism of Penalty Size
The fine has drawn criticism from gambling researchers who question its proportionality. Charles Livingstone, head of Monash University’s Gambling and Social Determinants Unit, acknowledged the penalty was “fairly serious” in nature but argued it lacks financial impact for an operator of Sportsbet’s size.
“A fine of $313,000 is certainly big for the NT regulator, but for Sportsbet it’s virtually nothing, given they generate literally billions in revenue every year,” Livingstone said. “It’s a very modest amount.”
Livingstone expressed skepticism about the regulator’s enforcement capabilities: “If the commission wants to demonstrate effectiveness it needs to be properly resourced, undertake active investigations, and be prepared to suspend or cancel licences. Until those changes occur, it remains wide open to accusations of being ineffective and a jurisdiction of convenience.”
Regulatory Framework Transition
The commission clarified that the breaches occurred under the now-repealed Racing and Betting Act 1983, meaning the fine was imposed under the previous regulatory framework. Shields noted that under the newer Racing and Wagering Act 2024, “the range of penalties available to the commission includes considerably higher fines.”
The NT Racing and Wagering Commission has previously faced scrutiny over alleged industry bias, conflicts of interest, and weak oversight, according to investigations by ABC News. The commission confirmed that it had not been notified of any legal challenge to the decision as of the announcement date.
Source: NT Racing and Wagering Commission
