Entain has paid an infringement notice of AU$13,320 (US$8,771) in Australia after receiving the maximum possible fine – following news that two of its brands had taken illegal bets.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) issued the punitive amount after finding that Ladbrokes and Neds had accepted bets during the final day of the Bangkok LIV Golf Tournament in October last year.
Entain reported the infringement to the ACMA, noting that an error in the start time meant that 59 bets were accepted by Ladbrokes and 19 by Neds after the start of the event. All bets were off following the discovery and Entain also told the ACMA they had overhauled their systems so the error would not reoccur.
ACMA President Nerida O’Loughlin said live online betting laws exist to protect vulnerable people. “Live online betting increases the risk for those who suffer gambling damage as it provides quick results and allows for a higher frequency of betting.”
“Entain is a highly experienced betting operator and it is disappointing not to have in-house procedures to prevent or detect error. The ACMA made it clear to the industry last year that they must have robust systems in place to ensure that irregular bets are not made available or accepted.”
Last year, Entain reached a £17m settlement with the Gambling Commission in the UK after being found guilty of several regulatory failings.
About Entain
Entain plc, formerly GVC Holdings, is an international sports betting and online gaming company. The group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and forms part of the FTSE 100 Index. It owns brands such as bwin, Coral, Ladbrokes, PartyPoker and Sportingbet. The company was founded in 2004.
