AUSSIE REGULATOR CLAMPS DOWN ON ILLEGAL INDUCEMENTS

Wednesday October 12, 2011 : No illegal inducements to encourage new betting accounts or customers
 
Regulators from the Australian State of Victoria have released a cautionary statement to bettors, warning them not to be drawn in to opening betting accounts on the basis of illegal inducements.
 
In the run-up to the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival at the end of this week, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Regulation (VCGR) said: “Under Victoria’s Gambling Regulation Act it is illegal for a wagering service provider to offer any credit, voucher or reward as an inducement to open a betting account” and "VCGR inspectors will be on the lookout for breaches of gambling laws and other betting venues during the Carnival."
 
The regulator revealed in the statement that it had charged four wagering providers with offering illegal inducements: Betfair Limited licenced in Tasmania and Darwin-licenced sports betting providers International All Sports Limited trading as IASBet.com, SportsBet Limited and Betezy Limited.
 
IASBet.com is alleged to have offered up to A$1000 in free bets to new players and SportsBet for the same infringement but for lesser amounts of A$100 and A$200.
 
Betezy has been charged with offering a free bet of A$200 up to A$2500 as an inducement to an account holder to refer a friend, while Betfair was charged with offering customers a refund of up to A$50 on any losing bet placed during the Spring Racing Carnival.  The inducement included a special Melbourne Racing Club membership offer, leather race book cover and drink voucher.