Unibet and Bet365 Convicted of illegal advertising


Tuesday January 19,2016 :  BET365 AND UNIBET IN HOT WATER WITH NEW SOUTH WALES AUTHORITY

Convicted of illegal advertising.

Unibet and Bet365 appeared before the Australian Downing Centre Local Court yesterday (Monday) accused of illegal sports betting advertising in New South Wales.

The legal action initiated by the Office of Liquor, Gaming & Racing (OLGR) forms part of a continuing crackdown on illegal sports betting advertising in New South Wales.

Unibet pleaded guilty to three advertising breaches and Bet365 to two which all involved the publishing of inducements to participate in gambling in some form or another.

Unibet was convicted and fined AU$7,500 (AU$2,500 for each offence) and ordered to pay OLGR’s professional costs of AU$5,000.

Hillside (Australia New Media) Pty Limited, trading as Bet365, was also convicted of flouting the code but OLGR failed to publish what restitution was ordered.

According to Magistrate Susan McIntyre, NSW legalization is clear and “Unibet’s breaches were flagrant. She also said she found it hard to believe a corporation of its size would be unaware of requirements.

These convictions follow those of previous prosecutions initiated by the OLGR which include Ladbrokes, Sportsbetting.com.au and Classic Bet and precede “a number of others” awaiting their day in court.