The penalty, which was handed down in a Sydney courthouse on 22 May, follows an investigation by the regulator into Unibet promotions which contained inducements to open a betting account and participate in gambling through boosted or special odds.
Under the NSW Betting and Racing Act, it is an offence to publish a gambling ad that “includes any inducement to participate, or participate frequently, in any gambling activity, including an inducement to open a betting account.”
“Betting operators have an obligation to ensure that all advertising complies with NSW laws on gambling advertising,” said Jane Lin, executive director of regulatory operations & enforcement at Liquor & Gaming NSW.
“Inducements are known to increase the risk of gambling harm, so any breaches are taken seriously,” she added.The company was previously fined A$48,000 for similar breaches of NSW betting legislation in July 2021.
Betchoice pleaded guilty to two offences under section 33H(1) of the Betting and Racing Act 1998 and was fined $30,000 per offence, as well as being ordered to pay the legal fees of the regulator.
Kindred acquired 100% of the shares in Betchoice back in 2012 for an initial A$20m to gain access to the regulated Australian online wagering market for the first time.
In the most recent financial quarter (Q1 2023), Kindred reported a 12% decline in gross winnings revenue from the Australian market.
The NSW gambling regulator has adopted a strict enforcement stance throughout 2023. In April, it imposed a record fine on domestic disruptor Betr of A$210,000.
