Tabcorp ordered to pay up close to $120K in illegal advertising case

The magistrate has spoken—Australian betting operator Tabcorp needs to cough up close to AUD120,000 for publishing illegal advertising in New South Wales.

In December, Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court found the gambling operator guilty of three counts of illegally luring punters to open accounts. The promotion in question was published in a newspaper and online in August 2015 and offered bonus bets as well as other rewards as inducements.

Fast forward to Tuesday, when Tabcorp—which has denied the charges—was sentenced to pay a total fine of AUD16,500 (USD12,596) and also ordered to pay legal cost amounting to AUD100,000 (USD76,340), according to The Australian.

Magistrate Susan McIntyre, who imposed the maximum penalty of $5500 for each of the charges, said it was “crystal clear” that each of the ads was in breach of regulations aimed at protecting problem gamblers and would-be problem gamblers from engaging in further gambling activity.