Betr facing loss of licence after racking up $75k in fines
News Corp-backed bookmaker Betr has racked up $75,000 in fines from the Northern Territory Racing Commission (NTRC) for directly marketing to self-excluded individuals.
Having copped a $20,655 penalty in December, the sports betting company has since accrued to more fines adding up up $55,000. The latest breach comes with a strong warning of potential licence cancellation.
Betr launched in October last year, before the Melbourne Cup, and in less than six months has committed three “serious” breaches of the NT’s online gambling code of conduct.
According to the NTRC, Betr contacted an individual on a self-exclusion register despite the bookmaker having a full list of self-excluded gamblers.
NT online gambling rules state that betting companies must not directly contact people who have self-excluded, without their consent.
READ: Tabcorp takes aim at online bookies in market share grab
During its investigations, the commission discovered that Betr’s employees and affiliate agents made phone calls to persons who had not given their consent to be directly marketed to, including self-excluded individuals.
Transcripts of the phone calls revealed Betr’s employees and agents introducing themselves and asking the person if they would like to gamble once the bookmaker has launched. The caller then closes by promising to send a link to punt.
The NT Racing Commission noted the unsolicited calls happened in the first week of its licence approval.
The $55,000 fine issued by the NTRC is its maximum monetary penalty; however, it warned the bookie that any further occurrence will result in a licence cancellation.
In its decision, the commission noted that although Betr was a new licensee, its senior management team had been in the industry for a long time and should have known better.
Betr is yet to respond to the commission’s latest decision.
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