ACMA fines Tabcorp for taking illegal in-play sports bets

The operator has been ordered to pay US$112,701 for breaches of the Australian Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

Australia.- Tabcorp has paid a AU$158,400 (US$112,701) penalty for taking online in-play sports bets. An investigation conducted by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found the operator accepted 426 in-play bets across 32 tennis matches between February 2024 and June 2025.

Online wagers on a sporting event after it has started are prohibited in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). Tabcorp voided and refunded the bets, which it said occurred due to systems and communication issues with its third-party provider. 

However, Carolyn Lidgerwood, ACMA member, said this is the third time since 2021 that Tabcorp has breached the in-play betting rules. “The law is clear and wagering services must have processes in place to prevent illegal in-play bets from being accepted,” she said.

She added: “While we understand that most wagering operators rely on third-party providers to close betting on sporting events, they cannot outsource their legal responsibilities. The length of time it took Tabcorp to identify and then fix the problem was concerning and we expect Tabcorp to do better in the future.” 

Tabcorp has entered into an enforceable undertaking requiring the company to undertake a review of its systems and processes. Any further non-compliance may result in proceedings through the Federal Court, ACMA warned.

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The operator has been ordered to pay US$112,701 for breaches of the Australian Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Australia.- Tabcorp has paid a AU$158,400 (US$112,701) penalty for taking online in-play sports bets. An investigation conducted by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found the operator accepted 426 in-play bets across 32 tennis matches between February 2024…