Australia’s Northern Territory gambling regulator comes under media scrutiny

ABC’s Four Corners programme raised concerns about the regulator.

Australia.- The Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission (NTRWC) is under scrutiny following an investigation by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) Four Corners programme. The programme reviewed 170 commission decisions since 2017 and found that two-thirds identified no breaches, with no operator ever having its licence revoked.

The regulator currently licenses more than 40 betting operators, including major brands such as Sportsbet, Ladbrokes, and Bet365, with an estimated AU$50bn in annual wagering turnover. ABC reported that the commission meets only once a month, has no permanent staff and, according to public records, has not published an annual report since 1993.

The programme also reported that some of the NTRWC’s six commissioners have links to horse racing, and that the commission’s chair, Alastair Shields, acknowledged accepting hospitality from betting companies and holding a personal Sportsbet account.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie described the commission as “useless,” while consumer advocate Lauren Levin questioned: “How do you run a regulator for the country that’s got the highest per capita gambling losses in the world without full-time staff?”

See also:

See also: BlueBet fined by Australian regulator for “unacceptable” responsible gambling failings

ABC’s Four Corners programme raised concerns about the regulator. Australia.- The Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission (NTRWC) is under scrutiny following an investigation by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC)…