Tabcorp pays $158,400 fine for illegal sports bets

Tabcorp Holdings Limited (Tabcorp) has paid a $158,400 penalty for taking online in-play sports bets, which is illegal in Australia.

An Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) investigation  found Tabcorp accepted 426 in-play bets across 32 tennis matches between February 2024 and June 2025.

Tabcorp online in-play bets refunded

The ACMA explains that online in-play betting, wagers made on a sporting event after it has commenced, is prohibited in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA).

The online in-play sports bets that were accepted in breach of the IGA were voided by Tabcorp and the bets were refunded.

The ACMA accepted the evidence from Tabcorp that the breaches occurred due to systems and communication issues with its third-party provider.

'The law is clear' on illegal in-play bets

ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood 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,” Ms Lidgerwood said.

“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 to review its processes

Tabcorp has entered into a comprehensive enforceable undertaking requiring the company to review its systems and processes relating to the closing of betting on tennis matches and to report regularly to the ACMA.

Any further non-compliance by Tabcorp may result in proceedings through the Federal Court.

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