Key points:
- Ryman Racing Pty, trading as Colossalbet, has been fined $AU60,000 ($37,548) for publishing prohibited gambling advertisements on social media by Liquor & Gaming New South Wales (L&GNSW)
- This is the first time a wagering operator in NSW has been prosecuted and convicted for violating advertising standards
Wagering operator Ryman Racing Pty, trading as Colossalbet, has been fined a total of AU$60,000 for posting illegal gambling advertisements across Facebook and Instagram.
The penalty was handed down by a Magistrate at Downing Centre Local Court after determining that the ads failed to comply with advertising regulations designed to protect the public from inappropriate gambling content.
The breaches, committed by Colossalbet’s sub-brand PuntHub in October 2023, involved five social media posts that were deemed offensive to community standards. Under the Betting and Racing Act 1998, all gambling advertisements accessible to residents of NSW must adhere to strict requirements.
Good to know: Betting operators in NSW must ensure their advertisements comply with strict legal standards. Regulatory authorities continue to monitor compliance, with enforcement actions likely for future breaches
Bernadette Beard, Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) Acting Executive Director of Regulatory Operations, stated: “This is the first time a wagering operator in NSW has been prosecuted and convicted for publishing ads which offend standards of decency, dignity and good taste. L&GNSW actively monitors gambling advertising across all platforms and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where necessary.
“This is a serious penalty. I would urge betting providers take note and ensure the standards in the Act are being met in their advertising.”
