BlueBet fined after player allowed to lose nearly AU$570,000
BlueBet has been fined AU$53,380 (US$34,867) in Australia for allowing a player to lose nearly AU$570,000 without taking sufficient harm minimisations steps.
Key points:
– Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission has issued AU$53,380 (US$34,867) fine
– Player deposited AU$700,000 over four months
– Operator is deemed to have encouraged dangerous gambling more than it protected the player
BlueBet has had its collar felt by the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission (NTRW) in Australia and been hit with the maximum penalty available to the regulator for the claimed misdeeds, which was AU$53,380.
The operator has been licensed as a bookmaker in Australia since 2021, but now faces reprisals over a complaint made in 2022.
The complainant posited that they had been allowed and even encouraged to deposit AU$700,000 (losing just under AU$570,000) despite red flags and direct indications from the player that they were running low on funds.
Elements of the case highlighted by the complainant in the ruling include excessive deposits, facilitation of bonus bets and an accusation that BlueBet deposited funds directly into his account after the player said they were unable to deposit more themselves.
This fine is not the first financial slap on the wrist suffered by the company in Australia, having copped a AU$50,000 penalty after being found guilty on 43 charges of contravening regulations pertaining to gambling advertisements on or above public roads.
Good to know: In 2024, BlueBet acquired Betr and announced that Australia would be the primary focus of the pair’s efforts following the merger
BlueBet responded to the initial complaint, suggesting that it had taken the appropriate steps with the customer, pointing to multiple communications between player and operator that acknowledged and raised the issue of concerning wagering behaviour.
Following a hearing conducted in absence of both parties, the NTRW found that the response taken by the operator to the ‘binge gambling’ was unsubstantial and raises concerns about its committment to safer gambling measures.
The complainant’s assigned VIP Manager at BlueBet is central to the conclusions drawn in the report, and is adjudged to have encouraged the player with bonus bets when they should have been focusing on minimising harm.
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