PointsBet has been fined A$20,000 ($14,300) for posting an illegal gambling advertisement in New South Wales, Australia.
The operator pleaded guilty, as its advertising stated: "All 40+ metro races run 2nd up to A$100 back," if players opened a PointsBet betting account.
The NSW Betting and Racing Act states it is an offence to publish “a gambling advertisement that offers any inducement to participate frequently, in any gambling activity.”
Australian online operator Sportsbet was also fined more than A$10,000 for offering unlawful “inducements” back in March. The operator pleaded guilty and also had to pay over A$7,000 in legal costs for breaching the state’s gaming laws.
Liquor & Gaming Director of Compliance Operations, Sean Goodchild, said: “Betting operators have an obligation to ensure that all advertising complies with NSW laws on gambling advertising.
“Under new laws that came into effect in July 2018, wagering operators, if found guilty of promoting inducements to gamble face fines of up to $55,000 per offence and company directors can be criminally prosecuted.”
In more positive news, the operator recently announced it will allow customers to stake up to $10,000 on spread line and money line MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL wagers up until 2020.
PointsBet CEO, Johnny Aitken, said: “We’re bookmakers at heart and accepting action from sharp bettors is in our DNA.
“We are excited to get our guarantee underway and ensure PointsBet is doing its upmost along offering the best prices to bring money back from off-shore sites into the legalised US market.”
