Oceania

The Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) has reopened its investigation into in-play betting services by referring online bookmaker Sportsbet to the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Filing a complaint the ACMA claims that Sportsbet’s ‘Bet Live’ telephone betting product is in breach of Australia’s Interactive Gambling Act provisions regarding in-play wagering. The authority has asked the AFP for assessment of …

Former William Hill Australia Commercial Operations Director Matt Brinckley  is set to become the new Marketing Director of Lottoland Australia (www.lottoland.com.au) Brinckley an Australian market veteran, who has held leadership positions at William Hill and Centrebet, will take the lead of Lottoland Australia marketing initiatives as the company looks to expand its services beyond its core UK market. Online lottery …

Australian betting firm Sportsbet has launched itself further into the world of esports betting with the creation of a standalone portal called Respawn. The bookmaker already took bets on esports markets but this takes it notably further and the operator boasts that it’s “the fastest ESL stream in Oceania, (with) live match statistics, odds and upcoming tournament information.” The aim seemingly …

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) has ‘condemned’ the practices highlighted in a government report into greyhound racing in New South Wales, a state of affairs that has seen the sport banned from the Australian state. The Special Commission of Inquiry found ‘overwhelming evidence’ of systemic animal cruelty, including mass greyhound killings and live baiting – a practice that …

The sport of greyhound racing will be banned in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) by 2017, following an investigation which uncovered ‘systemic animal cruelty’ including dog baiting and mass killings. A commission inquiry carried out by Australian lawyer Michael McHugh, had uncovered mass cruelty within the Australian greyhound industry, with the report detailing the death of some …

Cricket Australia has announced that two players from the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), Hayley Jensen and Corinne Hall, have been banned for six months for betting on matches. Both players have voluntarily accepted bans of two years, of which 18 months are suspended. Jensen, a 23-year-old New Zealand international who has represented Victoria and Melbourne in the 2015/16 Australian …

Tasmanian based UBet has pleaded guilty to two advertising breaches, and become the first company in New South Wales (NSW) to be convicted of promoting drinking while gambling. Following an investigation by Liquor & Gaming NSW, UBet was successfully prosecuted in Downing Centre Local Court. Deputy Chief Magistrate Jane Mottley fined the company $3,300 and awarding costs of $4,500. As …

Work will soon begin on a new 71-story hotel and casino complex in Sydney, after Australian mogul James Packer won approval for the building from NSW’s Planning Assessment Commission (PAC). This was the final planning process hurdle for Packer, who won the rights to build the Crown Resorts complex after a bidding war with The Star Casino in 2012, and …

Australian gambling operator Tatts Group (Tatts), has confirmed the sale of its UK slots division Talarius to Novomatic Group for AUS $210 million (£116 million). Updating the market, Tatts governance informed that proceeds from the sale would be used to pay down its corporate debt, as the company targets year-end profits of AUS $255 – 265 million, performing slightly under …

Presenting new budget plans, the South Australia state treasury is set to introduce a ‘place of consumption’ (POC) tax for all licensed gambling operator services regardless of Australian jurisdiction.   Updating the media, SA treasurer Tom Koutsantonis detailed that the budget measure expects to generate approximately AUS $9.2 million a year from betting operators targeting SA consumers. The SA POC …