SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The Australian subsidiary of Paddy Power, Sportsbet has added the popular in-play betting function to its offering. 
In-play betting is made complicated in Australia due to the 2001 Interactive Gambling Act which restricts in-play bets to personal ones made at betting shops, or via a phone line. Betting operators get around this in a variety of ways, the likes of Bet365, William Hill and Ladbrokes have gone down the route of advising customers to leave their device’s microphone on. In doing so they meet the law’s requirements though it is a controversial interpretation.
Sportsbet has opted for an alternative approach. The company has launched an app, Sportsbet’s Bet Live app, which incorporates a ‘click to call’ function. In practice the punter must select the bet, press ‘click to call’ and the device will connect meaning they’re able to place their bets legally via their keypad.
In January it is anticipated that there’ll be an updated report on the government’s stance on live in-play betting, with a review of the International Gambling Act set to be released, and the federal government’s responses to it.
