PointsBet has been handed a A$500,800 (£241,850) fine by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) after breaching the country’s e-marketing and gambling self-exclusion laws.
An investigation from the ACMA found that the operator sent over 800 betting-related messages between September and November 2023 that also contravened Australia’s Spam Act 2003.
According to the authority, PointsBet sent 705 emails that contained a direct link to betting products, but did not include an unsubscribe function for recipients.
Additionally, the operator sent seven marketing emails without consent as well as 90 commercial texts that did not have sender contact information, another stipulation of the Act.
Following an investigation from Australia’s National Self-Exclusion Register (NSER), BetStop, it was found that PointsBet had sent 508 marketing messages of the 800, to self-excluded players during the period in 2023.
The operator was also found to have delayed closing player accounts who had signed up to BetStop.
NSER laws state that people registered with the self-exclusion tool must not be sent marketing materials from licensed operators.
Nerida O’Loughlin, ACMA chair, said: “It is deeply concerning that these failures have impacted PointsBet’s customers, some of whom had taken proactive steps to exclude themselves from online wagering.
“People signing up to the NSER are taking positive steps to remove online gambling from their lives. Their decision must not be compromised by companies like PointsBet.
“Wagering providers must also appropriately identify where messages promote or advertise their services and ensure that those messages comply with the rules, including the obligation to promote the NSER.”
However, the ACMA did confirm that self-excluded players were unable to place bets with PointsBet during the time the operator was under investigation.
The Australian media regulator also acknowledged PointsBet’s corporation with the investigation.
An ACMA statement read: “The ACMA has accepted comprehensive court-enforceable undertakings from PointsBet committing it to reviews into its compliance with spam and NSER laws, actioning any recommended improvements and providing regular training for all relevant staff.
O’Loughlin added: “This action should serve as a warning to all wagering providers that they must meet their legal obligations or face the consequences.
“We will closely monitor PointsBet’s compliance with its undertakings and with the spam and NSER laws.”
Earlier this week, the ACMA blocked two illegal websites after finding AUWin and Spirit Casino were operating in Australia without the necessary licence.
While in PointsBet news, the operator’s board of directors informed shareholders at the start of the week that the company is giving serious consideration to the revised takeover proposal from BlueBet parent company Betr – an offer of A$260m in cash in addition to A$100m worth of Betr shares.
The post ACMA hits PointsBet with A$500,000 penalty for self-exclusion law breach first appeared on EGR Intel.
Investigation finds operator sent over 500 messages during August and September 2023 to players who were signed up to Australia’s National Self-Exclusion Register, BetStop
The post ACMA hits PointsBet with A$500,000 penalty for self-exclusion law breach first appeared on EGR Intel.