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Gamblers have filed a class-action lawsuit in Australia against online sportsbook Sportsbet, alleging that the company engaged in illegal live betting practices. The lawsuit, filed in Victoria’s Supreme Court by law firm Maurice Blackburn, accused Sportsbet of violating Australian gambling laws, causing bettors to lose millions of dollars over six years.
Under Australian law, live betting on sporting events is prohibited once the event begins unless the wagers are placed entirely via telephone. Owned by Flutter Entertainment, the betting giant is accused of breaking these regulations by using its “Fast Code” service to allow in-play bets, also known as live bets, in a manner that bypassed the voice-call requirement.
As per a report, the lead plaintiff, Jeremy Bergman, lost $2307 using the service between August 2019 and December 2021, the firm said.
Maurice Blackburn Principal Elizabeth O’Shea said, “Betting on a sporting event after the event commences is prohibited in Australia. There is an exception to this if the bet is made wholly by telephone.”
She added, “We believe that Sportsbet’s use of the Fast Code service is not just an attempt to circumvent important laws aiming to prevent gambling harm, it is also illegal because key information about the bet is communicated by punters otherwise than by a voice call.”
“Sportsbet represented to the plaintiff and group members that the Fast Code service was legal, and in doing so, we believe it engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct contrary to the Australian Consumer Law.”
The lawsuit covers live bets placed on sporting events using the “Fast Code” service between December 24, 2018, and December 24, 2024. The class action seeks refunds from Sportsbet for gamblers who lost money placing bets at the start of sporting events using the “Fast Code” service over the past six years. However, bets on racing events, including horse, harness, and greyhound racing, are excluded.
In 2023, the Australian Media and Communications Agency found that Sportsbet, Ladbrokes and Neds (owned by Entain Group), and bet365 (Hillside) were breaking federal laws by using their apps to allow in-game betting, which could lead to more lawsuits.
Australia’s financial crime regulator, AUSTRAC, is suing British gambling company Entain, which owns Ladbrokes and Neds, for serious breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws in a case filed in December.
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