The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has acted against an online sportsbook in the state, with the regulator going after QuestBet.
The regulator intervened following an investigation that led to the watchdog concluding that QuestBet accepted bets from a customer, which the VGCCC described as "showing observable signs" of gambling-related "distress."
QuestBet fined over failure to intervene in case of a single customer
This has resulted in an AU$80,000 fine, with VGCCC CEO Suzy Neilan criticizing the failings. "Our investigation of QuestBet’s practices found the bookmaker failed to have in place adequate systems to protect individuals at risk of gambling harm," she said, explaining that harm minimization ought to be front and center for operators.
The VGCCC states that there were identifiable signs that the operator should have recognized. The gambler in question wagered more than 20 times between April 2023 and June 2023, and on six separate occasions, the person said that they had experienced large losses.
That alone should have been a signal enough for the operator to intervene, the VGCCC argued. The customer in question had lost about $15,000 in the space of two months, but the operator did not intervene to assist vis-à-vis the obligatory responsible gambling practices, the watchdog continued.
The VGCCC also issued a reminder that every bookmaker is obligated to stick to the Victorian Bookmakers’Association Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct and ensure that customers are not experiencing symptoms of gambling-related distress.
The VGCCC also fined VicBet in January, issuing an AU$130,000 fine, citing two breaches of the bookmaker’s customer care obligations.
