Sportsbet Responds with Counterclaim in Fast Code Class Action Case
Sportsbet’s Counterclaim in Fast Code Lawsuit
Australian online bookmaker Sportsbet, owned by Flutter Entertainment, has submitted a counterclaim in response to a class action suit regarding its allegedly unlawful use of fast codes. These fast codes were offered to customers for placing bets quickly.
Legal Arguments and Court Proceedings
Sportsbet argues that if the court rules its fast code offerings illegal, then customers who profited from bets placed using these codes should be compelled to return their winnings. Law firm Maurice Blackburn initiated two class action lawsuits against Sportsbet and Entain, claiming these companies used fast codes to allow live bets, which are banned under Australian law.
Maurice Blackburn’s lead lawyer Lizzie O’Shea explained that under Australia’s Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA), live in-play betting must be conducted entirely by telephone. The company believes that the fast code system violates this framework. Sportsbet’s trial is set for August in the Victorian Supreme Court, while Entain’s class action hearing date remains unconfirmed.
Details of Maurice Blackburn’s Class Action Suit
Maurice Blackburn filed this case last year in the Supreme Court of Victoria on behalf of bettors who used Sportsbet’s Fast Code service between December 24, 2018, and December 24, 2024, and experienced net losses. The claim centers on the assertion that the fast code service allowed customers to submit key betting information through the Sportsbet app or website rather than placing bets solely by telephone, contradicting the IGA.
The lawsuit further accuses Sportsbet of misleading customers by asserting that its Fast Code service complies with gambling laws and by violating its own terms and conditions, which state that live bets are accepted only via telephone. Sportsbet denies all allegations of wrongdoing.
Other Recent Legal Challenges for Sportsbet
This lawsuit is not the only recent issue faced by Sportsbet. At the end of the previous year, the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission fined Sportsbet $209,000 for failing to provide critical gambling activity reports to over 6,000 customers, highlighting ongoing compliance challenges for the operator.
