Victoria Upholds Penalty Against OkeBet for Breaching Self-Exclusion and Marketing Rules
VCAT Confirms VGCCC’s Ruling Against OkeBet
The Australian state of Victoria has confirmed a fine imposed on the online sportsbook OkeBet due to the company’s failure to respect self-exclusion regulations and gambling marketing laws. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) upheld the decision initially made by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), reinforcing the importance of protecting vulnerable players from gambling-related harms.
Details of OkeBet’s Violations
Investigations by the VGCCC revealed that OkeBet had sent promotional materials to individuals who had opted for self-exclusion, as well as offered unlawful inducements to community sports clubs. This included inviting self-excluded players to participate in gambling and using local sports clubs to distribute marketing content.
According to Victorian law, sportsbooks cannot encourage new betting account registrations through incentives like gambling credits, vouchers, or other rewards. Equally critical is the prohibition on contacting self-excluded players with promotional offers.
In 2024, after these breaches came to light and following reports that some recipients suffered harm, the VGCCC took regulatory measures against OkeBet. The company challenged the ruling in court, but VCAT ultimately upheld the penalty, resulting in a fine of AUD 100,000 and a formal reprimand.
Protecting Communities and Supporting Harm-Prevention Tools
Suzy Neilan, VGCCC’s CEO, expressed support for the tribunal’s ruling, highlighting the significance of safeguarding players from potential harm. She emphasized that local sports clubs, such as football and netball organizations, serve as important community centers and should not be exploited to promote gambling through illegal inducements.
“Local footy and netball clubs are often the heart of their communities, places where people come together to support one another. They should not be used as vehicles to promote gambling, particularly where those promotions include inducements that are prohibited by law.”
Suzy Neilan, CEO, VGCCC
Neilan further stressed that Australians must be able to trust in harm-minimization mechanisms like self-exclusion, and that gambling operators must comply with Victorian legislation to prevent gambling-related harm. This ruling highlights the regulatory commitment to ensure that all gambling products and promotional activities adhere strictly to these requirements.
Ongoing Regulatory Enforcement
Recently, the VGCCC has been active in enforcing compliance across the gambling industry. Several months prior, they sanctioned twelve gaming establishments for various breaches, ranging from operating outside approved trading hours to receiving official warnings for non-compliance.
