The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has cleared Sportsbet of any wrongdoing after doubts were raised about the operator breaking the nation’s prohibition on in-play wagering.
The agency’s examination involved Sportsbet offering wagers on the Brownlow Medal, which is given to the most fair and best player in the Australian Football League (AFL) season, decided by referees after each game based on individual player performance.
Sportsbet patrons were able to place bets on the award during the live broadcast of the medal ceremony on September 18 this year, placing wagers on who they believed would win the fairest and best player medal.
The ACMA considered this case to be wagering on a match while it was in progress, which is not permitted under current sports betting regulations set out in the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA).
Specific potential violations included Section 15(2A), which forbids the provision of online in-play sports betting services in Australia, and Sections 61DA(1A) and 61DA(3), which cover specified advertising of interactive gambling services.
The ACMA’s definition of ‘sporting event
In spite of this, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) highlighted in its decision that the IGA Section 10B does not clearly define a sporting event, which controls betting regulations in Australia.
As a result, the ACMA believes that since the televised award ceremony itself is not a sporting event, and the tallying of votes is not a random occurrence during the competition, Sportsbet’s provision of wagering on the occasion does not break the rules.
Given this conclusion, the ACMA also decided that Sportsbet’s authorization of the betting market during the Brownlow Medal ceremony did not infringe the advertising prohibition outlined in the IGA.
Sportsbet’s Other Markets
The ACMA also examined similar betting offerings by Sportsbet on the Norm Smith Medal (Australian Rules Football) and the Clive Churchill Medal (National Rugby League).
Both awards are given based on player performance in a single match, with the winner being chosen and announced by officials or independent individuals after the match. The selection of the winner is not connected to the outcome of the match.
Similar to the Brownlow Medal ceremony, the ACMA stated it does not consider these awards to be sporting events, nor does it consider them to be random occurrences that could or could not happen in a sporting event.
Therefore, the ACMA believes that betting markets on the outcome of these awards do not fall under the betting services regulated by the IGA, and ruled that Sportsbet did not violate any betting rules.
Sign up for the iGaming News Newsletter