UBet convicted of promoting alcohol consumption while gambling in NSW first
Tasmanian-based wagering company Ubet has become the first company in New South Wales to be convicted of promoting drinking while gambling.
Ubet is the first wagering company successfully prosecuted under NSW law
In a decision that comes just days before the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) launches its own code stop the promotion of gambling to children, Liquor and Gaming NSW was successful in prosecuting UBet for two breaches of the NSW laws.
As well as promoting the consumption of alcohol and gambling, the company was also fined for offering inducements to participate in gambling activity.
The ad showed people how to bet “head-to-head” on rugby league matches and showed people with half drunk glasses of beer and others placing bets.
The court also found that people were induced to join the service by an offer of bonus points in the marketing.
Fining the company $3,300 and awarding costs of $4,500, deputy chief magistrate Jane Mottley described the company’s claim that the ads had been withdrawn and that there had been a misunderstanding about their placement as “naive”.
The prosecution was the first of its type in NSW by Liquor and Gaming NSW and comes just days ahead of the AANA’s launch of a controversial self-regulatory code aimed at, among other things, preventing gambling advertising from targeting children.
The code has come under fire from Tabcorp, one of Australia’s largest wagering and gaming companies, which has questioned how many companies would abide by the self regulatory code, a claim that was rejected by the AANA.
Along with banning ads targeted ad minors, the nine point code also prohibits marketing using peer pressure, suggesting it can lead to sexual success, suggest it is a way to relieve financial pressure, imply the promise of winning or encourage the consumption of alcohol in combination of wagering.
The new code comes into effect on July 1, with complaints under the code to be heard by the Advertising Standards Board.
What a complete joke: so you can’t show people having a beer and a bet now.
The nanny state commeth.
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What cracks me up about this is that the only two places you can go in Sydney city after a night out are the casinos. Double standards anyone?
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