Sportsbet and Tabcorp Face Gambling Reform Inquiry
Australia.- 5 August 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Sportsbet, Tabcorp and Responsible Wagering Australia appeared before a Senate inquiry into the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026.
The hearing examined the operation of Australia’s wagering industry, children’s exposure to advertising, promotional inducements, player protection and the potential growth of illegal offshore operators.
News Details
The inquiry heard allegations involving a high-value customer who allegedly used stolen funds to place millions of dollars in bets.
The companies rejected any involvement in illegal conduct and said they maintain zero-tolerance policies. They also called for any supporting evidence to be provided to operators, regulators and law-enforcement authorities so it can be properly investigated.
Sportsbet said it operates systems designed to identify risky behaviour and assigns every customer a safer-gambling risk profile. These tools can lead to interventions and the withdrawal of promotional offers.
The company reported having approximately 800,000 active customers, including around 400 within its VIP segment.
Industry Context
Senators questioned the appearance of betting advertising alongside content accessible to children and accused operators of continuing to exploit gaps in the existing regulatory framework.
Sportsbet highlighted measures introduced since the publication of the 2023 Murphy report, including reduced free-to-air television advertising, the removal of stadium and shirt promotions, support for BetStop and the development of real-time intervention technology.
Responsible Wagering Australia said licensed operators had voluntarily reduced free-to-air advertising expenditure by more than 70% over the past five years.
The organisation also highlighted measures including the credit-card ban, mandatory identity verification, deposit limits and customer activity statements.
Statements
Sportsbet Corporate Affairs Director Jules Norton Selzer rejected the allegations presented during the hearing and said the company would investigate any verifiable information concerning potentially illegal conduct.
Tabcorp Head of Government Affairs Julian Whealing said the company supports a strong regulatory framework and measures designed to reduce children’s exposure to wagering advertising.
Responsible Wagering Australia Chief Executive Officer Kai Cantwell expressed support for practical, evidence-based reform but warned that several provisions within the Bill were overly broad and created legal and operational uncertainty.
Next Steps or Impact
The companies requested clearer definitions covering wagering advertising, promotional content, notable persons and the operation of the levy intended to fund BetStop.
Industry representatives warned that excessive restrictions could reduce the visibility of licensed operators and encourage customers to migrate towards unregulated offshore platforms.
The inquiry will continue assessing whether the proposed reforms can strengthen consumer protection without creating a disproportionate impact on sport, racing, broadcasting and the regulated wagering market.
Editó: @fonta
