Online Sportsbook Reported to Authorities for AFL Live-Betting Offering

Just days after Betezy, an online sportsbook in Australia, was revealed to have been playing fast and loose with Australian gambling law with its unique in-game betting offering for AFL matches, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has announced it has filed an official complaint with federal law enforcement officials about the bookmaker’s activities.  

“As of this afternoon,” said ACMA spokesman Donald Robertson yesterday, “the matter is with the police.” 

Betezy, an authorized betting provider for Australia’s National Rugby League, the Australian Football League, Cricket Australia and Tennis Australia, was attempting to exploit a loophole in the country’s Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 (IGA). While IGA makes in-game betting legal by phone, such offerings via Internet are held as illegal. 

Betezy attempted to get around this law by only offering in-game betting during natural stoppages in play, such as halftime or at the end of quarters – This seems a tad duplicitous, of course, as the Betezy website proclaims itself to be “The only Australian site to bet live online.”  

As of this writing, no action had been taken by the ACMA, but something is expected soon. Violations of the IGA can result in fines of up to AU $1.1 million ($975,000) per day of operation by offenders.