Sportsbet has been fined AU$313,140 (US$207,000) by the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission (NTRWC) after what the regulator described as a systemic failure to meet basic consumer protection requirements. The findings, reported by ABC News, revealed that Australia's largest online bookmaker did not issue mandatory activity statements to 6,131 customers over an 18-month period.
The NTRWC's decision notice stated that the breaches represented a "distinct and recurring failure" to comply with a core obligation designed to support safer wagering practices. It also found that Sportsbet generated a total shortfall of 51,525 activity statements due to what the company later attributed to "technical issues".
According to the commission, the prolonged nature of the failures demonstrated weaknesses in Sportsbet's governance and assurance frameworks, with officials warning that the absence of the statements created "heightened potential for consumer harm". The regulator also criticised the operator for waiting five months before reporting the issues, saying this reduced transparency limited its ability to oversee the matter in a timely manner.
NTRWC Chair Alastair Shields said the penalty reflected the seriousness of the multiple breaches and reaffirmed the commission's commitment to rigorous enforcement. He confirmed that no legal challenge to the ruling had been lodged.
Experts, however, questioned the practical impact of the fine. Charles Livingstone, head of Monash University's Gambling and Social Determinants Unit, said the amount was "at best, a slap on the wrist" for a company of Sportsbet's scale, noting its annual revenues run into the billions. He added that the commission must be properly resourced and willing to suspend licences if it wishes to establish credibility.
The breaches occurred under the now-repealed Racing and Betting Act 1983, meaning penalties were limited. Under the Racing and Wagering Act 2024, the commission now has access to significantly higher maximum fines. This latest update falls in the wake of additional scrutiny faced by the NTRWC in early Q4 2025.
Activity statements are compulsory monthly summaries intended to help customers monitor their betting behaviour
