Tabcorp has received regulatory approval to expand its Tap in-play betting service across Australia, after the Australian Communications and Media Authority ruled the technology did not breach federal gambling law. The decision follows an investigation by ACMA, as reported by The Strait, into whether the tap-activated wagering method contravened the Interactive Gambling Act.
The service, currently trialled in two New South Wales venues, requires customers to tap their smartphones against an in-venue station to activate in-play betting through the TAB app. Although the Act restricts in-play wagering to phone calls or physical venue transactions, ACMA determined the system meets the “place-based betting service” exemption introduced in 2017.
The exception originally applied to electronic betting terminals. ACMA says Tap in-play uses newer technology but still fits within the same regulatory category.
The decision opens the door for Tabcorp to deploy the product in every state and territory except Western Australia, subject to approval in each jurisdiction. The company is expected to benefit from first-mover advantage in an in-play market that remains largely untapped by corporate bookmakers. The ruling also supports the retail-focused strategy set by chief executive Gillon McLachlan, who took the helm in August 2024.
ACMA cautioned that venues must ensure staff can monitor customer behaviour, citing the higher risk of harm associated with in-play gambling. It noted that Tap in-play incorporates real-time intervention tools that exceed the protections offered by existing betting terminals.
Earlier in the month, ACMA fined Tabcorp AU$158,400 (US$103,000) for allowing online in-play bets on 32 tennis matches over a 16-month period, attributing the breach to a third-party provider. The company has entered into an enforceable undertaking requiring system reviews and improved oversight, with further violations risking Federal Court action.
The ruling allows Tabcorp to expand its in-venue in-play product nationwide, strengthening its retail-led strategy
